Cost & aid
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.
- 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
Cost by family income
Per year for a typical family of four with one child in college. Up to $110K it is the average price federal aid recipients paid (2023–24).
Hover, tap, or use the arrow keys to read the price at an income.
- Published federal figures
View as a table
| Family income | Price per year |
|---|---|
| $0–30K | $6K a year |
| $30–48K | $7K a year |
| $48–75K | $9K a year |
| $75–110K | $13K a year |
| $150K | Published data end at $110K |
| $200K | Published data end at $110K |
| $250K | Published data end at $110K |
| $300K | Published data end at $110K |
| $350K | Published data end at $110K |
| $400K and above | Published data end at $110K |
At $150K: Published data end at $110K
Published data end at $110K; use the college's net price calculator for a number.
Your own number depends on the details below, so use the college's calculator for it.
What can change this
- Savings and investments above a typical amount raise the price. The curve assumes typical assets.
$19,161
Tuition, housing, food, books & other expenses, after grants · 2023–24
71% got grants averaging $11,123; 29% got none.
Housing and food use the college's on-campus rates, so the estimate runs high where many students live at home. “Other expenses” is the college's estimate of personal and transportation costs. Loans aren't subtracted because they're repaid.
Who pays what
Share of first-year students, 2023–24.
Sticker price by residency
| Rate | Tuition & fees | First-years | |
|---|---|---|---|
| In-state | $7,739 | $26,623 | 96% |
| Out-of-state | $19,619 | $38,503 | 4% |
Full cost adds books, on-campus room & board, and other expenses ($18,884) to tuition and fees.
$24,722 in-state · $38,852 out-of-state before aid
Tuition, fees, and on-campus food and housing · up 13% in-state, up 15% out-of-state from 2023–24.
Show the full next-year estimate
- Tuition, fees, food & housing$24,722
- Books and supplies$1,136
- Transportation$1,656
- Other expenses$3,352
- Total for a student living on campus$30,866
$17.4K
≈ $184/month for 10 years
1.2 yrs
of median salary to cover 4 years of net price
About 1 in 4 undergrads borrows federally.
Everyone who borrowed and left, whether or not they graduated.
Three years into repayment
Where former undergraduates stand on their federal loans.
- Paid in full16%
- Paying it down26%
- Payments paused34%
- Not paying it down17%
- Behind or in default6%
- Forgiven or discharged1%
Some shares are published as a small range to protect privacy.
Who actually gets aid
Aid generosity
ModerateGrants cover 29% of the $27,098 full price on average across all first-years (moderate), more than at 24% of colleges.
$7,937 in grants per first-year ÷ $27,098 full price.
Who gets grants and scholarships
Full-time first-year students (2,500), 2023–24
About 1 in 3 first-year students got no grant aid and paid the full sticker price of $26,623 in-state / $38,503 out-of-state.
Where the aid comes from
Share of first-year students receiving each; averages are per recipient.
Aid by family income
By family income: only students who received federal aid, because income is only reported for them.
Aid by family income isn't reported.
Applying for aid
For fall 2026 entrants.
Priority date: May 2 · Deadline: none · Aid offers: on a rolling basis from March 29
Dates for fall 2026 entrants; the next cycle's are usually similar.
What the college's own scholarships consider
| Academics | ✓ | ✓ |
|---|---|---|
| Athletics | ✓ | ✓ |
| Leadership | ✓ | ✓ |
| State or district residency | ✓ | not marked |
A blank means the college didn't mark it, not that it never counts.
International students
Need-based and merit aid offered.
International applicants file: another form.
Sources:IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey, 2023–24;IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey, 2023–24;College Scorecard, 2023–24;College Scorecard, most recent release;California State University-San Marcos Common Data Set 2025–26, 2026–27;California State University-San Marcos Common Data Set 2025–26, 2025–26 (estimated);California State University-San Marcos Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2026 entrants;California State University-San Marcos Common Data Set 2025–26, 2025–26;IPEDS directory (Institutional Characteristics: HD), 2025–26;Common Data Set, most recent releaseAbout the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)