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PublicSuburban

California State University-San Marcos

San Marcos, California 92096-0001

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Campus Vibe

Large UniversitySuburbanPublic

Known for business — excellent value

California State University-San Marcos is a public institution in San Marcos with particular strength in business and health sciences.

A large campus of 14.2K undergraduates with a 21:1 student-faculty ratio. The suburban location offers a balance of campus life and nearby amenities.

54% of students graduate within four years, and graduates earn a median of $62,908 a decade after enrollment. Net price after aid averages $10,550.

Established
1989
Type
Public university
Conference
Division II level of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)
Division
Division II
96%Acceptance
SAT Avg
14,174Students
21:1Student:Faculty
54%Grad Rate
$62,908Earnings 10yr
$10,550Net Price

News & Alerts

program2026-03-15

California State University-San Marcos Launches New Data Science Minor

tuition2026-02-28

Tuition Increase Announced for 2026-27

Admissions

Acceptance Rate95.7%

Admissions Intel

Acceptance Rate

95.7%

Trend

Yield Rate

35.0%

Cost & Financial Aid

Sticker Price

Tuition (in-state)$7,739
Tuition (out-of-state)$19,619
Room & Board$14,152
Books & Supplies$1,018
Total Cost of Attendance$21,144
Average Net Price$10,550
Median Debt at Graduation$17,350
Monthly Payment (10yr)$184

Net Price by Family Income

$0–30K$6,812
$30–48K$7,246
$48–75K$9,980
$75–110K$13,773
$110K+$19,772

Financial Intel

Avg Net Price

$10,550

Tuition Trend

Graduate w/ Zero Debt

70.4%

Avg Tuition Increase

3.2%/yr

Median Debt at Grad

$13,500

Campus Safety

Total Incidents (2024)

100

Peer Average

92

3-Year Trend

Emergency System

24/7 campus police department, blue-light phone network, emergency mass notification system

Programs (84)

Student Life

Student Body

Undergrads
14,174
Gender Split
58% / 42%
Women / Men
First Generation
48%
Pell Grant Recipients
44%

Race & Ethnicity

White 25%
Black 4%
Hispanic 51%
Asian 10%
Two+ 6%
Int'l 1%

Outcomes

4-Year Graduation Rate54.2%
Freshman Retention74.8%

Median Earnings After Graduation

6 Years$48,673
8 Years$57,040
10 Years$62,908

10-Year Earnings by Gender

Women
$46,500
Men
$59,600

Rankings

U.S. News
#23
Forbes
#323
Washington Monthly
#38

More About This School

Varsity Sports — Cougars

Rankings

History & Fun Facts

Source: Wikipedia

Location & Lifestyle

Cost of Living

112Above Average

Housing and food costs are higher than national average

Climate (School Year)

68°
Sep
55°
Oct
42°
Nov
30°
Dec
25°
Jan
28°
Feb
38°
Mar
50°
Apr
62°
May
Snowfall: 48"Sunny days: 200Rainy days: 120

Nearest Cities

Bostonpop. 675,647
90 miles(95 min)
Hartfordpop. 121,054
60 miles(70 min)

Getting There

Visit Planning

Deadline Calendar

California State University-San Marcos Application Checklist

Decision Notifications

California State University-San Marcos — v2 Preview — TourStack