California State University-San Marcos is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in San Marcos, California. It enrolls 14,877 students (a large student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorWestern Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Strong
74/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes47
Value95
Affordability82
Selectivity10
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 95.1%, California State University-San Marcos is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
95.1%
Open
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Test PolicyTest OptionalApplicants choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether California State University-San Marcos is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
34.0 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending California State University-San Marcos isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $10,229 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$10,229
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
43%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
28%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$8,082
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$20,682
Room & Board (on-campus)
$14,152
Room & Board (off-campus)
$20,921
Books & Supplies
$1,061
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$3,713
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$6,577
Total Cost of Attendance
$21,649
Application fee: $70 (one-time, due at submission)
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$6,230
$30,001 – $48,000
$7,240
$48,001 – $75,000
$8,928
$75,001 – $110,000
$12,525
Over $110,000
$18,734
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$3,50010%percentile
$5,50025%percentile
$17,350Medianpercentile
$23,34075%percentile
$31,00090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $12,610
↓ $4,740
No Pell $15,000
↓ $2,350
Dependent students $12,500
↓ $4,850
Independent students $16,500
↓ $850
Female students $13,620
↓ $3,730
Male students $13,033
↓ $4,317
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $8,000, less than completers ($17,350), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
61% of full-time students who enrolled at California State University-San Marcos graduate within six years, and 77% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
61%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
77%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered California State University-San Marcos earn a median of $62,908 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$62,908
Earning > $25K
81%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$46,500
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$59,600
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$51,600
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$50,700
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$50,700
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $13,100, about 22% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Stable ↑
1.3 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 74% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
California State University-San Marcos is home to 14,877 students, a large student community. Some distinctive traits: 48% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
14,877
Part-Time
16%
First-Generation
48%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
Hispanic 51.5%7,668
White 24.3%3,620
Asian 9.3%1,385
Other 6.9%1,032
Black 4.0%598
International 0.8%122
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at California State University-San Marcos. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large SuburbSan Marcos, California
Housing
Limited on-campus housing1,954 beds
Adult Learners
18%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI)
What You Can Study
California State University-San Marcos offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
58 distinct programs across
23 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at California State University-San Marcos is 21:1, on the higher side.
Student : Faculty
21:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$7,508
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$34M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$97,515
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
416 instructional faculty across 4 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
109
26%
$123,257
Associate Professors
96
23%
$107,769
Assistant Professors
89
21%
$92,580
Lecturers
122
29%
$70,046
Pros & Cons of California State University-San Marcos
A quick at-a-glance summary of how California State University-San Marcos tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Solid post-graduation earnings
Wide reach of need-based federal aid
First-gen-friendly student body
CONS
Larger class sizes than typical
Modest first-year retention
Best for:
Based on the data, California State University-San Marcos is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier.
Frequently Asked Questions about California State University-San Marcos
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about California State University-San Marcos.
Is California State University-San Marcos hard to get into?
California State University-San Marcos has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 95.1%.
What is the acceptance rate at California State University-San Marcos?
California State University-San Marcos has an acceptance rate of 95.1%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does California State University-San Marcos cost?
The average net price after aid at California State University-San Marcos is $10,229 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is California State University-San Marcos worth it?
Strong return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $62,908 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $10,229 per year. That's roughly 6.1x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is California State University-San Marcos known for?
California State University-San Marcos is best known for its programs in Business Administration, Psychology, Sociology. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do California State University-San Marcos graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering California State University-San Marcos are $62,908, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is California State University-San Marcos accredited?
Yes. California State University-San Marcos is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission.
How many students attend California State University-San Marcos?
California State University-San Marcos enrolls 14,877 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at California State University-San Marcos?
California State University-San Marcos graduates 61% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is California State University-San Marcos a public or private college?
California State University-San Marcos is a Public institution.
Where is California State University-San Marcos located?
California State University-San Marcos is located in San Marcos, California.
What programs does California State University-San Marcos offer?
California State University-San Marcos offers 58 distinct programs. The most popular include Business Administration, Psychology, Sociology.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at California State University-San Marcos?
The student-to-faculty ratio at California State University-San Marcos is 21:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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