School Profile

California State University at San Marcos

School Overview: Acceptance Rate, Tuition, and More

San Marcos, CA

$5,742

Avg in-state tuition

$17,622

Avg out-of-state tuition

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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 15,040, and admissions are selective, with an acceptance rate of 79%. The university offers 36 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 $5,742, while tuition and fees for out-of-state students are $17,622.

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.

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.

Application Considerations

Test scores Required

High school transcript Required

High school rank Not required or recommended

Letter of recommendation Not required or recommended

High school GPA Required

Open admission No

Completion of college prep program Required

Test of English as a foreign language (TOEFL) Not required or recommended

Transfer Credit Policy

Dual enrollment Yes

Credit for qualified life experience* Yes

Advance placement (AP) credits Yes

*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 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 awards

16k

Students enrolled

100%

Online student enrollment

27:1

Student to faculty ratio

Ways Students Can Learn

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

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.

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Online Programs

Offers Online Programs

Yes

Online Programs

5

Total Online Enrollment

16,353

Student Location Breakout

Percent of Programs Online

93% On-campus

7% Online

Types of Online Programs Offered

Certificates X Bold Not offered

Associate X Bold Not offered

Bachelor's Check Bold 6% online

Graduate Certificate Check Bold 8% online

Master's Check Bold 11% online

Doctorate X Bold Not offered

Student Charges

Tuition and Required Fees

Student Level In-state Out-of-state
Undergraduate $5,742 $17,622
Graduate $7,176 $16,680

Cost of Undergraduate Attendance

Costs based on full-time, first-time degree or certificate-seeking undergraduates for the 2020–2021 academic year.

Costs to Consider Price
Books and supplies $1,072
On-campus room and board $13,150
On-campus other expenses $3,152
Off-campus (not with family) room and board $16,180
Off-campus (not with family) other expenses $4,222
Off-campus (with family) other expenses $4,470

Total Undergraduate Cost

Total cost by category In-state Out-of-state
On-campus $23,116 $34,996
Off-campus without family $27,216 $39,096
Off-campus with family $11,284 $23,164

Financial Breakdown

Students Receiving Aid

Federal Grant Aid

51%

State Grant Aid

63%

Institution Grant Aid

49%

Pell Grant

51%

Average Aid Awarded

Federal Grant Aid $5,234
State Grant Aid $2,396
Institution Grant Aid $5,413
Pell Grant Aid $4,676

Financial Outlook

$18k

Average student debt after graduation

$41k

Average salary 6 years after starting school

Varsity Athletic Teams

No information available for this school.

Degrees Awarded by Program

Degrees given for the 2020-2021 academic year.

1

Area, Ethnic, Cultural, And Gender Studies

BA

MA

DOC

2

Area, Ethnic, Cultural, Gender, And Group Studies

BA

MA

DOC

3

Biological And Biomedical Sciences

BA

MA

DOC

4

Business, Management, Marketing, And Related Support Services

BA

MA

DOC

5

Communication, Journalism, And Related Programs

BA

MA

DOC

6

Computer And Information Sciences And Support Services

BA

MA

DOC

7

Education

BA

MA

DOC

8

Engineering

BA

MA

DOC

9

English Language And Literature/Letters

BA

MA

DOC

10

Family And Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences

BA

MA

DOC

11

Foreign Languages, Literatures, And Linguistics

BA

MA

DOC

12

Health Professions And Related Clinical Sciences

BA

MA

DOC

13

Health Professions And Related Programs

BA

MA

DOC

14

History

BA

MA

DOC

15

History

BA

MA

DOC

16

Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting And Related Protective Services

BA

MA

DOC

17

Liberal Arts And Sciences, General Studies And Humanities

BA

MA

DOC

18

Mathematics And Statistics

BA

MA

DOC

19

Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies

BA

MA

DOC

20

Natural Resources And Conservation

BA

MA

DOC

21

Parks, Recreation, Leisure, And Fitness Studies

BA

MA