California State University-San Marcos

San Marcos, CA · WestQuad's selectivityOpen

Known forFirst-gen friendly

Website Admissions Apply Visit Financial aid

Updates

What changed

New and revised figures from the latest data releases, each with its year.

Published Oct 8, 2026

Fall 2025: 20,881 applied (fall 2024: 19,721)California State University-San Marcos (Fall 2025)
Fall 2025: 19,864 admits (fall 2024: 18,755)California State University-San Marcos (Fall 2025)
Now reported: middle 50% SAT Reading & Writing 450–570 (fall 2025)California State University-San Marcos Common Data Set 2025–26
Now reported: middle 50% SAT Math 430–530 (fall 2025)California State University-San Marcos Common Data Set 2025–26
Fall 2025: 15,603 undergraduates (fall 2024: 14,877)California State University-San Marcos Common Data Set 2025–26
Entered fall 2024: 79.1% returned for a second year (entered fall 2023: 78.6%)California State University-San Marcos Common Data Set 2025–26

Sources:California State University-San Marcos Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2025;California State University-San Marcos Common Data Set 2025–26, Entered fall 2024About the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)

Admissions · Fall 2025

10 in 10 applicants admitted

California State University-San Marcos admits about 10 in 10 applicants (95%). That puts it in the "Open" tier, more selective than 12% of the 1,547 colleges that report admissions.

95%

acceptance rateQuad's selectivityOpen

Applied

20,881

Admitted

19,864

Yield

14%

of admits enroll

Avg. GPA

3.32

SAT middle 50%

860–1113

8001600

Applications +54% since fall 2014 · admit rate 62% → 95%Over time

Getting in, in detail: funnel, what they look at, your scores

Students

Who's on campus

A large campus of 15,603 undergrads, where 43% receive Pell Grants, a high share compared to other colleges.

15.6K

undergrads · larger than 93% of colleges

Diversity index

0.66

Pell Grant

43%

above the median

First generation

48%

above the median

Large suburbNCAA D-II · California Collegiate Athletic AssociationROTCStudy abroadUndergrad research

Less diverse · index 0.72 → 0.66 (to fall 2024) since fall 2014Over time

Students and campus life in detail

Academics

Majors and faculty

The most popular major is Business Administration and Management, General (18% of graduates). 24 students for every faculty member, more than at 96% of colleges. 46% of faculty are full-time. Spends $8,419 a year on instruction per student.

24 to 1

students per faculty member · more than at 96% of colleges

What it costs

In 2023–24, the average first-year paid an estimated $19,161 in total (tuition, housing, food, books and other costs, after grants), $5.1K less than the national median. The 71% who received grants paid $10,241 on average; the other 29% paid the full sticker price of $26,623 in-state / $38,503 out-of-state.

29%

$19.2K

average total cost per year, all first-years, after grants (est.) · $5.1K below the national median

Full price, in-state: $26,623 a year; tuition, housing, food, books, and other costs
Need-based aid: Published data end at $110K; use the college's net price calculator for higher incomes

Aid generosity

Moderate

grants cover 29% of full price

Federal loans

28%

of undergrads · national median 45%

Your price

Net price calculator

the college's own

Financial aid

Financial aid office Veterans' benefits

Cost falling · −19% after inflation since 2013–14Over time

Prices, who gets aid, and borrowing in detail

Outcomes

What it pays

Former students earn a median $62,908 ten years after enrolling, more than at 73% of colleges; 68% graduate within six years. Four years of net price is about 1.2 years of that salary.

68%

graduate within six years · national median 59%

Median earnings

$62.9K

10 years after entry

Median debt

$17.4K

≈ $184/month for 10 years

Retention

79%

come back for year two

Graduation rate 49% → 55% since the class that entered fall 2008Over time

Earnings, finishing, 8-year outcomes, by group

Over time · since 2013–14

How it's changed

Since 2013–14, the full price fell 12% after inflation, while what the average first-year paid fell 19%, because grants grew faster. Applications rose 54% since fall 2014, and the acceptance rate went from 62% to 95%.

Cost
Falling
−19% after inflation
Applications
Growing
+54%
Selectivity
Less selective
admit rate 62% → 95% (to fall 2024)
Diversity
Less diverse
index 0.72 → 0.66 (to fall 2024)

Every series, year by year

Keep exploring

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University of New Mexico-Main Campus

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Similar selectivitySimilar scoresSimilar size

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Cleveland State University

91% admit · 9K undergrads

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Sam Houston State University

90% admit · SAT 1025 · 17.7K undergrads

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Sources for this overviewEvery dataset and year behind the numbers on this profile; tap any ⓘ for one number's source

Sources for this profile

1
IPEDS directory (Institutional Characteristics: HD)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12
2
College Scorecard
U.S. Department of Education · most recent release; Fall 2024; 2023–24; Fall 2023 · retrieved 2026-10-12
3
California State University-San Marcos Common Data Set 2025–26
California State University-San Marcos · Fall 2025; Fall 2027 applicants; Entered fall 2024; 2025–26 (estimated); 2025–26; Fall 2026 entrants; Fall 2026 cycle; 2026–27; Class of 2025 · retrieved 2026-10-05
4
IPEDS Admissions survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
5
IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12
6
IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12
7
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part D)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
8
IPEDS Completions survey (degrees awarded by field)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2024–25 graduates · retrieved 2026-10-12
9
College Scorecard Field of Study data
U.S. Department of Education · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12
10
IPEDS Finance survey, derived per-student figures
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12
11
IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12
12
Common Data Set
Each college (voluntary, standardized template) · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12
13
IPEDS Graduation Rates survey (Pell Grant and subsidized loan recipients)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Entered fall 2018 · retrieved 2026-10-12
14
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part C, residence of first-time students)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
15
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part A, enrollment by level)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
16
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (distance education)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
17
IPEDS Salaries survey (SAL, instructional staff, all ranks)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
18
IPEDS Outcome Measures survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Students entering fall 2016 · retrieved 2026-10-12
19
California State University-San Marcos (2026)
California State University-San Marcos · 2026 · retrieved 2026-10-04

IPEDS unit ID 366711 · Data retrieved 2026-10-12. Tap any ⓘ to see where that number came from and what year it describes. National ranks and medians include every 4-year college that reports the measure. How we source and calculate everything