California State University-San Marcos
San Marcos, California · Public, 4-year
At a glance
Average net price
$10,229
In-state, after aid
6-year graduation rate
54.6%
Admission rate
95%
Undergrad size
14,877
In-state tuition
$8,082
Out-of-state tuition
$20,682
Cost of attendance
$21,649
Median earnings (10y)
$62,908
Admissions
- SAT average
- Not available
- ACT midpoint
- Not available
- Retention
- 78.6%
- Locale
- Suburb
Programs breakdown
22 program areas reported · Academic mix is led by social sciences (33%), humanities & arts (17%), stem (17%).
- STEM17%
- Health11%
- Business16%
- Humanities & arts17%
- Social sciences33%
- Trades & services6%
- Social sciences17.6%~2,626 students/yr · Social sciencesCompare schools
- Business16.2%~2,415 students/yr · BusinessCompare schools
- Health professions11.0%~1,636 students/yr · HealthCompare schools
- Psychology9.3%~1,376 students/yr · Social sciencesCompare schools
- ~958 students/yr · STEMCompare schools
- Computer science5.8%~867 students/yr · STEMCompare schools
- Communication5.4%~805 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
- ~738 students/yr · Trades & servicesCompare schools
- Liberal arts4.4%~656 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
- ~445 students/yr · Social sciencesCompare schools
- ~427 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
- Education2.7%~400 students/yr · Social sciencesCompare schools
- History2.1%~306 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
- Engineering1.8%~265 students/yr · STEMCompare schools
- English1.7%~251 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
- ~189 students/yr · STEMCompare schools
- ~122 students/yr · STEMCompare schools
- Mathematics0.8%~118 students/yr · STEMCompare schools
- ~113 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
- ~80 students/yr · Trades & servicesCompare schools
- ~49 students/yr · Social sciencesCompare schools
- ~36 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
Share of all degrees and certificates awarded in each broad CIP-2 program area (U.S. Department of Education, latest reporting year). Estimated students/yr = share × undergrad size.
Specific majors offered
40 specific majors with reported completions. Earnings shown are median annual earnings 1 year after graduation; debt is median student-loan debt at graduation.
| Major | Credential | Grads | Median earnings | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | Bachelor's | 1,003 | $45,186 | $19,015 |
| Psychology, General. | Bachelor's | 640 | $29,075 | $18,312 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | Bachelor's | 596 | $90,827 | $25,047 |
| Sociology. | Bachelor's | 578 | $30,004 | $15,000 |
| Criminology. | Bachelor's | 507 | $31,316 | $14,810 |
| Communication and Media Studies. | Bachelor's | 405 | $35,822 | $16,500 |
| Biology, General. | Bachelor's | 384 | $32,192 | $24,174 |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services. | Bachelor's | 355 | $27,490 | $17,193 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities. | Bachelor's | 329 | $23,647 | $15,125 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness. | Bachelor's | 290 | $29,198 | $18,257 |
| Computer Science. | Bachelor's | 279 | $58,962 | $12,850 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods. | Bachelor's | 235 | $29,138 | $15,150 |
| Public Health. | Master's | 161 | — | — |
| Social Work. | Master's | 158 | $49,653 | — |
| Visual and Performing Arts, General. | Bachelor's | 152 | $25,472 | $18,750 |
| History. | Bachelor's | 142 | $19,478 | $16,923 |
| English Language and Literature, General. | Bachelor's | 130 | $25,641 | $15,500 |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services. | Bachelor's | 129 | — | $15,998 |
| Political Science and Government. | Bachelor's | 128 | $32,978 | $19,485 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | Master's | 118 | $72,843 | — |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research. | Bachelor's | 100 | $31,705 | $12,424 |
| Economics. | Bachelor's | 95 | $45,626 | $17,500 |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology. | Bachelor's | 71 | $46,580 | $16,666 |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services. | Master's | 70 | $67,078 | — |
| Social Sciences, General. | Bachelor's | 69 | $33,589 | $18,719 |
| Computer Engineering. | Bachelor's | 66 | — | — |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | Master's | 65 | $107,746 | — |
| Biotechnology. | Bachelor's | 53 | — | $18,500 |
| Mathematics. | Bachelor's | 52 | — | — |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics. | Bachelor's | 46 | $28,598 | $7,500 |
| Anthropology. | Bachelor's | 46 | $27,084 | $17,000 |
| Education, General. | Master's | 43 | $71,769 | — |
| Special Education and Teaching. | Master's | 34 | — | — |
| Fire Protection. | Bachelor's | 34 | — | — |
| Bilingual, Multilingual, and Multicultural Education. | Master's | 33 | — | — |
| Biotechnology. | Master's | 33 | $55,438 | — |
| Computer Science. | Master's | 32 | — | — |
| Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management. | Master's | 32 | — | — |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services. | Graduate certificate | 32 | — | — |
| Curriculum and Instruction. | Master's | 30 | — | — |
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard Field of Study. Earnings cover graduates who received federal financial aid and are working / not enrolled. Cells marked "—" are not reported or were suppressed for privacy.
