San Marcos, Texas Colleges: Costs & Earnings (2026 stats)
TL;DR
Colleges in San Marcos, Texas: median public in-state tuition $11,450 (+107.7% vs national median) median 10-year earnings $56,906 (+4.6% vs U.S.) employment-outcome proxy 91.0% working & not enrolled at 8 years median graduate debt $14,458 (+8.9% vs U.S.) 36,289 students enrolled statewide.
Key Facts
- Institutions in this profile: 2 campuses
- Total college enrollment: 36,289 students
- Median public in-state tuition: $11,450 (+107.7% vs U.S.)
- Median earnings 10 years after entry: $56,906 (+4.6% vs U.S.)
- Working & not enrolled (8-yr cohort proxy): 91.0% (+3.0 pp vs U.S.)
- Median net price: $16,780 (+68.3% vs U.S.)
- Median student debt at graduation: $14,458 (+8.9% vs U.S. $13,271); regional median $11,004
- Average completion rate (institutions in state): 55.3%
- Median first-year retention (full-time, 4-yr): 80.1%
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Overview
Colleges and universities in San Marcos serve students across Texas with associate, bachelor's, and graduate pathways. 2 reporting campuses in this city profile, with about 36,289 students enrolled in federal data, and median in-state tuition near $11,450. Tables below compare costs, completion, earnings, and standout institutions against San Marcos, Texas and U.S. medians from the College Scorecard.
San Marcos vs Texas & national benchmarks
Medians aggregate institution-level College Scorecard fields unless noted. Enrollment is total undergraduate headcount summed across reporting campuses.
| Geography | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion rate | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Marcos, Texas | $11,450 | $16,780 | $14,458 | 55.3% | 36,289 |
| Texas (state median) | $3,555 | $8,031 | $10,652 | 45.0% | 1,240,605 |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,969 | $13,271 | 50.3% | 14,468,221 |
Earnings & employment outcomes: San Marcos, Texas vs benchmarks
Scorecard does not publish formal job-placement rates. We use the share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled (working ÷ working + not working) as a federal employment-outcome proxy. 2-yr and 3-yr default rates are federal cohort default shares (0–1 scale). We show 2-yr default as the primary benchmark; 3-yr default appears only when enough campuses report non-suppressed values (otherwise —). 3-yr repayment progress is the share of completers making progress on loans after 3 years. Sample: bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200. Medians pool campus-level values.
| Geography | Median earnings (10 yr) | Working & not enrolled (8 yr) | Retention (FT yr 1) | 2-yr default | 3-yr default | 3-yr repayment progress | Debt ÷ earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Marcos, Texas | $56,906 | 91.0% | 80.1% | 7.4% | — | 68.7% | 0.37 |
| Texas (state median) | $54,338 | 89.8% | 69.6% | 6.9% | — | 69.4% | 0.40 |
| United States | $54,384 | 88.0% | 76.4% | 5.0% | — | 73.7% | 0.41 |
Other cities in Texas (3+ campuses)
Other cities in the same state with at least three reporting campuses.
| City | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion | Enrollment | Earnings (10 yr) | Working (8 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Marcos, Texas | $11,450 | $16,780 | $14,458 | 55.3% | 36,289 | $56,906 | 91.0% |
| Houston | $12,445 | $19,626 | $11,533 | 46.7% | 137,452 | $59,224 | 87.5% |
| San Antonio | $11,707 | $20,465 | $9,500 | 50.5% | 111,767 | $56,844 | 90.7% |
| Austin | $23,500 | $21,991 | $9,120 | 44.6% | 82,274 | $59,854 | 89.8% |
| Dallas | $17,692 | $22,774 | $12,785 | 50.0% | 62,146 | $42,797 | 87.6% |
| Dallas | $17,692 | $22,774 | $12,785 | 50.0% | 62,146 | $42,797 | 87.6% |
| Dallas | $17,692 | $22,774 | $12,785 | 50.0% | 62,146 | $42,797 | 87.6% |
| Fort Worth | $11,934 | $24,181 | $15,500 | 31.5% | 57,100 | $61,238 | 90.7% |
| El Paso | $9,744 | $16,242 | $11,000 | 65.5% | 50,598 | $50,923 | 89.2% |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,969 | $13,271 | 50.3% | 14,468,221 | $54,384 | 88.0% |
Top college in San Marcos, Texas by graduation rate (150% time)
Ranked by 150% time completion rate (4-year bachelor's-predominant institutions, enrollment ≥ 500). Higher rate = more students finishing within 150% of normal time.
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Rank 1, Graduation Rate, 55.3%, Texas State University
Texas State University
Top college in San Marcos, Texas by employment outcome (8 yrs after entry, working & not enrolled)
Ranked by share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled — a federal outcome proxy, not a verified job-placement rate. Enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Employment Outcome, 91.0%, Texas State University
Texas State University
Most selective college in San Marcos, Texas (lowest admission rate)
Ranked by lowest admission rate (most selective first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500 and a reported admission rate.
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Rank 1, Admission Rate, 89.3%, Texas State University
Texas State University
Top college in San Marcos, Texas by entry-level earnings (1 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings one year after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; reflects completers in reported CIP programs, not all entrants.
