San Marcos, CA · Public · 14,877 undergraduates · suburban
California State University-San Marcos
Less selective
Cal State San Marcos serves fast-growing North County San Diego, with particular relevance to healthcare, biotechnology, business, education, and regional workforce needs.
Institutional profile
Highly regarded Exceptional in mobility, and strong in affordability.- Admission
- 95.7% admitted
- Price by income
- Resident and nonresident prices differ
- Completion
- 67.8%
17,519 applicants in the reported year
Compare recent average annual costs by household income
$62,908 median earnings 10 years after enrollment
What sets California State University-San Marcos apart
Academic design
Nursing and health, business, biotechnology-related sciences, education, computing, and social sciences are closely tied to regional demand.
Campus pattern
Hillside San Marcos campus sits along the Highway 78 employment corridor in northern San Diego County.
Career & value signal
Regional employers span biotechnology, healthcare, technology, education, tourism, and business.
Can I get in?
95.7% admitted
Start with the academic record, then make the intended direction and school-specific fit concrete.
Recent applicant pool
17,519About 96 in every 100 applicants were admitted.
Record over scores
No score range is published for the entering class, so the transcript, the course rigor, and the required materials carry the file.
With one-year access
Where your GPA sits in the entering class
The full entering-class GPA distribution for California State University-San Marcos, in nine bands from 4.0 down, with your own record marked on it.
See where I landWith one-year access
What California State University-San Marcos weighs when it reads a file
See how this college describes the role of grades, testing, essays, recommendations, activities, and demonstrated interest.
- Course rigor
- GPA
- Test scores
- Essay
- Recommendations
- Extracurriculars
- Demonstrated interest
What moves the application
The evidence that separates a strong file
Show preparation for this curriculum
Nursing and health, business, biotechnology-related sciences, education, computing, and social sciences are closely tied to regional demand.
Make institutional fit specific
Cal State San Marcos serves fast-growing North County San Diego, with particular relevance to healthcare, biotechnology, business, education, and regional workforce needs.
Use the application route carefully
Keep academic direction and school-specific choices coherent across the application.
How to apply
Rounds, route, and required materials
Build the calendar around the earliest realistic application round and assemble each required item once.
$70 application fee
Major and program admission
Some fields have their own entry path.
The college admit rate above covers the university as a whole. These requirements apply only to the named program.
BusinessAdmits separately
What this program asks for, and when it closes.
NursingAdmits separately
What this program asks for, and when it closes.
Can I afford it?
Compare annual cost by household income.
Start with the average net price for your income range, then set that estimate beside your other realistic options.
College funding
Scholarships and financial aid
Review available aid, application requirements, and renewal terms.
With one-year access
Average annual cost by household income at California State University-San Marcos
Compare recent average net prices across five federal income ranges and estimate a 4-year cost for yours.
- $0–30k
- $30–48k
- $48–75k
- $75–110k
- $110k+
Is it worth it?
Completion, debt, and earnings
Read completion, borrowing, field mix, and earnings together. One university-wide earnings figure does not describe every student path.
Degree completion across the reported entering cohort
First-year students who return for year two
And what that comes to against what they earn.
Reported 10 years after enrollment
Academic portfolio
Largest bachelor’s fields
How many students finish in each field, and median earnings four years after completing the program.
Business Administration, Management and Operations
Admits separately
Psychology, General
Sociology
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
Admits separately
Criminology
What is campus life like?
California State University-San Marcos beyond the classroom
Hillside San Marcos campus sits along the Highway 78 employment corridor in northern San Diego County.
A defining academic feature
Nursing and health, business, biotechnology-related sciences, education, computing, and social sciences are closely tied to regional demand.
What shapes an ordinary week
Hillside San Marcos campus sits along the Highway 78 employment corridor in northern San Diego County.
Where the degree can lead
Regional employers span biotechnology, healthcare, technology, education, tourism, and business.