Payback
EarningsPlus
Economic score
California State University, San Marcos is a public regional university located in San Marcos, California. CSUSM is very inclusive in their admissions.
Return on educational investment at CSUSM is in the top 25% of all ranked schools. The median student earns $54,811 10 years after enrolling, 59th in California, and in the top 50% nationally. When adjusted for earning differences by major, CSUSM bachelor students earn 3% less than the national average. CSUSM is ranked 35th in California.
California State University, San Marcos’s median net annual cost of $13,218 and average years to graduate of 5 are reported only at the school level. We assume these same costs and graduation time for all programs.
The top 6 programs at CSUSM sorted by number of graduates - Business Administration, Psychology, Registered Nursing, Criminology, Sociology, Comms & Media Studies - are shown below. To see more programs, click on "see additional programs".
Annual net cost
$13,218
Average years to graduate
5
Computer Science
Rank: #142
Economic score: 1.78
Biology
Rank: #23
Economic score: 2.28
Poli Sci/Government
Rank: #112
Economic score: 3.54
History
Rank: #93
Economic score: 4.5
Liberal Arts and Sciences
Rank: #93
Economic score: 5.31
Health & Fitness
Rank: #151
Economic score: 5.32
English Language & Lit
Rank: #149
Economic score: 5.84
Human Development & Family
Rank: #54
Economic score: 8.81
Visual & Performing Arts
Rank: #14
Economic score: 9.01
Education
Rank: #513
Economic score: 17.1
EarningPlus compares the three-year post graduate earnings to the median earnings of the same graduating class, with the same graduate degree. These 2 metrics, debt-to-earnings and EarningsPlus, are combined into an economic score. The lower the economic score the better.
The most popular 6 graduate programs at CSUSM - Business Administration, Social Work, Education, Communication disorder sciences, Registered Nursing, Biotechnology - are shown below. To see more programs, click on "see additional programs".
Sociology
Rank: #6
Economic score: 1.02
The average full-time graduate completes their degree in 5 years. 66% of all students graduate within 8 years including part-time students. The graduation rate at CSUSM is 1% lower than the state average, and 8% above the average for all regional universities in the country.
At CSUSM, Pell Grant recipients represent 45% of the measured graduating class, 10% higher than the national average of 35%. The average Pell Grant recipient at CSUSM graduates within 5 years.
CSUSM is in the top 10% of schools for graduating Pell recipients.
We calculate this performance by adjusting the graduation rate of Pell students by their percentage of the student body. This adjustment is made to prevent schools with large numbers of Pell students from underperforming in comparison to schools with few Pell students but high graduation rates.
California State University, San Marcos’s economic mobility score of 37.53 is calculated by adjusting the 1.61 economic score of lower-income students by the 45% pell grant recipients within the student body. CSUSM’s EMS of 37.53 ranks in the top 5% nationally.false
Economic Mobility
To calculate economic mobility of low-income (household earnings below $30,000) students, we adjust each institution’s economic score by their percentage of Pell Grant students. The logic of this Pell-adjusted calculation is derived from Third Way’s Economic Mobility Index (EMI).
Top 5%
The average Title IV recipient at California State University, San Marcos pays $13,218 a year, $11,868 less than the $25,086 advertised. See below the cost breakdown for students who receive Title IV grants, broken down by income level.
Average net price
The average net price shown by income level for all students that receive Title IV aid. Calculated by deducting the average grant and scholarship aid from tuition, fees, books, and room and board. Limited to first-time, full-time students. Public institution figures are calculated using in-state tuition figures.
Median net price $13,218
Much of the gap between net price and sticker price is filled by institutional and government grants. At CSUSM, 70% of students receive some grants and scholarships, compared to the national average of 87% for all colleges and universities. The average amount of federal, state, and institutional grants that students receive is shown on the right.
This leaves a total of $13,218 on average to be covered by the student – be it through loans or out of pocket. In total, 23% of students take out loans, federal or private, at an average amount of $5,241. This is 31% less than the national average.
Federal grants
$4,734
Pell grants
$4,718
State grants
$2,360
Institutional grants
$5,466
California State University, San Marcos offers 3 online bachelor programs, one of which is held exclusively online. At the master’s level CSUSM offers 3 programs, all of which are held exclusively online. We use the IPEDS July '20 — July '21 Distance Education report to determine which programs are online. EarningsPlus data is provided when available.
Online programs
6
Hybrid programs
2
Percentage of programs online
10%
California State University, San Marcos's very inclusive admissions are indicated by their 93% acceptance rate. In 2021, the school had 13,986 applicants, of which 13,049 were admitted and 2,413 enrolled. CSUSM has a rolling admissions policy, which means applications are reviewed as they arrive until all spaces are filled.
Full time
87%
83%
Female
66%
59%
First time
57%
59%
In-state
98%
68%
1st generation
48%
35%
White
26%
52%
Black
3%
14%
Hispanic
48%
15%
Asian
9%
5%
American Indian
N/A
1.6%
Pacific Islander
N/A
0.3%
Other
12%
12%