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333 S Twin Oaks Valley Rd
San Marcos, CA 92096-0001
p. 760-750-4000
California State University-San Marcos
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Local News About California State University-San Marcos
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Information Summary
Ranks 673rd for total enrollment
| Total Cost
On-Campus Attendance |
$17,054 |
|---|---|
| Admission
Success rate |
42% |
| ACT / SAT
75 %ile scores |
22 / 1080 |
| Enrollment
Total (all students) |
7,502 |
| Student Ratio
Ratio of students to faculty |
34 : 1 |
Carnegie Foundation Classification
Master's Colleges and Universities (medium programs)
| Undergraduate | Arts & sciences plus professions, some graduate coexistence |
|---|---|
| Graduate | Postbaccalaureate comprehensive |
| Undergraduate Population | Medium full-time four-year, selective, higher transfer-in |
| Enrollment | High undergraduate |
| Size & Setting | Medium four-year, primarily nonresidential |
General Characteristics
| Highest offering | Master's degree |
|---|---|
| Calendar System | Semester |
| Years of college work required | N/A |
| Variable Tuition |  |
Student Tuition Costs and Fees
What are the typical tuition costs and fees for attending California State University-San Marcos?
Ranks 829th for total cost of attendance
| In District | In State | Out of State | |
|---|---|---|---|
| FT Undergraduate Tuition | N/A | N/A | $10,170 |
| FT Undergraduate Required Fees | $3,092 | $3,092 | $3,092 |
| PT Undergraduate per Credit Hour | N/A | N/A | $339 |
| FT Graduate Tuition | N/A | N/A | $10,170 |
| FT Graduate Required Fees | $3,674 | $3,674 | $3,674 |
| PT Graduate per Credit Hour | N/A | N/A | $339 |
| Total Cost of attendance — On-Campus | $17,054 | $17,054 | $27,224 |
| Total Cost of attendance — Off-Campus w/out Family | $17,054 | $17,054 | $27,224 |
| Total Cost of attendance — Off-Campus with Family | $8,064 | $8,064 | $18,234 |
Student Tuition Cost History and Trends
Three year history and trends on the cost of attending
| In District | In State | Out of State | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Published Tuition & Fees | $2,776  $3,092 |
$2,776  $3,092 |
$12,946  $13,262 |
| Cost (regardless of residency) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Books & Supplies | $1,260  $1,312 |
||
| On-Campus – Room & Board | $8,616  $8,990 |
||
| On-Campus – Other Expenses | $3,204  $3,660 |
||
| Off-Campus w/out Family – Room & Board | $8,616  $8,990 |
||
| Off-Campus w/out Family – Other Expenses | $3,204  $3,660 |
||
| Off-Campus with Family – Room & Board | $3,204  $3,660 |
||
Admission Details
| Application Fee Required | |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate Application Fee | $55 |
| Graduate Application Fee | $55 |
| First Professional Application Fee | N/A |
| Applicants | 6,843 (2,503 male / 4,340 female) |
| Admitted | 2,877 (1,007 male / 1,870 female) |
| Admission rate | 42% |
| First-time Enrollment | 804 (279 male / 525 female) |
| FT Enrollment | 680 (247 male / 433 female) |
| PT Enrollment | 124 (32 male / 92 female) |
| Total Enrollment | 7,502 |
Admission Criteria
What criteria does California State University-San Marcos use for admissions?
| Open Admissions |  |
|---|---|
| Secondary School GPA / Rank / Record |  / N/A / N/A |
| College Prep. Completion | |
| Recommendations | N/A |
| Formal competency demo | N/A |
| Admission test scores | |
| TOEFL | |
| Other tests | N/A |
= Recommended, 
= Neither required nor recommended
Special Learning Opportunities
| Distance Learning | |
|---|---|
| ROTC — Army / Navy / Airforce | —
/
/
|
| Study Abroad | |
| Weekend College | |
| Teacher Certification | |
Athletics - Association Memberships
| Sports / Athletic Conference Memberships | NAIA |
|---|---|
| NAIA Track & Field Conference | Independent Far West Region |
Admission Credits Accepted
What types of credits does California State University-San Marcos accept?
| Dual Credit | |
|---|---|
| Life Experience | |
| Advanced Placement (AP) | |
ACT Test Admission
Rank 1020th for 75pctl scores
| Applicants submitting ACT results | 21% |
|---|---|
| Verbal scores (25/75 %ile) | 16 / 22 |
| Math scores (25/75 %ile) | 17 / 23 |
| Cumulative scores (25/75 %ile) | 17 / 22 |
SAT Test Admission
Rank 993rd for 75pctl scores
| Applicants submitting SAT results | 97% |
|---|---|
| Verbal scores (25/75 %ile) | 430 / 530 |
| Math scores (25/75 %ile) | 450 / 550 |
| Cumulative scores (25/75 %ile) | 880 / 1080 |
Student Services
| Remedial Services | |
|---|---|
| Academic / Career Counseling | |
| PT Cost-defraying Employment | |
| Career Placement | |
| On-Campus Day Care | |
| Library Facility | |
Student Living
| First-time Room / Board Required | |
|---|---|
| Dorm Capacity | 568 |
| Meals per Week | N/A |
| Room Fee | $5,600 |
| Board Fee | N/A |
Student Financial Aid Details
How many students use Financial Aid, and how much do they use?
