What Monterey Bay Academy does

Monterey Bay Academy is a private co-educational Christian boarding and day school serving grades 9-12, founded in 1949 and owned and operated by the Central California Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. It operates a single 379-acre coastal campus in La Selva Beach, California, featuring approximately three-quarters of a mile of private beach on the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary and an on-campus airfield (CA66). The school delivers a college-preparatory curriculum with a 13:1 student-teacher ratio, AP courses across six disciplines, and specialized electives in Aviation, Marine Biology, and Scuba that exploit the campus's coastal setting; it reports a 100% graduation rate with all seniors accepted to four-year colleges.

The school's core product is its residential and day academic program, supplemented by athletics (football, volleyball, basketball, soccer, cross country, track and field, golf), music ensembles (Westwinds and Oceanaires touring groups), and a Campus Work Program that allows students to earn up to $3,000 annually toward tuition. Underlying technology consists of standard K-12 administrative platforms: PowerSchool for student information, SchoolMint for admissions, Edlio for web and content management, and BillerPayments for tuition processing, supported by classroom hardware such as Smart Boards and i>clicker systems. The school is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) and the Adventist Accrediting Association (AAA).

Monterey Bay Academy generates revenue primarily through recurring annual tuition across three tiers (Boarding, Hybrid, Day) with discounted rates for SDA church members, plus an international student comprehensive package requiring a $5,300 I-20 deposit. Distribution is direct via on-campus enrollment and international student recruitment, with referrals flowing through the global network of more than 5,000 Seventh-day Adventist schools. Supplementary revenue comes from program fees (varsity sports, private music lessons, aviation flight training, drama), donations and alumni philanthropy, and approximately $250,000 in annual financial aid funded partly through the SAFE four-way matching program. The student body represents 16 countries and the school has graduated over 8,000 students since 1949.

Name

Monterey Bay Academy

Legal name

Monterey Bay Academy

Website

https://montereybayacademy.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1949

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Monterey Bay Academy is a private Seventh-day Adventist boarding and day high school on a 379-acre coastal campus in La Selva Beach, California, serving grades 9-12 with college-preparatory academics, aviation, marine biology, and scuba programs, and recruiting students from 16 countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Watsonville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Annual tuition for domestic students: Boarding $22,760 (SDA Members $19,340), Hybrid $20,230 (SDA Members $16,780), Day $15,370 (SDA Members $12,280). Registration fees of $1,200-$1,450 due upon acceptance. Ten-month installment payment plan available.
2. International Student Tuition: Comprehensive tuition package including $5,300 deposit for I-20 issuance and visa processing. Package includes tuition, room and board, all meals, insurance, ASB dues, yearbook, technology fee, ESL fees, TOEFL testing, and airport transportation.
3. Program Fees: Additional fees for specialized programs: Varsity sports ($150-$360), music programs ($65-$180 for private lessons), aviation ground school and flight lessons, drama fees ($250), graduation fee ($400).
4. Room and Board: Included in boarding tuition. Additional charges for lost keys and damage to dorm rooms at actual cost.
5. Donations and Philanthropy: Annual alumni giving, student aid fund ($200,000 goal), capital improvements, endowment contributions, scholarship donations, and special events including Golf Classic tournament.
6. Campus Work Program: Students can earn up to $3,000 toward their school bill through on-campus employment. Students must be 14 years old with valid Social Security number.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Monterey Bay Academy is a co-educational Christian boarding and day high school delivering college preparatory education for grades 9-12 on a 379-acre coastal campus in La Selva Beach, California. The school sells annual tuition subscriptions (Boarding, Hybrid, Day) plus specialized programs in aviation, marine biology, scuba, music, athletics, and international student services, supported by a Campus Work Program and financial aid of approximately $250,000 per year.

