California State University, San Marcos: Admissions, Cost and Majors

What California State University, San Marcos costs

California State University, San Marcos charges $8,082 a year in published tuition and fees for California residents, about $4,041 a semester, and $20,682 a year for students from other states, about $10,341 a semester. With housing, food, books and other costs, the total cost of attendance for in-state students is $21,649 a year. Students who received grants or scholarships paid $10,774 a year on average after that aid (the average net price). You may pay less if receiving grants or scholarships.

California State University, San Marcos takes part in the Western Undergraduate Exchange, so students from other western states may pay no more than 150% of in-state tuition. See the full WUE list →

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Getting into California State University, San Marcos

For fall 2024, California State University, San Marcos received 19,721 applications and admitted 18,755 students, and 2,624 enrolled as first-years.

What California State University, San Marcos students study

The most common bachelor's degrees at California State University, San Marcos (class of 2024, first majors only):

Source: IPEDS Completions, bachelor's degrees awarded in 2023–24.

Colleges near California State University, San Marcos

Other colleges within about an hour, by straight-line distance:

• University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California: about 18 miles away
• University of San Diego, San Diego, California: about 25 miles away
• San Diego State University, San Diego, California: about 25 miles away
• Point Loma Nazarene University, San Diego, California: about 29 miles away
• Concordia University–Irvine, Irvine, California: about 52 miles away
• University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California: about 53 miles away

Colleges like California State University, San Marcos

Smaller public universities with the same campus setting (suburban), closest in size and nearest in region:

• California State University, East Bay, Hayward, California: 9,809 undergraduates
• California State University, Stanislaus, Turlock, California: 8,385 undergraduates
• California State University, Monterey Bay, Seaside, California: 6,819 undergraduates
• University of Washington–Bothell, Bothell, Washington: 5,457 undergraduates
• Sonoma State University, Rohnert Park, California: 5,166 undergraduates

See more colleges like California State University, San Marcos in the College Filter →

Lists that include California State University, San Marcos

• Colleges in California: 61 Compared
• Smaller Public Universities: 242 Compared
• Smaller Public Universities on the West Coast: 15 Compared
• Division II Colleges: 151 Compared
• Division II Colleges on the West Coast: 21 Compared
• Suburban Colleges: 207 Compared
• Suburban Colleges on the West Coast: 27 Compared

FAQ

What is California State University, San Marcos's acceptance rate? 95.1% for fall 2024: 18,755 of 19,721 applicants were admitted.

How much is tuition at California State University, San Marcos? $8,082 a year for in-state students and $20,682 for out-of-state students, in published tuition and fees before aid. You may pay less if receiving grants or scholarships.

Is California State University, San Marcos part of WUE? Yes. It is on WICHE's September 2026 list of Western Undergraduate Exchange colleges. Requirements vary by college, so check with California State University, San Marcos about how to apply and which programs qualify.

How many students go to California State University, San Marcos? About 14,900 undergraduates (fall 2024).

What is the campus setting at California State University, San Marcos? The National Center for Education Statistics classifies its location as suburban.

Sources

• College Navigator: California State University, San Marcos (IPEDS, U.S. Department of Education)
• College Scorecard: California State University, San Marcos
• Campus photo via Wikimedia Commons