California State University-San Marcos
San Marcos, CA · Public · offers Graduate degrees
95%Acceptance rate
$10,229Average net price / year
55%Graduation rate
$62,908Median earnings 10 yrs after entry
$17,350Median debt at graduation
14,877Undergraduates
Cost
- In-state tuition & fees
- $8,082
- Out-of-state tuition
- $20,682
- Total cost of attendance
- $21,649
- Room & board
- $14,152
- Books & supplies
- $1,061
- Average net price
- $10,229
Net price by family income
- $0–30k
- $6,230
- $30–48k
- $7,240
- $48–75k
- $8,928
- $75–110k
- $12,525
- $110k+
- $18,734
Admissions
- Acceptance rate
- 95.1%
Outcomes
- Graduation rate
- 55%
- First-year retention
- 79%
- Median earnings (6 yrs)
- $48,673
- Median earnings (10 yrs)
- $62,908
- Median debt (graduates)
- $17,350
- 3-year loan default rate
- 0.0%
- Students with Pell grants
- 43%
- Students with federal loans
- 28%
Programs: what graduates earn
44 of 84 programs have published earnings or debt data. Earnings are median salaries of graduates one year after completing the program (or the latest available year).
Bachelor's degree
Master's degree
| Program | Graduates | Earnings | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 37 | $119,753 | $60,000 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 59 | $84,450 | $36,990 |
| Education, General | 21 | $77,823 | $20,936 |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | 33 | $74,686 | $70,750 |
| Educational Administration and Supervision | 0 | $71,562 | $15,100 |
| Social Work | 69 | $62,668 | $41,000 |
| Biotechnology | 14 | $92,859 | — |
| Special Education and Teaching | 19 | $72,765 | — |
Students
- Undergraduates
- 14,877
- Graduate students
- 1,389
- Part-time
- 16%
- Women / men
- 57% / 43%
- White
- 24%
- Hispanic
- 52%
- Black
- 4%
- Asian
- 9%
- International
- 1%
Faculty & school
- Student–faculty ratio
- 24:1
- Avg faculty salary
- $108,414 / year
- Full-time faculty
- 46%
- Accreditor
- Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission
- Website
- www.csusm.edu
- Also known as
- NA
Most popular fields
- Communication & Journalism – 4% of degrees
- Computer & Information Sciences – 5% of degrees
- Education – 3% of degrees
- Family & Consumer Sciences – 3% of degrees
- Liberal Arts & General Studies – 5% of degrees
- Biological Sciences – 6% of degrees
Frequently asked questions
What is the acceptance rate at California State University-San Marcos?
95.1% of applicants were admitted.
How much does California State University-San Marcos cost?
The average net price after grants is $10,229 per year; in-state tuition and fees are $8,082 and the full cost of attendance is $21,649.
How much do California State University-San Marcos graduates earn?
Students who enrolled earn a median of $62,908 ten years later. See the program table above for salaries by major.
What is the graduation rate?
55% of first-time, full-time students graduate within 150% of normal time.
Other colleges in San Marcos
| College | Net price | Acceptance | Graduation | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Palomar College San Marcos, CA · Public · 17,712 students |
$5,763 | — | 38% | $42,300 |
| Pima Medical Institute-San Marcos San Marcos, CA · Private for-profit · 573 students |
$27,365 | — | 71% | $38,673 |
| Palomar Institute of Cosmetology San Marcos, CA · Private for-profit · 193 students |
$27,778 | — | 89% | $23,451 |
| University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences San Marcos, CA · Private for-profit |
— | — | — | $79,150 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, June 2026 release.