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Rank 1, Entry-Level Earnings, $76,646, Texas State University
Texas State University
Top college in San Marcos, Texas by early-career earnings (4 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings four years after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; program cohort, not institution-wide median.
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Rank 1, Early-Career Earnings, $104,127, Texas State University
Texas State University
Top college in San Marcos, Texas by mid-career earnings (6 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings six years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Mid-Career Earnings, $46,716, Texas State University
Texas State University
Top college in San Marcos, Texas by 8-year earnings (8 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings eight years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 8-Yr Earnings, $52,554, Texas State University
Texas State University
Top college in San Marcos, Texas by long-term earnings (10 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings ten years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr Earnings, $56,906, Texas State University
Texas State University
Top college in San Marcos, Texas by 10-year ROI
Ranked by 10-year return on investment (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200 and a computed ROI in the EDsmart dataset.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr ROI, $176,516, Texas State University
Texas State University
Most affordable college in San Marcos, Texas (net price)
Ranked by lowest average net price (most affordable first). Uses overall net price, or mid-income bracket net price for public schools when available. Enrollment ≥ 300.
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Rank 1, Net Price, $16,805, Texas State University
Texas State University
Top college in San Marcos, Texas by first-year retention (full-time)
Ranked by first-year, full-time retention rate (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, First-Year Retention, 80.1%, Texas State University
Texas State University
In-state tuition: San Marcos, Texas vs benchmarks
Sticker price
San Marcos, Texas median in-state tuition is $11,450, +107.7% vs the U.S. median.
Student debt: San Marcos, Texas vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in San Marcos, Texas is $14,458 (+8.9% vs U.S. median $13,271). Regional median: $11,004.
Median earnings (10 years out): San Marcos, Texas vs benchmarks
Payoff
Median earnings 10 years after entry for bachelor's-predominant campuses in San Marcos, Texas center around $56,906 (+4.6% vs U.S.).
Median institution-level 10-year earnings. Source: College Scorecard.
Employment outcome proxy: San Marcos, Texas vs benchmarks
Working & not enrolled
The share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled—our Scorecard employment proxy—is 91.0% at the median San Marcos, Texas campus (+3.0 pp vs U.S.).
Percent of 8-year cohort working and not enrolled (not a formal placement rate).
Analysis & insights
EDsmart Data aggregates institution-level College Scorecard data for this profile. Highlights below compare local medians to U.S. and regional benchmarks.
Costs & borrowing
San Marcos, Texas median public in-state tuition is $11,450, about +107.7% vs the national median. Versus the Southwest region, tuition is +210.6%.
Median graduate debt is $14,458 (+8.9% above the U.S. median of $13,271). Low sticker prices do not always mean low borrowing—living costs, time-to-degree, and aid mix matter.
Earnings, employment & retention
Among bachelor's-predominant campuses with ≥200 students, median 10-year earnings in San Marcos, Texas are $56,906, about +4.6% vs the U.S. campus median ($54,384).
The median campus reports 91.0% of its 8-year cohort as working and not enrolled—our closest federal proxy to a placement rate. The U.S. campus median is 88.0% (+3.0 pp). Formal job-placement statistics are not published in Scorecard; treat this as a comparative outcome indicator, not a hire guarantee.
First-year, full-time retention at the median campus is 80.1% vs a U.S. median of 76.4%—a leading indicator for completion and time-to-degree.
Loan repayment indicators at the median campus: 2-yr default 7.4% (U.S. 5.0%); 3-yr repayment progress 68.7% (U.S. 73.7%). 3-yr default is omitted when most campuses report suppressed zeros.
Top employment-outcome campuses in this extract include Texas State University (91.0%)—useful anchors for local reporting on where graduates are most often working rather than still enrolled.
Completion & workforce context
Average institution-level completion rate across all sectors in San Marcos, Texas is 55.3% (national institution average about 50.3%).
Frequently Asked Questions
How many colleges are in San Marcos?
This city profile covers 2 campuses in San Marcos, Texas with College Scorecard cost or outcomes data.
How much does college cost in San Marcos?
Median in-state tuition in San Marcos is $11,450 and median net price is $16,780. For Texas overall, medians are $3,555 and $8,031; U.S. medians are $5,512 and $9,969.
What do graduates earn in San Marcos?
Median 10-year earnings for campuses in San Marcos is $56,906 vs $54,338 for Texas and $54,384 nationally.
What is student debt like for San Marcos colleges?
Median completer debt in San Marcos is $14,458 vs $10,652 for Texas and $13,271 nationally.
What are the best colleges in San Marcos?
Top campuses on this page include Texas State University (graduation) and Texas State University (10-yr earnings). See Top 10 lists for admission, affordability, and employment metrics.
Are there HBCUs, Hispanic-serving, tribal, or religious colleges in San Marcos?
Among 2 campuses in San Marcos, Texas, 2 campuses with at least 25% Hispanic enrollment in College Scorecard demographics—a common Hispanic-serving institution (HSI) eligibility proxy; examples include Texas State University and Total Transformation Institute of Cosmetology.
Sources & related
- Texas college profile
- All college profiles
- National benchmarks
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
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