California State University-San Marcos
San Marcos, California · Public · 95.1% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 80/100 · Strong Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
California State University-San Marcos (CSUSM) is a public university in San Diego County, California, enrolling approximately 14,877 students. Its ROI score of 80 places it in the Strong Value tier. In-state tuition is just $8,082, and the average net price is $10,229, making the four-year total estimated cost $40,916. Six-year average earnings of $40,500 and median ten-year earnings of $62,908 reflect a broad program mix spanning nursing, STEM, business, and liberal arts. The payback period of 6.5 years is efficient. The earnings premium score of 95 out of 100 is exceptional, suggesting CSUSM graduates significantly outperform their baseline expectations given the student population served. Median debt of $17,350 and a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.428 are well-controlled. The completion rate of 54.6% is the institution's most notable weakness, reflecting challenges with first-generation and commuting students. Pell Grant recipients make up 42.6% of the student body. The strong earnings premium combined with low cost makes CSUSM a legitimately strong public-sector value despite completion challenges.
California State University-San Marcos scores in the top 13% of the schools we score, with strong earnings outcomes relative to cost.
California State University-San Marcos
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $8,082/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $20,682/yr |
| Average net price | $10,229/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $40,916 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $62,908 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $40,500 |
| Median debt at graduation | $17,350 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $184 |
| Estimated payback period | 6.5 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 54.6% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 14,877 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $8,082/year ($20,682/year out-of-state), which covers tuition and fees only. The net price counts books, supplies, and average living costs on top of tuition and fees, then subtracts grants and scholarships. For the average student here it comes to $10,229/year, or roughly $40,916 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $6,230/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $18,734/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $17,350, which works out to about $184 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($40,500) and comes to 0.43, which in our view is comfortably manageable.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $6,230 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $7,240 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $8,928 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $12,525 |
| $110,001+ | $18,734 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Students with family incomes below $30,000 pay an average net price of $6,230 per year - roughly $24,920 over four years. Against a 6.5-year payback and nursing year-one earnings above $100,000, this is a favorable access-to-outcome ratio. Even in lower-earning majors, the debt load is structurally manageable.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income families ($30,001 - $75,000) face net prices of $7,240 - $8,928. These figures are extremely competitive relative to outcomes.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Higher-income families ($75,001 and above) pay $12,525 - $18,734 per year.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at California State University-San Marcos with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $70,900 | B |
| Psychology | $55,196 | C |
| Sociology | $53,287 | B |
| Registered Nursing | $120,196 | A |
| Political Science and Government | $55,418 | B |
| Communication and Media Studies | $59,842 | C+ |
| Biology | $70,789 | C |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $61,252 | C |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | $53,568 | C |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences | $58,289 | C+ |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Registered Nursing
Nursing is CSUSM's standout program with 278 graduates and an A grade. Year-one earnings of $103,799 and four-year earnings of $120,196 are exceptional. Median debt of $25,047 and a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.241 mean the typical nursing graduate recovers their debt in under three months of take-home pay.
Computer Science
Computer Science (152 graduates) earns an A grade with year-one earnings of $60,645 and four-year earnings of $97,827. Median debt of $12,850 and a ratio of 0.212 are remarkably low - a function of CSUSM's modest in-state tuition. Computer science graduates enter San Diego's defense technology, biotech, and software sectors with minimal debt and high salaries.
Accounting
Accounting earns a B grade with year-one earnings of $63,366 and four-year earnings of $86,318. Median debt of $22,500 and a ratio of 0.355 are solid. San Diego's robust financial services and corporate sector provides strong placement for CSUSM accounting graduates, and the earnings-to-cost ratio is compelling at the institution's low tuition.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business is CSUSM's largest program with 471 graduates. Year-one earnings of $49,543 and four-year earnings of $70,900 are competitive. Median debt of $19,015 and a ratio of 0.384 earn a B grade. The combination of manageable debt and improving earning trajectory makes this a solid, accessible business pathway for the San Diego region.
Political Science and Government
Political Science (234 graduates) earns a B grade with year-one earnings of $34,694 and four-year earnings of $55,418. Median debt of $14,810 and a ratio of 0.427 are well controlled given CSUSM's low tuition. Low debt loads mean even modest-earning graduates face manageable repayment obligations - a structural advantage of attending a low-cost public university.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 72.9% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 76.2% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 68.3% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 69.1% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How California State University-San Marcos’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 95.1% |
| Enrollment | 14,877 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 42.6% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $12,046 |
Admission is not competitive; program capacity limits in nursing and computer science are the practical constraint for the most in-demand majors.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
CSUSM's earnings premium score is 95, suggesting graduates outperform economic baseline expectations.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| California State University-San Marcos (this school) | 80 | $10,229 | $62,908 |
| California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo | 96 | $16,665 | $90,768 |
| North Dakota State University-Main Campus | 80 | $15,543 | $62,203 |
| University of Kansas | 76 | $18,059 | $61,945 |
| California State University-Bakersfield | 75 | $5,652 | $59,009 |
| Western Washington University | 72 | $21,193 | $62,569 |
Who Thrives Here
CSUSM is an excellent fit for San Diego region students seeking an affordable pathway into high-demand fields - particularly nursing, computer science, and business. Students who are disciplined self-starters in a commuter-friendly environment extract maximum value here. Those who need high levels of residential academic support may find completion rates challenging; CSUSM rewards students with career focus and self-direction.
The Verdict: The Investment Pays Off
For most students, California State University-San Marcos pays off. You'd pay about $10,229 a year after aid ($40,916 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $62,908 ten years after enrollment. That puts the payback - the time it takes for the earnings bump to cover what you spent - at roughly 6.5 years, a solid return.
What it has going for it: a strong earnings premium over high school graduates, manageable debt relative to earnings.
Median debt of $17,350 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $40,500 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.43, under the 1.0 point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings. Your major matters a lot here: graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
California State University-San Marcos: Common Questions
Is California State University-San Marcos worth it?
In our view, yes - for most students California State University-San Marcos pays off. It scores 80/100 on our ROI scale. You'd pay about $10,229 a year after aid ($40,916 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $62,908 ten years after enrollment, so the cost takes roughly 6.5 years to earn back.
How much does California State University-San Marcos cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $10,229 a year, or roughly $40,916 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do California State University-San Marcos graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $62,908 ten years after enrolling, roughly $21,108 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off California State University-San Marcos?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 6.5 years for California State University-San Marcos. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do California State University-San Marcos graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $17,350, against average earnings of $40,500 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.43. In our view that is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
What is the graduation rate at California State University-San Marcos?
The six-year graduation rate is 54.6%. The national average for four-year schools is 64% (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.