California State University-San Marcos
California State University-San Marcos — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
California State University-San Marcos at a Glance
California State University San Marcos is a public university in San Marcos, California, United States. It was founded in 1989 as the 21st campus in the California State University (CSU) system.
1989
37 years old
$37M
$36.56 million (2024)
15,431
14,246 undergrad · 1,185 grad
854
340 acres
Identity
Is California State University-San Marcos Worth It?
California State University-San Marcos is one of the strongest value propositions in higher education. At $10,229/year net price and $62,908 median earnings, graduates earn 6.1× their annual cost within a decade of enrolling.
The investment pays for itself in just 0.7 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
A 54% graduation rate is a serious red flag — fewer than 5 in 10 students finish. Those who don't graduate may still carry student debt without the higher-earning credential to show for it.
With a 95% acceptance rate, admission is essentially open — the question isn't whether you'll get in, but whether the investment will pay off.
Bottom line: California State University-San Marcos delivers strong financial returns that justify the investment for most students.
How California State University-San Marcos compares to peer public colleges of similar tier in CA
Ranked #12 of 97 on value score. Peers are matched by size, median earnings, SAT, and admission rate — not just geography.
| Rank | College | Value | Net price / yr | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | California State University-Bakersfield | 100 | $5,652 | $59,009 |
| #2 | California State University-Stanislaus | 100 | $6,067 | $63,188 |
| #3 | California State University-San Bernardino | 100 | $4,564 | $59,977 |
| #4 | California State University-Fresno | 100 | $7,000 | $61,244 |
| #5 | California State University-Los Angeles | 100 | $3,967 | $59,211 |
| #6 | Foothill College | 100 | $7,653 | $57,072 |
| #12 | California State University-San Marcos | 84 | $10,229 | $62,908 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of California State University-San Marcos's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 13 in CA.
Best Programs at California State University-San Marcos
The highest-earning program at California State University-San Marcos is Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at $83,300/year (4 years after graduation). The lowest is Visual and Performing Arts, General at $21,200/year.
Your major matters more than the school name — a Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing graduate from California State University-San Marcos earns $83,300, while a Visual and Performing Arts, General graduate earns $21,200. That's more than a 2× difference from the same institution. Choose your program carefully — it's the single biggest lever you control.
Debt also varies by program: Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing graduates carry $25,000 in median debt vs. $20,412 for Visual and Performing Arts, General.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $10,229/yr net price × 4 years
Earnings Premium
vs. national average of $53,787/yr
Payback Period
Time to recoup the total cost through higher earnings
10-Year Net Gain
Median earnings over 10 years minus total cost of attendance
Programs & Earnings by Major
Graduate earnings data by field of study (4 years after graduation):
| Major | Earnings (4yr) | Earnings (1yr) | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $83,300 | $83,300 | $25,000 |
| Computer Science | $63,600 | $63,600 | $18,750 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $51,400 | $51,400 | $18,201 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $45,900 | $45,900 | N/A |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $45,300 | $45,300 | $17,084 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $43,100 | $43,100 | $16,149 |
| Physics | $39,600 | $39,600 | N/A |
| Marketing | $38,300 | $38,300 | $16,633 |
| Economics | $35,400 | $35,400 | $18,750 |
| Political Science and Government | $33,800 | $33,800 | $22,917 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $33,300 | $33,300 | $16,126 |
| Biology, General | $31,900 | $31,900 | $18,883 |
| Criminology | $31,500 | $31,500 | $14,622 |
| History | $29,800 | $29,800 | $16,644 |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | $29,200 | $29,200 | $18,000 |
| Psychology, General | $28,700 | $28,700 | $18,305 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $27,900 | $27,900 | $17,500 |
| Sociology | $27,100 | $27,100 | $14,500 |
| Health and Physical Education/Fitness | $27,000 | $27,000 | $15,000 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $25,300 | $25,300 | $16,750 |
| Social Sciences, General | $25,100 | $25,100 | $18,302 |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $22,800 | $22,800 | N/A |
| Visual and Performing Arts, General | $21,200 | $21,200 | $20,412 |
Similar Colleges in CA
Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- public
- Location
- San Marcos, CA
- Student Body
- 14,877 students
- Admission Rate
- 95%
- Graduation Rate
- 54%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $10,229
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $62,908
- Median Student Debt
- $17,350