California State University at San Marcos
School Overview: Acceptance Rate, Tuition, and More
About California State University at San Marcos
School Type: Public
Religious Affiliation: Not applicable
Status: Non-profit
Military Friendly: No
Accreditation: regional
California State University at San Marcos is a medium-sized public university located on a suburban campus in San Marcos, California. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 13,921, and admissions are selective, with an acceptance rate of 94%. The university offers 41 bachelor's degrees, has an average graduation rate of 54%, and a student-faculty ratio of 24:1. Tuition and fees for in-state students are $5,742, while tuition and fees for out-of-state students are $15,246.
Rankings
Learn more about how this school compares to other schools with rankings by BestColleges.
- #3 Ranked in The Best LVN to BSN Programs in California
- #5 Ranked in Best Online Colleges in California 2024
Admissions Breakdown
Acceptance Rate
Full-Time Student Retention Rate
Six-Year Graduation Rate of Full-Time, First-Time Students
Application Considerations
Test scoresNot considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
High school transcriptRequired
High school rankNot considered for admission, even if submitted
Letter of recommendationNot considered for admission, even if submitted
High school GPARequired to be considered for admission
Open admissionNo
Completion of college prep programRequired
Test of English as a foreign language (TOEFL)Required to be considered for admission
Transfer Credit Policy
Dual enrollmentYes
Credit for qualified life experience*Yes
Advance placement (AP) creditsYes
*This can include previous jobs, trainings, licenses/credentials, or seminars. You may need to complete an exam or provide a portfolio to earn credit.
SAT & ACT
ACT 25th-75th Percentile17-25
SAT 25th-75th Percentile870-1100
Learning Environment
Student Body Stats
16k
Students enrolled
43%
Online student enrollment
24:1
Student to faculty ratio
Ways Students Can Learn
Demographics
White
22%
Unknown
3%
Black
3%
Hispanic
47%
Two or more races
5%
Non-U.S. Citizen
1%
Asian
8%
American Indian/Alaska Native
0%
Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander
0%
Socio-economic diversity
30% of students received an income-based Federal Pell Grant intended for low-income students.
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Online Programs
Offers Online Programs
Yes
Online Programs
12
Total Online Enrollment
6,566
Student Location Breakout
Bar graph visual depicting student location breakout percentages.43% online, 57% on-campus.
Percent of Programs Online
85% On-campus
15% Online
Types of Online Programs Offered
CertificatesNot offered
AssociateNot offered
Bachelor's10% online
Graduate Certificate8% online
Master's29% online
DoctorateNot offered
Student Charges
Tuition and Required Fees
| Student Level | In-state | Out-of-state |
|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate | $5,742 | $15,246 |
| Graduate | $7,176 | $16,680 |
Cost of Undergraduate Attendance
Costs based on full-time, first-time degree- or certificate-seeking undergraduates.
| Costs to Consider | Price |
|---|---|
| Books and supplies | $1,018 |
| On-campus room and board | $14,152 |
| On-campus other expenses | $2,372 |
| Off-campus (not with family) room and board | $20,254 |
| Off-campus (not with family) other expenses | $2,226 |
| Off-campus (with family) other expenses | $2,598 |
Total Undergraduate Cost
| Total cost by category | In-state | Out-of-state |
|---|---|---|
| On-campus | $23,284 | $32,788 |
| Off-campus without family | $29,240 | $38,744 |
| Off-campus with family | $9,358 | $18,862 |
Financial Breakdown
Students Receiving Aid
Federal Grant Aid
47%
State Grant Aid
68%
Institution Grant Aid
48%
Pell Grant
30%
Average Aid Awarded
Financial Outlook
$17k
Average student debtafter graduation
$41k
Average salary 6 years after starting school
Varsity Athletic Teams
NCAA Division I-FCS
of the overall student body is a member of an athletic team.
Participation
- All Track Combined
- Baseball
- Basketball
- Golf
- Soccer
- Softball
- Volleyball
Degrees Awarded by Program
| # | Programs | BA | MA | Doc |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Area, Ethnic, Cultural, Gender, And Group Studies. | |||
| 2 | Biological And Biomedical Sciences. | |||
| 3 | Business, Management, Marketing, And Related Support Services. | |||
| 4 | Communication, Journalism, And Related Programs. | |||
| 5 | Computer And Information Sciences And Support Services. | |||
| 6 | Education. | |||
| 7 | Engineering. | |||
| 8 | English Language And Literature/Letters. | |||
| 9 | Family And Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences. | |||
| 10 | Foreign Languages, Literatures, And Linguistics. | |||
| 11 | Health Professions And Related Programs. | |||
| 12 | History. | |||
| 13 | Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting And Related Protective Services. | |||
| 14 | Liberal Arts And Sciences, General Studies And Humanities. | |||
| 15 | Mathematics And Statistics. | |||
| 16 | Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies. | |||
| 17 | Natural Resources And Conservation. | |||
| 18 | Parks, Recreation, Leisure, Fitness, And Kinesiology. | |||
| 19 | Physical Sciences. | |||
| 20 | Psychology. | |||
| 21 | Public Administration And Social Service Professions. | |||
| 22 | Social Sciences. | |||
| 23 | Visual And Performing Arts. |
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Data collected from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) and Peterson’s Data — typically from the most recently available cohort year. In the absence of this 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.