California State University at San MarcosSchool Overview: Acceptance Rate, Tuition, and More

San Marcos, CA

$7,717

Avg in-state tuition

$19,597

Avg out-of-state tuition

BestColleges.com is an advertising-supported site. Featured or trusted partner programs and all school search, finder, or match results are for schools that compensate us. This compensation does not influence our school rankings, resource guides, or other editorially-independent information published on this site.

Ready to take the next step?

Discover programs by subject area to find the best college for your future.

Search all programs

Work here? Claim your school's profile

About California State University at San Marcos

School Type: Public

Status: Non-profit

Accreditation: Regional

Religious Affiliation: N/A While the student experience is largely unaffected at most schools with religious affiliations, some schools place more of an emphasis on religion. Learn how religious affiliations may impact students' experience.

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 16,053, and admissions are selective, with an acceptance rate of 62%. The university offers 35 bachelor's degrees, has an average graduation rate of 54%, and a student-faculty ratio of 26:1. Tuition and fees for in-state students are $7,717, while tuition and fees for out-of-state students are $19,597.

Admissions Breakdown

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.

Acceptance Rate Insight

62% of students were accepted during the 2019-2020 school year. Sometimes schools with midrange acceptance rates have higher standards of entry but are still accessible to many students who apply.

SAT & ACT

SAT 25th-75th Percentile 950-1140

ACT 25th-75th Percentile 17-22

Learning Environment

Student Body Stats

This school has a student body of more than 15,000 students.

Learn more about how we determine school awards

16k

Students Enrolled

33%

Online Student Enrollment

26:1

Student to Faculty Ratio

Ways Students Can Learn

Hybrid The program is a combination of on-campus and online learning and varies per program.
International Online classes are available for students around the world.

Demographics

Hispanic

45%

White

27%

Asian

9%

Unknown

5%

Two or more races

5%

Non-U.S. Citizen

5%

Black

3%

American Indian/Alaska Native

0%

Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

0%

Female student population

62%

Socio-economic diversity

49% of students received an income-based Federal Pell Grant intended for low-income students.

Financial Breakdown

Students Receiving Aid

Federal Grant Aid

50%

State Grant Aid

64%

Institution Grant Aid

43%

Pell Grant

49%

Average Aid Awarded

Federal Grant Aid $5,095
State Grant Aid $2,427
Institution Grant Aid $5,477
Pell Grant Aid $4,570

Financial Outlook

$41k

Average salary 6 years after starting school

$18k

Average student debt after graduation

Resource

Understanding Grants & Scholarships
Resource

Financial Aid Overview

Explore Rankings

Best Online Master’s Degrees and Program Guide Best Online Colleges and Universities 2022 Online Doctorate Degrees Program Guide

Explore More Resources

How Does Online College Accreditation Work? The Student’s Guide to College Planning The Ultimate College Terminology Guide

Data collected from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), [2019-2020]. 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.