Public · San Marcos, California
California State University-San Marcos
Suburban campus · 14,877 undergraduates · 24 students per faculty member · Official website
- Acceptance rate
- 95%
- Test scores
- Test-optional
- Average net price
- $10,229
- per year, after grants
- 6-year graduation
- 55%

Is California State University-San Marcos a reach, a target or a likely for your student?
Add a GPA and test scores and U Shortlist shows admission odds, the net price at your income, and how California State University-San Marcos fits against what your family said matters, on a map of 1,546 colleges.
What California State University-San Marcos costs
Net price is what a first-year student pays for a year after grants and scholarships, by family income. It is usually far below the sticker price.
Net price by family income
- 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
For students receiving federal aid, at in-state tuition.
These are in-state prices. Your family's price, at your income and from your home state with any WUE discount applied, is in your account.See your family's price →
Price and aid
- Full cost of attendance (sticker)
- $21,649
- Tuition, in-state
- $8,082
- Tuition, out-of-state
- $20,682
- First-years given a grant by the school
- 46%
- Average grant from the school
- $5,568
- Median debt at graduation
- $17,350
- The school's own net price calculator
- Open ↗
Western Undergraduate Exchange. Students from 17 other member states may pay a reduced rate here, at most 150% of in-state tuition. Each school sets its own WUE rules: some require a minimum GPA, exclude majors, or limit awards. Details ↗
Admissions
- Acceptance rate
- 95%
- SAT middle 50%
- –
- ACT middle 50%
- –
- Test scores
- Test-optional
- First-year retention
- 77%
Is this a reach, a target or a likely?
Below, inside or above the range, with the acceptance rate, decides reach, target or likely. U Shortlist works it out from your student’s own scores and keeps it separate from fit.
Check your student’s odds →California State University-San Marcos athletics
NCAA D2, 7 women's and 6 men's sports
| Sport | Women’s roster | Men’s roster |
|---|---|---|
| Baseball | – | 39 |
| Basketball | 18 | 16 |
| Cross country | 136 | 64 |
| Golf | 10 | 10 |
| Soccer | 32 | 29 |
| Softball | 26 | – |
| Track & field | 136 | 64 |
| Volleyball | 18 | – |
Participants reported to the U.S. Department of Education. A dash means no team for that side.
Find every NCAA D2 school with women’s soccer within 300 miles of you, on one map with net price and admission odds.Search by sport →
Academics and outcomes
Most popular fields
- Business & marketing
- 18%
- Social sciences
- 17%
- Health professions
- 10%
- Psychology
- 9%
- Parks, recreation & fitness
- 7%
- Biological & biomedical sciences
- 6%
Share of bachelor’s degrees awarded.
- 6-year graduation rate
- 55%
- First-year retention
- 77%
- Median earnings 10 years after entry
- $62,908
- Median debt at graduation
- $17,350
- Students with a Pell grant
- 43%
Similar colleges nearby
- University of California-San DiegoLa Jolla, CA · 18 mi away34,948 undergrads · net $12,470
- The University of Arizona Global CampusChandler, AZ · 21 mi away20,152 undergrads · net –
- San Diego State UniversitySan Diego, CA · 25 mi away35,377 undergrads · net $15,364
- University of Massachusetts GlobalAliso Viejo, CA · 45 mi away4,491 undergrads · net $32,654
- University of California-IrvineIrvine, CA · 53 mi away30,197 undergrads · net $14,251
- University of California-RiversideRiverside, CA · 59 mi away22,593 undergrads · net $14,304
Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (admissions, prices, outcomes), IPEDS Student Financial Aid 2023–24 (school grants) and Equity in Athletics 2024–25 (teams). No college paid to appear here or can pay to be ranked.
