California State University-San Marcos
California State University-San Marcos admitted 95% of applicants. Its average net price after aid for in-state students was $10,939 a year. Within six years, 55% of first-time, full-time students graduated.
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Admissions
- Admission rate
- 95%
- SAT/ACT scores
- Not required
Cost
- In-state cost of attendance, before aid
- $23,131 a year
- Average in-state net price after aid
- $10,939 a year
- In-state net price for families earning under $30,000
- $7,618 a year
- In-state tuition and fees
- $8,454 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees
- $21,774 a year
Outcomes
- Graduation rate (within 6 years)
- 55%
- Students who return for a second year
- 79%
- Median earnings 10 years after starting
- $67,217 a year
- Median debt at graduation
- $16,000
Students
- Undergraduates
- 14,877
- Undergraduates with a Pell Grant
- 47%
- Student-faculty ratio
- 24 to 1
- Campus setting
- Suburb
Most common fields of study
Share of the degrees the college awarded, by field.
- Business, management and marketing
- 18%
- Social sciences
- 17%
- Health professions
- 10%
- Psychology
- 9%
- Parks, recreation, leisure, fitness and kinesiology
- 7%
Colleges with similar selectivity
Closest by admission rate and SAT scores.
- Maryville University of Saint Louis MO · 95% admitted
- Midway University KY · 95% admitted
- National Louis University IL · 95% admitted
- Benedictine University IL · 95% admitted
- Cal Poly Maritime Academy CA · 95% admitted
- Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus NJ · 95% admitted
More colleges in California
- California State University-Fullerton CA · 91% admitted
- California State University-Long Beach CA · 46% admitted
- San Diego State University CA · 36% admitted
- University of California-San Diego CA · 27% admitted
- University of California-Los Angeles CA · 9% admitted
- University of California-Berkeley CA · 11% admitted
- California State University-Northridge CA · 93% admitted
- University of California-Davis CA · 42% admitted
Official sources
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Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, most recent institution-level data (October 2026 release). Admission figures are reported by the college; check its website for current requirements.