California State University, San Marcos is relatively new to the academic arena, opening in 1990 in North San Diego County. However, the college has continued to grow in recent years, now encompassing 304 acres of the idyllic San Marcos foothills. The university, which is minutes from the beach and about an hour from the desert and mountains, is comprised of four colleges, with the College of Humanities, Arts, Behavioral & Social Sciences boasting the highest enrollment. The most popular major is business administration, followed by nursing, psychology, human development, criminology and sociology. The student body has more than 700 international and exchange students. In addition to the natural outdoor wonders at the students’ fingertips, there are also more than 100 organizations to pick from, including a finance society, a powerlifting group and a League of Legends club. Students can also play on or simply support the San Marcos teams in sports like baseball, golf and soccer.
Costs
- Est. full price 2022-2023
- $25,800
- % of students who get any grants
- 67%
- Est. price for students who receive aid
- $13,700
- Average price for low-income students
- $9,400
Admissions
- Acceptance rate
- 62%
- Median SAT/ACT score
- 1050/20
- SAT/ACT required?
- No
- Undergraduate enrollment
- 14,770
Financial Aid
- % of students with need who get grants
- 91%
- % of need met
- 43%
- % of students who get merit grants
- 1%
- Average merit grant
- $940
Student Success
- Graduation rate
- 55%
- Average time to a degree
- 4.9 years
- Median student debt
- $17,134
- Early career earnings
- $54,810
- % earning more than a high school grad
- 72%
