College · Public · San Marcos, CA · Suburb
California State University-San Marcos
San Marcos, CA
Hispanic-serving
Admit rate95%
6-yr median pay$49k
Net price / yr$10k
Undergrad size14,877
§ I · The real read
What it's actually like.
The bet
Net price of $10k/yr for a shot at a $49k first-5-year salary. Math out whether that works for you — it does for some people, not for others.
Getting in
Admit rate of 95% means this is workable if your grades and essays are solid.
If you get in
14,877 undergrads. Medium. Clubs matter for finding your people.
Where you live
Suburban — a short drive to the nearest city, greener but still connected.
§ II · Cost & aid
Sticker vs. real.
Sticker cost of attendance is $22k/yr. After need-based aid, the average student pays $10k/yr. Merit aid varies. Run your EFC calculator before you rule anything out.
Sticker · 4 yrs$87k
Before any aid.
Net · 4 yrs$41k
What the average student pays.
Typical aid$46k
Difference over 4 years — higher for lower-income households.
Payback0.8x
4-yr net price ÷ first-5-year salary. Lower is better.
Where the money goes · annual sticker.
- Tuition · in-state
- $8.1k
- Tuition · out-of-state
- $20.7k
- Room & board
- $14.2k
- Books & supplies
- $1,061
How students pay for it.
Pell grants43%
Share of undergrads on federal Pell grants.
Federal loans28%
Share taking out federal student loans.
Median debt · grads$17k
What the median student owes at graduation. Non-completers: $8k.
3-yr default0%
Low — grads tend to pay on time.
§ III · Outcomes
Do people finish? Do they land?
1-yr retention77%
Watch this number.
Graduation · 6 yr55%
A meaningful chunk do not finish — ask why.
6-yr median pay$49k
Cross-major. Your major's number can be very different.
10-yr median pay$63k
Ten years out — where grads tend to land career-wise.
Transfer out4%
Share of full-time students who transfer to another school.
§ IV · Campus & identity
Setting, size, and who this school is.
- Setting
- Suburb
- Control
- Public
- Undergrad size
- 14,877
- Location
- San Marcos, CA
- Region
- Far West (AK, CA, HI, NV, OR, WA)
- Carnegie class
- Master's Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs
- Size & setting
- Four-year · large · primarily nonresidential
- Undergrad program
- Four-year · full-time, inclusive, higher transfer-in
- Accreditor
- Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission
§ · Who studies here
The student body at a glance.
- Hispanic52%
- White24%
- Asian9%
- Two or more races6%
- Black4%
- Unknown3%
- International1%
First-gen students48%
Share whose parents didn't complete college.
Part-time16%
Mixed full-time and part-time.
Veterans1%
Share using veteran education benefits.
Median family income$31k
Of enrolled students' households — useful for aid context.
§ V · Majors offered here · 47
What you can study.