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California State University-San Marcos
Admission at California State University-San Marcos is close to open (95.1%), which shifts the homework to outcomes: check the $62,908 median earnings below before the application.
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California State University-San Marcos occupies suburban San Marcos, CA — a public campus quieter than a downtown one, closer to one than a rural seat.
Its highest-earning path is Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing, where graduates median $120,196 four years out. 42.6% of undergraduates carry Pell grants — a plain read on who the campus actually serves. Most of its 14,877 undergraduates commute — campus empties by evening — yet 78.6% of first-years return, which says something about what daytime here is worth.
California State University-San Marcos won't look at test scores — here the GPA calculator is the tool that matters. Bring your saved semester numbers and see what they average.
Admissions
In the Fall 2023 cycle, California State University-San Marcos received 17,519 applications and admitted 16,765 (95.7%), with 2,625 enrolling.
Leave the SAT prep out of this one — test scores are disregarded entirely. California State University-San Marcos's 95.1% admission rate turned on grades and application strength.
How California State University-San Marcos compares
| California State University-San Marcos | California median | National median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 95.1% | 75.7% | 77.2% |
| Tuition (in-state) | $8,082 | $23,000 | $19,591 |
| Median earnings (10 yr) | $62,908 | $64,778 | $53,781 |
At $62,908, ten-year earnings trail the state median ($64,778). Look at California State University-San Marcos's major-level rows below before reading too much into the campus-wide number.
Cost, size & completion
In-state students pay $8,082 in tuition; crossing a state border raises that to $20,682. For non-residents, California State University-San Marcos's $20,682 is the number to weigh against private options before assuming public means cheaper.
At 14,877 undergrads, California State University-San Marcos is a mid-sized campus by U.S. standards.
54.6% graduate within six years. Roughly 45% don't — ask a California State University-San Marcos tour guide what happens to them and watch the answer carefully.
Top majors by earnings at California State University-San Marcos
| Bachelor's program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion |
|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $120,196 |
| Computer Science | $97,827 |
| Computer Systems Analysis | $93,047 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $86,318 |
| Economics | $83,339 |
| Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences | $80,303 |
| International Business | $77,965 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $77,312 |
| Biotechnology | $76,622 |
| Marketing | $73,290 |
| Management Information Systems and Services | $72,448 |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | $71,068 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $70,900 |
| Biology, General | $70,789 |
| Business/Commerce, General | $68,984 |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | $65,479 |
| Social Sciences, General | $63,622 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | $61,252 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $59,842 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $58,289 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | $55,903 |
| Criminology | $55,418 |
| Psychology, General | $55,196 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $54,985 |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | $53,568 |
| Sociology | $53,287 |
| History | $52,985 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $51,445 |
| Political Science and Government | $50,857 |
| Anthropology | $49,848 |
| Visual and Performing Arts, General | $48,043 |
Median earnings for these 31 California State University-San Marcos programs come from a different federal cohort than the campus-wide $62,908 above — compare rows to each other, not to that 10-year figure. 16 additional California State University-San Marcos programs have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.
Frequently asked questions
What GPA and test scores do you need for California State University-San Marcos?
California State University-San Marcos doesn't look at test scores; its 95.1% admission rate turned on transcripts, coursework rigor and the application itself.
What is California State University-San Marcos's acceptance rate?
95.7% in the Fall 2023 cycle — 16,765 admitted from 17,519 applicants.
How much does California State University-San Marcos cost?
In-state tuition is $8,082; out-of-state students pay $20,682. Fees, housing and aid move the real total in both directions.
What do California State University-San Marcos graduates earn?
Federal data puts median earnings at $62,908 ten years after enrolling. The table above breaks this down by major.
Similar colleges in California
- California State University-Monterey Bay — 97.4% admitted
- California State University-Channel Islands — 94.8% admitted
- University of California-Merced — 90.5% admitted
- Los Angeles College of Music — 87.7% admitted
Run your own numbers
Data: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (Jun 2026), IPEDS ADM2023/HD2024. Retrieved 2026-09-01. Figures reflect the latest federal cohorts, which lag the current admissions cycle.