PublicFour-yearHispanic-serving

California State University-San Marcos

San Marcos, CA · Highest award: Graduate degree

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Net price (avg)
$10,229
Academic year 2023-24
In-state tuition
$8,082
Academic year 2024-25
Graduation rate
54.6%
Fall 2018 entering cohort (150%), Fall 2016 (200%)
Median earnings (10 yr)
$62,908
Entering cohort AY2009-10 / 2010-11, measured in 2022 dollars

Read the years, not just the numbers

Each figure below is labelled with the period it covers, because they are not all from the same year. Tuition is Academic year 2024-25, while the earnings figure describes students who entered Entering cohort AY2009-10 / 2010-11, measured in 2022 dollars. They are historical facts about this institution, not a quote for you.

What it actually costs

Net price is what students paid after grant and scholarship aid — usually far below the sticker price.

Total cost of attendance
$21,649
Academic year 2023-24
Tuition & fees (in state)
$8,082
Academic year 2024-25
Tuition & fees (out of state)
$20,682
Academic year 2024-25
Room & board (on campus)
$14,152
Academic year 2024-25
Room & board (off campus)
$20,921
Academic year 2024-25
Books & supplies
$1,061
Academic year 2024-25

Average net price by family income

Academic year 2023-24

$0–30,0006,230
$30,001–48,0007,240
$48,001–75,0008,928
$75,001–110,00012,525
$110,001+18,734

Figures are U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard data for Academic year 2023-24, published by the U.S. federal government. They are historical reference values, not a quote, and not an offer. Your actual cost will depend on your own circumstances.

This college’s official net price calculator ↗

Outcomes

Historical results for students who attended. They do not predict your own.

Graduation rate (150% time)
54.6%
Fall 2018 entering cohort (150%), Fall 2016 (200%)
Graduation rate (200% time)
59.9%
Fall 2018 entering cohort (150%), Fall 2016 (200%)
Retention (full-time)
78.6%
Fall 2023 cohort
Median earnings (6 yr)
$48,673
Entering cohort AY2009-10 / 2010-11, measured in 2022 dollars
Median earnings (10 yr)
$62,908
Entering cohort AY2009-10 / 2010-11, measured in 2022 dollars
Loan default rate (3 yr)
0.0%
FSA FY2022 cohort
Median debt of completers
$17,350
NSLDS FY2020/21 pooled
Median debt monthly payment
$183.94
NSLDS FY2020/21 pooled
Repayment rate (3 yr)
66.6%
NSLDS FY2013/14 cohort

Compared with a high-school graduate

Students here earned a median of $62,908 ten years after entering, against a national benchmark for high-school graduates of $36,082. That benchmark is 2023 ACS 5-year pooled, 2024 dollars.

Admissions and size

Many institutions do not report these — “Not reported” is not a zero.

Admission rate
95.1%
Fall 2024
Average SAT (equivalent)
Not reported
Fall 2024
ACT 25th–75th percentile
Not reported
Fall 2024
Undergraduate enrollment
14,877
Fall 2024
Student-faculty ratio
24:1
Fall 2024
First-generation share
48.3%
Fall 2024
Pell grant recipients
42.6%
Academic year 2023-24
Federal loan recipients
28.3%
Academic year 2023-24
Median family income
$31,283
AY2022-23 (median family income)

Student body

Fall 2024

White24%
Hispanic52%
Black4%
Asian9%
Two or more races6%
Nonresident / international1%

Other Four-year institutions in CA

Peer institutions
InstitutionNet priceGrad rateEarnings (10 yr)
ATI College-WhittierNot reported72.2%$38,938
Abraham Lincoln UniversityNot reported0.0%Not reported
Academy for Jewish Religion CaliforniaNot reportedNot reportedNot reported
Academy of Art UniversityNot reported34.3%$39,008
Academy of Chinese Culture and Health SciencesNot reportedNot reportedNot reported
Acupuncture and Integrative Medicine College-BerkeleyNot reportedNot reportedNot reported
Agape College of Business and ScienceNot reported77.8%Not reported
Alder Graduate School of EducationNot reportedNot reportedNot reported
Alhambra Medical UniversityNot reportedNot reportedNot reported
Alliant International University-FresnoNot reportedNot reported$66,666
Alliant International University-IrvineNot reportedNot reported$66,666
Alliant International University-Los AngelesNot reportedNot reported$66,666

Earnings by field of study

Four years after graduation, by programme. Compare each against the national median for that field.

Earnings by field of study
ProgrammeMedian earnings (4 yr)National medianMedian debt
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.$148,800$120,193Not reported
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.$120,196$88,910$25,047
Business Administration, Management and Operations.$105,743$103,485Not reported
Computer Science.$97,827$107,009$12,850
Education, General.$95,348$65,824Not reported
Computer Systems Analysis.$93,047$78,929Not reported
Biotechnology.$92,859$107,682Not reported
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services.$88,196$67,030Not reported
Accounting and Related Services.$86,318$76,194$22,500
Economics.$83,339$82,686$17,500
Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences.$80,303$66,697$19,375
International Business.$77,965$73,201$15,965
Social Work.$77,471$65,123Not reported
Finance and Financial Management Services.$77,312$83,343$15,125
Biotechnology.$76,622$67,097$18,500
Marketing.$73,290$69,303$19,032
Management Information Systems and Services.$72,448$83,290$16,170
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services.$71,068$58,928$15,998
Business Administration, Management and Operations.$70,900$68,257$19,015
Biology, General.$70,789$57,214$24,174

Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard (release 2026-06-10) — https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/data/ · Data last updated 2026-06-10