California State University-San Marcos
PublicSan Marcos, CA
California State University-San Marcos, in San Marcos, CA, is a public large school, enrolling around 14,877 students. Admissions are not highly selective, admitting a majority of applicants here -- roughly 95% of applicants get in. Health Professions and Related Programs graduates, especially in Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing, report the strongest earnings here: a median of $120,196/year. Most students arrange their own housing since on-campus living isn't required.
Admissions
Cost & outcomes
Out-of-state students pay $12,600 more per year in tuition and fees (2.6x the in-state rate).
From the US Dept of Education College Scorecard, most recent year reported. Not every school reports every field. Tuition & fees are the sticker price for a full-time first-year undergrad, before financial aid, and don't include room and board.
Paying less as an out-of-state student
California State University-San Marcos takes part in this regional program, which can cut the out-of-state rate for students from nearby states.
Western Undergraduate Exchange
Students from Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, Wyoming and the Pacific territories pay no more than 150% of in-state tuition. Each school sets its own requirements, often a GPA minimum, and some majors are left out.
Where do you stand against California State University-San Marcos's numbers?
Check your chances hereSee full profile -- financial aid, campus life, and what California State University-San Marcos weighs in your application
Paying it back
"Still growing" means a borrower's payments aren't yet covering interest 3 years into repayment -- not a default rate. A high number here can mean real repayment difficulty, or just a lot of grads who deferred for graduate school, so read it alongside the school's typical outcomes above.
Majors & earnings
Median earnings 4 years after graduation, by major, from the US Dept of Education. Only shown where the school reports a real figure for that major -- most schools don't report every major they offer, especially smaller programs.
Campus life
Room and board are shown separately from the cost of attendance above -- that total already includes them alongside tuition and fees, this just breaks out the living-cost portion.
What matters in your application
From this school's own reporting to the US Dept of Education on what it formally requires, considers, or doesn't use when reviewing applications.
Frequently asked questions
What is California State University-San Marcos's acceptance rate?
California State University-San Marcos in San Marcos, CA admits approximately 95% of applicants, based on the US Dept of Education's most recently reported figures.
How much does California State University-San Marcos cost?
California State University-San Marcos's total cost of attendance is reported at $21,649 per year, including tuition, fees, and room and board.
Does California State University-San Marcos offer reduced tuition for out-of-state students?
Yes -- California State University-San Marcos takes part in the Western Undergraduate Exchange, a regional program that lets qualifying out-of-state students pay less than the full out-of-state rate. Eligibility depends on your home state, and the school sets its own requirements.
What is out-of-state tuition at California State University-San Marcos?
For 2024-25, California State University-San Marcos's published tuition and required fees were $20,682 for out-of-state students and $8,082 for in-state students -- $12,600 more per year for out-of-state students. That's before financial aid, and room and board are extra.
Does California State University-San Marcos require students to live on campus?
No -- California State University-San Marcos doesn't require students to live in on-campus housing.
Related reading
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