San Marcos, CA · Public · Graduate degree · College Scorecard data · Updated September 10, 2026
| California State University-San Marcos | CA Average | National Average | |
|---|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition | $8,082 | $16,639 | $18,082 |
| vs. average | — | -51% | -55% |
| College | Type | Undergraduates | Tuition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palomar College | Public | 17,712 | $1,354 |
| Palomar Institute of Cosmetology | Private for-profit | 193 | $16,250 |
| Pima Medical Institute-San Marcos | Private for-profit | 573 | $17,567 |
Tuition shown is in-state tuition for schools that report one, otherwise the published tuition for the school's largest program. Source: College Scorecard.
| Median earnings 10 years after enrolling | $62,908 |
| Graduation rate (within 150% of normal time) | 55% |
| Median debt among graduates who borrowed | $17,350 |
| Undergraduates receiving Pell grants | 43% |
| Undergraduates aged 25 and over | 18% |
| First-generation students | 48% |
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard. Earnings and debt figures cover students who received federal financial aid.
In-state tuition at California State University-San Marcos is $8,082 and out-of-state tuition is $20,682, according to College Scorecard data.
The acceptance rate at California State University-San Marcos is 95%.
With an acceptance rate of 95%, California State University-San Marcos is moderately selective among U.S. colleges.
College Scorecard does not publish an average SAT score for California State University-San Marcos. Schools without a published figure are usually test-optional, open-admission, or they do not report test scores to the federal survey.
California State University-San Marcos enrolls about 14,877 undergraduate students. The student-faculty ratio is 24:1.
In-state tuition at California State University-San Marcos is $8,082, which is 51% below the CA average of $16,639.
Median earnings ten years after enrolling at California State University-San Marcos are $62,908 a year, according to College Scorecard.
The median debt among California State University-San Marcos graduates who borrowed is $17,350, according to College Scorecard.