California State University-San Marcos

San Marcos, CA · Public · 4-year

Compare with another college →

Saved colleges stay in your list across these pages; sign in whenever you want them in your account. A saved category is a planning placeholder, not an admission prediction.

Sources and reporting periods

Reporting periods: Admission counts and rate: IPEDS Admissions component, fall 2023 entering class. Graduation rate: IPEDS Graduation Rates component, six-year cohort. Score, cost, aid and earnings fields: historical imports without a retained reporting year. Source-check dates on policy notes do not date the statistical fields.

Federal sources: NCES IPEDS and College Scorecard. Covered cohorts differ; a net-price average is not an individual aid offer. Definitions, coverage and limitations.

Compiled by Admit Coach / GPTKIDS LLC using automated data processing and source checks. Report a correction with the institution ID, field and official source link.

Testing policy

Stored testing policy: test-blind. Current-cycle policy has not been verified. Check the university's official first-year admission requirements, applicant type, intended major and scholarship conditions before deciding which scores to send.

No current testing-policy source review is available for this campus.

Application deadlines · countdown

Add to my calendar

Working backwards from the first application deadline: ask for recommendations by Jan 5, first essay draft by Jan 19, lock final essay by Feb 16, submit by Feb 27.

Recorded from the college's website, mostly during the previous application cycle, and shown on this year's calendar; confirm on the official admissions and aid pages. Save this college and the dates join your plan and Sunday note.

California State University-San Marcos reported a 95.7% acceptance rate for the fall 2023 entering class. California State University-San Marcos is a public 4-year institution in San Marcos, CA. The historical average net price is $10,229 per year after financial aid, and it is accredited by Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission.

Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (U.S. Department of Education). Reporting years vary by field; historical averages describe past cohorts. Review data limitations.

Admissions Statistics

Acceptance Rate

95.7%

17,519 applicants

SAT reference

N/A

Combined score

ACT reference

N/A

Composite score

Avg Net Price

$10,229

After financial aid

Student Outcomes

Graduation Rate

54.4%

Six-year rate, IPEDS cohort

Retention Rate

78.6%

Median Earnings (10yr)

N/A

Student Body

14,877

Net Price by Family Income

Historical averages for the source's covered student cohorts at California State University-San Marcos, not personal aid offers. Residency and eligibility matter; reporting years are unavailable for these imported fields.

Family IncomeAvg Net Price/Year
$0 – $30,000$6,230
$30,001 – $48,000$7,240
$48,001 – $75,000$8,928
$75,001 – $110,000$12,525
$110,000+$18,734

Top Majors at California State University-San Marcos

MajorDegrees Awarded
Social Sciences584
Business, Management & Marketing537
Health Professions364
Psychology306
Biological & Biomedical Sciences213
Computer & Information Sciences193
Communication & Journalism179
Parks, Recreation & Fitness164
Liberal Arts & General Studies146
Family & Consumer Sciences99

Financial Aid at California State University-San Marcos

About California State University-San Marcos

Official website: https://www.csusm.edu/

Admissions: https://www.csusm.edu/admissions/

Frequently Asked Questions About California State University-San Marcos

What is the acceptance rate at California State University-San Marcos?

California State University-San Marcos reported a 96% acceptance rate to IPEDS for the fall 2023 entering class. the reported applicant count is about 17,519. It describes a past campus applicant pool, not an individual admission probability or admission to a particular major.

How hard is it to get into California State University-San Marcos?

The historical 96% acceptance rate suggests California State University-San Marcos was less selective at the campus level in the stored data. Selectivity can differ by year, major, residency and applicant type. Admit Coach's reach, target and safety labels are heuristic research aids, not validated personal probabilities or admission guarantees.

How much does it cost to attend California State University-San Marcos?

The stored historical average net price at California State University-San Marcos is $10,229 per year after grants and scholarships for the source's covered cohort. the stored share receiving aid is about 79%; the stored average grant or scholarship is $10,247 per year. Reporting years and populations may differ. This is not your aid offer; public-college averages may cover in-state students. Use the official net-price calculator with your household details.

What is the graduation rate at California State University-San Marcos?

The six-year graduation rate reported to IPEDS for California State University-San Marcos is 54%. its stored first-year retention rate is 79%. These measures describe past source cohorts, not the current student body, and do not predict an individual student's outcomes.

Is California State University-San Marcos test-optional?

Stored testing policy: test-blind. Current-cycle policy has not been verified. Check the university's official first-year admission requirements, applicant type, intended major and scholarship conditions before deciding which scores to send.

When is the application deadline for California State University-San Marcos?

California State University-San Marcos's recorded application deadlines, shown on this cycle's calendar, are Regular Decision on March 2, 2027. Aid deadlines: FAFSA June 30. These were recorded from the college's website, mostly during the previous application cycle, and dates can change; confirm on California State University-San Marcos's official admissions page. Admit Coach's Deadline Radar counts down to each date and adds them to your calendar.

Similar Colleges

Bethel College-North Newton

North Newton, KS · 96% acceptance

New England College

Henniker, NH · 96% acceptance

University of Maine

Orono, ME · 96% acceptance

Georgia Gwinnett College

Lawrenceville, GA · 96% acceptance

Yeshiva Gedolah of Woodlake Village

Lakewood, NJ · 96% acceptance

Columbia College

Columbia, SC · 96% acceptance

More Colleges in CA

Minerva University

San Francisco, CA · 1% acceptance

Stanford University

Stanford, CA · 4% acceptance

California Institute of Technology

Pasadena, CA · 3% acceptance

Claremont McKenna College

Claremont, CA · 14% acceptance

Pomona College

Claremont, CA · 7% acceptance

University of California-Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA · 9% acceptance

Explore More

All colleges in this state · Chance calculator · How many colleges to apply · All 3,500+ universities · Most affordable colleges · Best value colleges · Test-optional colleges · Engineering programs · Computer science programs · Highest graduation rates · Compare planning tools

Check Your Admission Chances at California State University-San Marcos — Free