Public · Mostly bachelor's degrees · Large suburb

California State University-San Marcos

San Marcos, California. 14,877 undergraduates. Admits 95% of applicants.

55%Graduation rateAbout the same as the national median for similar colleges
$10,939Average net price per year45% below the national median for similar colleges ($19,899)
$67,217Median earnings 10 years after starting14% above the national median for similar colleges ($58,912)
$16,000Median debt at graduation26% below the national median for similar colleges ($21,609)
Our read

Graduates' median debt ($16,000) equals 24% of former students' median earnings ten years after starting ($67,217). That is a light load relative to pay.

What families actually pay

Under $30,000$7,618
$30,000–$48,000$7,756
$48,001–$75,000$9,457
$75,001–$110,000$12,320
Over $110,000$20,770

Average yearly net price for first-time, full-time students who received federal aid, by family income. Net price is the cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships. Source: College Scorecard.

Compare net price across collegesPublished tuition and fees: $8,454 in-state, $21,774 out-of-state.

Do students finish, and what do they earn?

MeasureThis collegeSimilar colleges nationally
Graduation rate55%54%
Return for second year79%76%
Median earnings, 6 years after starting$56,451$49,318
Median earnings, 10 years after starting$67,217$58,912
Median debt at graduation$16,000$21,609

Graduation rate within 150% of normal time; retention is the share of first-year students who return. Earnings are medians for former students who received federal aid, working and not enrolled. National comparison is the median for colleges of the same type (mostly bachelor's degrees).

Programs and what graduates earn

72 programs reported
ProgramGraduates / yrMedian earnings, 1 yrMedian earnings, 5 yrsMedian debt
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing294$110,156$118,221$28,028
Computer Science195$60,771$115,741$14,192
Accounting and Related Services—$70,925$104,460$14,997
Computer Systems Analysis—$63,316$103,395—
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services70$28,572$98,381$22,444
Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences—$47,535$89,793$10,190
Economics28$56,089$87,643$22,221
Computer Engineering36$81,770—$17,000
Finance and Financial Management Services—$58,814$79,800$10,404
Business Administration, Management and Operations538$54,287$76,504$14,037
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology23$53,599$76,460—
Marketing—$50,413$74,945$16,565
Biology, General161$41,912$74,513$21,759
Management Information Systems and Services—$56,828$73,097$18,318
Business/Commerce, General—$52,352$72,640$15,000
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness164$38,673$70,539$15,000
Political Science and Government68$44,035$67,538$12,523
Mathematics26—$65,435$16,511
Communication and Media Studies183$47,149$64,434$15,000
Biotechnology29$63,252—$16,500
Criminology188$38,371$62,279$11,750
History69$31,396$62,227$18,388
English Language and Literature, General58$29,454$60,786$18,383
Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology—$32,654$58,667—
Psychology, General308$35,069$57,993$15,290
Sociology245$42,251$57,943$18,391
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities146$30,938$57,227$15,000
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services99$37,100$56,852$16,255
Social Sciences, General63$38,828$56,131$15,289
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods91$34,712$54,808$15,000
Natural Resources Conservation and Research42$38,666$54,781$15,000
Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences—$51,830—$15,000
Visual and Performing Arts, General80$31,526$48,323$15,000
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics21$48,586$43,643—
Anthropology12$30,664——
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies12———
Computer and Information Sciences, General———$17,625
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering23———
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services7———
International/Globalization Studies7———
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other2———
Chemistry14———
Physics13———
Fire Protection18———
Geography and Cartography3———
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft6———
Music10———

Program-level medians for graduates who received federal aid. A dash means the Department of Education suppressed the figure to protect privacy, usually because the program is small. At four-year colleges, certificate graduates often earned a bachelor's at the same time, so their earnings can reflect the degree. Source: College Scorecard, field of study data.

Getting in

95%Admission rate
24:1Students per faculty member
47%Undergraduates with a Pell Grant

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Quick answers

How much does California State University-San Marcos cost per year?
The average net price at California State University-San Marcos, what students pay after grants and scholarships, is $10,939 per year. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
How much do California State University-San Marcos graduates earn?
Former California State University-San Marcos students earn a median of $67,217 a year ten years after starting college. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
What is the graduation rate at California State University-San Marcos?
55% of California State University-San Marcos students graduate within 150% of normal time. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
How much student debt do California State University-San Marcos graduates have?
The median federal student debt at graduation from California State University-San Marcos is $16,000. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.