About California State University-San Marcos
California State University-San Marcos is a large institution located in San Marcos, California, primarily awarding the bachelor's degree. It enrolls roughly 14,877 undergraduate students in a suburb setting. The most popular fields of study include Social sciences, Business, Health professions.
Cost & tuition
The average net price at California State University-San Marcos — what a typical student actually pays after grants and scholarships — is $10,229 per year, which is moderately priced compared to other U.S. institutions. Sticker tuition runs $8,082 for in-state students and $20,682 for out-of-state students before aid. Total cost of attendance, including housing, books, and living expenses, comes to about $21,649 annually.
Graduation & earnings outcomes
The 6-year graduation rate is 54.6%, a above-average completion outcome. 78.6% of first-time students return for a second year, a useful proxy for student satisfaction and academic fit. Ten years after enrolling, the median graduate earns $62,908 per year according to U.S. Department of Education earnings tracking.
Programs & majors
California State University-San Marcos confers degrees and certificates across 22 broad program areas, with the largest concentrations of completions in Social sciences, Business, Health professions. Grouped into wider academic categories, the mix is led by social sciences (33% of credentials), humanities & arts (17% of credentials), stem (17% of credentials), which gives a quick read on the school's overall academic profile. Use the programs breakdown below to see every reported area, an estimated number of students per program per year, and links to compare other U.S. colleges in the same field.
Admissions
California State University-San Marcos accepts 95% of applicants, making it open or near-open admission.
Location & campus
Set in San Marcos, California (suburb), California State University-San Marcos draws students from across California and beyond. Prospective students often weigh proximity, cost of living, and local industry demand when choosing between schools in this area.
Frequently asked questions about California State University-San Marcos
Q.How much does California State University-San Marcos cost?
The average net price at California State University-San Marcos is $10,229 per year after grants and scholarships, with total cost of attendance around $21,649.
Q.What is the graduation rate at California State University-San Marcos?
California State University-San Marcos has a 6-year graduation rate of 54.6% according to the latest U.S. Department of Education data.
Q.How hard is it to get into California State University-San Marcos?
California State University-San Marcos admits 95% of applicants, which is considered open or near-open admission.
Q.How much do California State University-San Marcos graduates earn?
Ten years after enrolling, the median California State University-San Marcos graduate earns $62,908 per year.
Q.What is tuition at California State University-San Marcos?
Published tuition is $8,082 in-state and $20,682 out-of-state. Most students pay less than the sticker price after financial aid.
Q.Where is California State University-San Marcos located?
California State University-San Marcos is located in San Marcos, California (ZIP 92096).
Data on this page comes from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS, the federal sources colleges are required to report to. Net price, graduation rate, and earnings figures reflect the latest available federal release. Always verify current tuition and program availability directly with California State University-San Marcos at their official website.