
California State University - San Marcos is a public college that has many majors available for students to choose from. The school is located in San Marcos, CA, in a predominantly rural area. Approximately 9,700 students enroll at California State University - San Marcos annually.
Areas of study available at CSUSM include:
- Business And Marketing Studies
- Communications And Journalism
- Liberal Arts And Sciences
- Family And Consumer Sciences
The admissions process starts with the submission of an application, student records, and standardized test scores, which are then evaluated by admissions staff. Most students admitted to CSUSM achieve an SAT score between 870 to 1080, or an ACT composite score between 17 to 22. Roughly 40 percent of all applicant were admitted at California State University - San Marcos, with 31 percent of those admitted choosing to attend.
Tuition & fees at this school are different for in-state and nonresidents. In-state tuition costs close to $7,300 per year with out-of-state tuition costing $20,000 annually. On-campus housing is available for students and costs approximately $8,800 per year. Financial aid may be provided to students that meet the necessary requirements.
The California State University - San Marcos "Cougars" have a number of intercollegiate athletic programs through participation in the NAIA. Athletic programs offered may include:
- Baseball (NAIA Division I)
- Track & Field (NAIA Division I)
- Golf (NAIA Division I)
- Soccer (NAIA Division I)
Students can visit the CSUSM website to get a complete list of areas of study, financial aid details, and more.
Admission Requirements & Details
The admission details below may give an overview of the candidates California State University – San Marcos accepts. The details may include admissions application requirements and recommendations, as well as any college or dual credits that may be transferred.
College Credits Accepted
- Dual Credits
- AP Course Credits
Student Enrollment
The total student enrollment at California State University – San Marcos is about 13,000, where graduate students make up roughly 17% of the student body.
Estimated Costs & Financial Aid
The average "out of pocket" cost of attendance, after any grants and scholarships are considered, is around $10,500. In order to calculate a more accurate and detailed cost of attendance check out their cost calculator here. There is also a $55 application fee for those applying to a program. The figures listed below are for informational purposes only and do not represent current or future tuition, fees, and expenses.
Tuition & Fees Information
- Annual tuition range estimates:
- State Residents: $5,500-$6,600
- Out-of-State: $17,000-$19,960
Financial Aid Details
The table listed below helps break down the types of financial aid students receive and the percent receiving aid, as well as the average amount of aid per student per year.
Percent of Students | Average Amount | |
---|---|---|
Any Financial Aid | 80% | - |
Receiving Grants & Scholarships | 74% | $8,197 |
Receiving Student Loans | 43% | $5,555 |
Academics & Student Services
Student Services
To help students and alumni, California State University – San Marcos may offer student services like those listed below:- Online classes
- Remedial instructional courses
- Counseling assistance
- Employing students to lower education costs
- Assistance to find work
- Child care
Graduation Rates
California State University – San Marcos has an overall graduation rate which is close to 48%.
Number of Year to Graduate | Percent of Entering Class |
---|---|
Students Graduating in 4 Years | 13% |
Graduating in 5 Years | 24% |
Graduating in 6 Years | 11% |
Specialized Programs & Accreditations
- Bachelor's Degree in Nursing (BSN) Program
- Nursing (MSN, DSN) Program
- Speech-Language Pathology Program
- Elementary and Secondary School Teacher Education Program
Intercollegiate Athletics
California State University – San Marcos is a Member of National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), with many of the sports being in the NAIA Division I classification. The most popular sports played are listed below:
- Baseball (369)
- Track and Field (369)
- Golf
- Soccer
- Softball
Programs Offered
The program list below is organized by areas of study. The programs that have a link will direct you to the program's profile page where you can learn more about education requirements and career pathways.

Get more information about the programs offered by California State University – San Marcos by clicking the request information to the right.
(C) Certificate or Award | (A) Associate's | (B) Bachelor's | (M) Master's Degree | (D) Doctorate (PhD,...)
Biological and Biomedical Sciences
- Biology (B, M)
- Biotechnology (M)
- Biochemistry (B)
Business and Marketing Studies
- Business Administration (B, M)
Communications and Journalism
- Communications (B)
- Media Studies (B)
Computer and Information Sciences
- Computer Science (B, M)
Education
- Education (M)
English Language and Literature
- English (B, M)
Ethnic Cultural and Gender Studies
- Women's Studies (B)
Family and Consumer Sciences
- Family Studies (B)
Foreign Languages and Literature
Health and Clinical Professions
- Nursing (B, M)
- Speech and Language Pathology (M)
History
- History (B, M)
Interdisciplinary Studies
Liberal Arts and Sciences
- Liberal Arts (B)
Mathematics and Statistics
- Math (B, M)
Physical Sciences
- Chemistry (B)
Psychology
- Psychology (B, M)
Public Administration and Social Services
- Social Work (M)
Recreation and Fitness Studies
Social Sciences
- Criminology (B)
- Sociology (B, M)
- Political Science (B)
- Economics (B)
- Social Science (B)
- Anthropology (B)
- International Relations (B)
Visual and Performing Arts
- Visual and Performing Arts (B)
Other 4-Year Public Colleges
The list of schools below have been selected by researching which schools offer similar programs to California State University – San Marcos.
- California State University - Fullerton in Fullerton, CA (66 miles away)
- California State University - San Bernardino in San Bernardino, CA (73 miles away)
- California State University - Dominguez Hills in Carson, CA (81 miles away)
- California State University - Los Angeles in Los Angeles, CA (87 miles away)
- California State University - Channel Islands in Camarillo, CA (130 miles away)
Also, check out our college lists below, which can help students compare schools to one another:
- Compare all colleges & universities in California
- Compare other California state universities