California State University at San Marcos
School Overview: Acceptance Rate, Tuition, and More
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$7,712
Avg in-state tuition
$19,592
Avg out-of-state tuition
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About California State University at San Marcos
California State University at San Marcos is a large public university located on a suburban campus in San Marcos, California. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 16,367, and admissions are selective, with an acceptance rate of 79%. The university offers 44 bachelor's degrees, has an average graduation rate of 57%, and a student-faculty ratio of 27:1. Tuition and fees for in-state students are $7,712, while tuition and fees for out-of-state students are $19,592.
Admissions Breakdown
Acceptance Rate Insight
This school has a high acceptance rate.
This school accepts students at a higher rate than other schools. High acceptance schools welcome 51-100% of all applicants.
This school has a high acceptance rate.
This school accepts students at a higher rate than other schools. High acceptance schools welcome 51-100% of all applicants.
79% of students were accepted during the 2020-2021 school year. Sometimes schools with midrange acceptance rates have higher standards of entry but are still accessible to many students who apply.
Retention Rate Insight
84% of full-time students stayed to continue their studies the following academic year. These students started in Fall 2019 and returned in Fall 2020.
Graduation Rate Insight
57% of students graduated out of all full-time, first-time students who began their studies in Fall 2014. Keep in mind many students who enroll are not typically first-time students, as most are adult learners. Therefore, the number of first-time students is traditionally low.
Test scores Required
High school rank Not required or recommended
High school GPA Required
Completion of college prep program Required
High school transcript Required
Letter of recommendation Not required or recommended
Open admission No
Test of English as a foreign language (TOEFL) Not required or recommended
SAT & ACT
ACT 25th-75th Percentile 17-22
SAT 25th-75th Percentile 950-1130
Learning Environment
Student Body Stats
This school has a student body of more than 15,000 students.
Learn more about how we determine school awards16k
Students enrolled
100%
Online student enrollment
27:1
Student to faculty ratio
Ways Students Can Learn
Demographics
Hispanic
47%
White
27%
Asian
9%
Two or more races
5%
Unknown
4%
Non-U.S. Citizen
4%
Black
3%
American Indian/Alaska Native
0%
Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander
0%
Female student population
62%
Socio-economic diversity
51% of students received an income-based Federal Pell Grant intended for low-income students.
Recommended for You
Online Programs
Offers Online Programs
Yes
Online Programs
3
Total Online Enrollment
16,353
Percent of Programs Online
94% On-campus
6% Online
Types of Online Programs Offered
Certificates Not offered
Associate Not offered
Bachelor's Not offered
Graduate Certificate 13% online
Master's 13% online
Doctorate Not offered
Financial Breakdown
Students Receiving Aid
Federal Grant Aid
51%
State Grant Aid
63%
Institution Grant Aid
49%
Pell Grant
51%
Average Aid Awarded
Financial Outlook
$18k
Average student debt after graduation
$41k
Average salary 6 years after starting school
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Data collected from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), [2020-2021]. In the absence of IPED data, information was collected directly from the school and is accurate as of the date of collection. Contact the school directly for the most current and complete information.
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