California State University-San Marcos
California State University-San Marcos is a public institution located in San Marcos, CA, offering 50 distinct degree programs across various fields of study. With an enrollment of over 14,174 students, California State University-San Marcos serves a substantial student population.
Key Facts
- 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $7,739
- 2024 Average Net Price: $10,550 After Financial Aid
- 2024 Acceptance Rate: 95.70% Moderate Selectivity
- 2024 Enrolled Students: 14,174 N/A% Full-Time
- 2024 Graduation Rate: 54.18%
Costs
Tuition Costs
$7,739
2024 Undergraduate Tuition
In 2024, the cost of tuition at California State University-San Marcos was $7,739.
Tuition comparison with similar institutions.
Average Net Price
$10,550
2024 Value
In 2024 California State University-San Marcos had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $10,550.
Average net price comparison with similar institutions.
Total Cost of Attendance
$42,200 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost
$10,550 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)
$30,956 4-Year In-State Tuition
$78,476 4-Year Out-of-State Tuition
Costs include tuition and fees. Room & board, books, and other expenses are additional.
4-year total cost breakdown for California State University-San Marcos.
Financial Aid by Income Level
43.60% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
29.60% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
Not reported
3-year cohort default rate (College Scorecard)
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at California State University-San Marcos was not reported in the College Scorecard extract for this institution.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Admissions
Acceptance Rate
95.70% Acceptance Rate
This institution has a moderate acceptance rate, accepting most qualified applicants.
Acceptance rate compared to national average.
Test Scores
Test score data is not available for this institution.
Average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students.
Academic Requirements
GPA requirements are not published by this institution. Contact the admissions office for specific academic requirements.
Estimated GPA and test score ranges.
Enrollment
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
N/A% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at California State University-San Marcos in 2024 is 14,174 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
N/A%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Graduates & Outcomes
Time to Complete
23.83% 100% Completion Time
54.18% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 23.83% of students graduating from California State University-San Marcos completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
ROI & Programs
Financial value and program information for California State University-San Marcos.
Return on Investment
$17,350 Median Student Debt
$62,908 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)
27.58% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio
1390.71% Return on Investment
2.8 years Estimated Payback Period
Financial value analysis for California State University-San Marcos.
Top Programs by Completions
10 Programs Reporting Data
CIP 52.0201: 587 completions
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, & Nursing Research: 325 completions
General Psychology: 318 completions
Sociology: 254 completions
Computer Science: 216 completions
Social Sciences - 45.0401: 188 completions
Parks, Recreation, & Leisure: 173 completions
General Biological Sciences: 167 completions
Communication and Media Studies: 158 completions
Other/Unknown Programs: 3,791 completions
Most popular programs at California State University-San Marcos.
Employment Outcomes
$48,673 Median Earnings (6 years after entry)
$57,040 Median Earnings (8 years after entry)
$62,908 Median Earnings (10 years after entry)
Earnings outcomes for California State University-San Marcos graduates.
About
California State University-San Marcos is a public institution located in San Marcos, CA, offering 50 distinct degree programs across various academic disciplines. The institution enrolls approximately 14,174 students. The admission rate is 95.70%. The institution maintains a 54.18% graduation rate. Approximately 43.60% of students receive Pell Grants.
Institution Type
Public
Location
San Marcos, CA 92096-0001
Region: Far West
Insights and Analysis
California State University-San Marcos provides educational opportunities for students seeking higher education. Prospective students should carefully evaluate all factors including costs, outcomes, and program offerings when making their enrollment decisions.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology
Data for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, which provides comprehensive information on institutions of higher education in the United States.
All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Graduation rates and completion times are calculated according to federal standards.