Students
Who's on campus
A large campus of 15,603 undergrads, where 43% receive Pell Grants, a high share compared to other colleges.
Race & ethnicity
Diversity index0.66
Economic access
Campus size
Where first-years come from
2,624 first-time students
2.0% came from other states and 1.0% from abroad; 97% are from California. Fewer from other states than at 87% of colleges.
- In-state (California)97%
- Other states2.0%
- Abroad1.0%
Top home states
- California(home state)97% 2,545
- Colorado0.3% 8
- Hawaii0.2% 5
- Arizona0.2% 4
- Oregon0.2% 4
From 24 states (counting DC).
Students starting college for the first time, by where they lived when admitted. Colleges report it every other fall.
Transfers in and out
Transferring in, fall 2024
2,162
new transfer students, 45% of new undergraduates. A larger transfer share than at 78% of colleges.
1,726 full-time, 436 part-time.
Going on to another college
20%
of students who entered in fall 2016 had left without a degree and were enrolled at another college 8 years later (about 747 students).
Federal data doesn't count students leaving in a given year; this follows one entering class.
Who they are
17% of undergrads study part-time.
57% women
Another gender: 197 undergraduates (1.3%)
Degree-seeking undergraduates. Men and women add up to 100% because federal data has colleges count each student of another or unknown gender as a man or a woman.
Campus life
Housing, sports, faith, Greek life, and LGBTQ+ life
Housing for 1,954 students.
Housing
Beds
1,954
About 13 for every 100 undergrads (median college: 59). Can include graduate housing.
First-years
Not required to live on campus
Many colleges still expect it, with exceptions such as for local students.
Meal plans
Offered
Athletics & programs
Athletics
NCAA Division II · California Collegiate Athletic Association
Of the four sports the federal survey asks about, it plays basketball, baseball, cross country/track (no football).
How the California Collegiate Athletic Association comparesROTC
Army, Navy, Air Force
Study abroad
Offered
Undergraduate research
A formal program
Calendar
Semesters
Student services
- Academic and career counseling
- Help finding a job while enrolled
- Job placement after graduating
- On-campus child care for students' children
- 6% of undergrads registered with disability services· Disability services office
Religious life
Affiliation
No religious affiliation
Campus ministries
Listed among campus activities
Faith communities · 2
- Christian 1
- Nonreligious and secular 1
Christian
Nonreligious and secular
California State University San Marcos Secular Student Alliance
Greek life
Among first-years: 0.8% of men, 0.8% of women.
Councils and chapters
1listedInterfraternity (NIC and IFC)Show chaptersHide
From each organization's own chapter list.
Tau-Omicron
LGBTQ+ life
Support on campus
Founded 2007
Policies
- Nondiscrimination policy covers gender identity or expression
- Gender-inclusive housing
- Chosen name and pronouns on campus records
- Gender-inclusive restrooms listed online
Listed by Trans Policy Clearinghouse, read October 2026; not confirmed by the college.
Undergraduates of another gender, fall 2024
Gender unknown: 1,139
First-year applicants of another gender, fall 2024
Not reported: the college records other genders but leaves these counts blank when any is under 5, for privacy.
Colleges record gender so differently that these counts can't be compared between colleges.
Sources:California State University-San Marcos Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2025;College Scorecard, most recent release;College Scorecard, Fall 2023;IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part C, residence of first-time students), Fall 2024;IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part A, enrollment by level), Fall 2024;IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (distance education), Fall 2024;IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey, 2023–24;IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation), 2025–26;IPEDS directory (Institutional Characteristics: HD), 2025–26;California State University-San Marcos Common Data Set 2025–26, 2025–26;IPEDS Admissions survey, Fall 2024About the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)