Product overview

Monterey Bay Academy is a co-educational Christian boarding school offering college-preparatory education for grades 9-12. The school operates a unified program combining academic instruction with specializedelective programs (Aviation, Marine Biology, Scuba), music ensembles (Westwinds/Oceanaires), athletics, and campus work opportunities. Students can choose from six Advanced Placement courses and participate in a campus work program earning up to $3,000 annually. The school serves boarding and day students from diverse backgrounds across 16 countries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• College Preparatory Academic Program College preparatory education program for grades 9-12 with 100% college acceptance rate, offering Advanced Placement courses in six disciplines and a 13:1 student-teacher ratio. Targeted at domestic and international high school students seeking rigorous college-prep academics within a Christian boarding/day school.
• Boarding Program Residential boarding program for students on the 379-acre campus with private beach access on Monterey Bay, including room and board accommodations. Annual tuition $22,760 ($19,340 for SDA members) plus a $1,450 registration fee.
• Aviation Program STEM aviation program including ground school instruction and flight lessons, with on-campus private airfield (CA66) measuring 2400' x 50'. Available to MBA students as a unique elective.
• Marine Biology Program Marine biology elective leveraging the school's location adjacent to the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary; offered to MBA students as one of 18 unique electives.
• Scuba Program Scuba diving certification program offering underwater exploration opportunities in the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary; one of 18 unique electives at MBA.
• Westwinds and Oceanaires Music Groups Select music touring ensembles that perform throughout the Central California Conference and on extended annual tours to destinations including Canada, Hawaii, the U.S. east coast, and the Pacific northwest. Open to MBA students.
• Campus Work Program On-campus employment program allowing students (ages 14+ with valid Social Security number) to earn up to $3,000 per year toward their school bill through various campus jobs.
• Athletics Program Varsity sports program offering football, volleyball, basketball, soccer, cross country, track and field, and golf, with program-specific fees ranging from $150 to $360.
• Financial Aid and SAFE Program Student Aid for Education (SAFE) four-way matching program and general financial aid awarding approximately $250,000 annually to qualifying students.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% graduation rate with all seniors accepted to 4-year colleges annually
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Central California Conference of Seventh-day AdventistscoreOthersThe school is owned and operated by the Central California Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. The Conference's Department of Education oversees the school's operations and accreditation. CCC Office of Education located at PO Box 770, Clovis, CA 93613-0770, phone (559) 347-3000.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Pacific Union College Preparatory School: SDA boarding prep school in Angwin, California attached to Pacific Union College. Directly comparable as an Adventist residential college-prep high school in northern California serving a similar demographic.
• Auburn Adventist Academy: SDA residential academy in Auburn, Washington. Operates within the same global Adventist school system, offering boarding and day programs for grades 9-12 with college preparatory focus.
• Milo Adventist Academy: Seventh-day Adventist residential academy in Days Creek, Oregon. Closely comparable as a small SDA boarding high school with a rural campus offering college preparatory education and specialized electives.
• San Pasqual Academy: California-based Seventh-day Adventist residential academy. Comparable as an Adventist boarding high school operating under the Southeastern California Conference within the same broader SDA system.
• The Thacher School: Elite private boarding school in Ojai, California. Comparable as a high-achieving California boarding school with a distinctive rural campus and rigorous college-preparatory curriculum, though non-Adventist.
• Loma Linda Academy: Seventh-day Adventist K-12 school in Loma Linda, California offering college preparatory curriculum. Operates within the same SDA educational system and CCC/regional conference network, competing for similar Adventist and California families.
• Portland Adventist Academy: Seventh-day Adventist co-educational day and boarding high school in Portland, Oregon. Directly comparable as an Adventist college-prep high school on the West Coast serving a similar demographic.
• Forest Lake Academy: Seventh-day Adventist boarding academy in Apopka, Florida. Operates as a residential Adventist high school under the Florida Conference of SDA, competing for the same international and Adventist student segments.
• La Sierra Academy: Seventh-day Adventist K-12 school in Riverside, California. Comparable as a California-based Adventist college preparatory school within the same Pacific Union Conference footprint.

Broad incumbents

• Southwestern Adventist University: Seventh-day Adventist institution of higher education in Keene, Texas. Operates within the same global SDA educational system as MBA, with overlapping feeder relationships and shared Adventist accreditation/values.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/mba_academy
• Facebookfacebook.com/montereybayacademy
• Instagraminstagram.com/montereybayacademy/?hl=en&img_index=1
• TikToktiktok.com/login

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Monterey Bay Academy