| Average | Users | % of Attendees | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federal Grant Aid | $3,276 | 118 |  20% |
| State & Local Grant Aid | $2,297 | 162 |  27% |
| Institutional Grant Aid | $2,218 | 115 |  19% |
| Student Loan Aid | $2,681 | 131 |  22% |
| Any financial aid type | 252 |  42% |
Student Enrollment Demographics
How many students are enrolled at California State University-San Marcos?
| Men | Women | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
Non Resident Alien | 77 | 146 | 223 |
Black Non-Hispanic | 82 | 151 | 233 |
Hispanic | 486 | 1,008 | 1,494 |
Asian / Pacific Islander | 312 | 434 | 746 |
American Indian / Alaskan Native | 21 | 47 | 68 |
White Non-Hispanic | 1,412 | 2,434 | 3,846 |
Race Unknown | 350 | 542 | 892 |
| Total | 2,740 | 4,762 | 7,502 |
Most Popular Fields of Study
The top 5 fields of study completed at California State University-San Marcos.
| Men | Women | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 249 | 214 | 463 | |
| 42 | 241 | 283 | |
| 31 | 79 | 110 | |
| 26 | 79 | 105 | |
| 4 | 97 | 101 |
Student Completion / Graduation Demographics
How many students are successful graduates?
Faculty Compensation / Salaries
| Tenure system | |
|---|---|
| Average FT Salary | $69,540 ($72,860 male / $66,426 female) |
| Number of FT Faculty | 219 (106 male / 113 female) |
| Total Benefits | $4,409,489 |
California State University-San Marcos Summary
California State University San Marcos (also CSUSM or Cal State San Marcos) is a campus of the California State University (CSU) system located in San Marcos, California, a suburban town in north San Diego County. Efforts by community and political leaders to attract a state university to North County date back to 1968. Craven (1921-1999) won state funding for a North County satellite campus of San Diego State University. In 1989, Gov. George Deukmejian signed another Craven bill which established a CSU campus in San Marcos. The state purchased land in San Marcos, including the former Prohoroff Poultry Farms chicken ranch. During the 1989-1990 academic year, Stacy hired 12 “Founding Faculty,” who played an important role in the university’s early years and today are memorialized in Founders Plaza. CSUSM admitted upper division students and held classes from September 1990 through August 1992 in rented facilities in a San Marcos business park, alongside the North County campus of San Diego State. Major additions over the subsequent decade include the Foundation Classroom Buildings (December 1996), University Hall (1998), a second Science building (August 2002) and the Arts building (August 2002). The university’s founding mission statement promises “excellence in undergraduate and graduate education to a diverse citizenry in an increasingly interdependent world.” These strong coaches add to the already-strong roster of coaches at Cal State San Marcos.
Summary content courtesy of Wikipedia.
California State University-San Marcos History
Cal State San Marcos was founded through a legislative action in 1989 and was intended to represent a new generation of Cal State institutions. It was the first completely new campus in the United States in more than twenty years. It received full accreditation in 1993, three years ahead of schedule. Since then, major construction and focused enrollment have made it one of Cal State’s fastest growing campuses statewide.
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California State University-San Marcos Academics
The young institution is home to three colleges: Arts & Sciences, Business Administration, and Education. The majority of students study in the College of Arts and Sciences. San Marcos also houses a Health and Human Services division that includes a nursing program and a kinesiology program. The Cal State San Marcos Library houses 250,000 volumes and 17,500 electronic titles with subscriptions to 800 print periodicals and 11,000 electronic journals.
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California State University-San Marcos Unique Programs
The Native Studies minor focuses on native populations of the United States and Mexico in a global context. The program focuses on four areas: culture, history, society, and the environment. Faculty in anthropology, history, arts, and biology all contribute to the development of this minor. Students have access to the eighteen reservations located in San Diego County and other local experts. Graduates may go on to work in the fields of government and education.
The Film Studies program emphasizes the areas of film production, film history, interpretation, use, and filmmaking. Particular attention is paid to the interaction of production and interpretation, adding a unique slant to the program’s curriculum. In addition to analyzing numerous films, students will have the opportunity to create one small film as a member of a team.
This site is not sponsored by, affiliated with, nor endorsed by California State University-San Marcos
California State University-San Marcos Financial Aid
The Financial Aid office at Cal State San Marcos requires scholarship applicants to fill out only one application each year, accompanied by an essay. This application is applied to all available scholarships, which are competitive and based on a variety of factors including academic success, particular talents, need, or the interests of the scholarship donor. There are 25 such scholarships, which can range from $100 to $7000 annually. San Marcos also offers the Assumption Program of Loans for Education (APLE), which is a teacher preparation program intended to attract future educators by paying off a portion of their student loans. Cal State San Marcos also offers and facilitates federal loan and grant programs and work study.
This site is not sponsored by, affiliated with, nor endorsed by California State University-San Marcos
California State University-San Marcos Students
Associated Students, Inc. is a non-profit Cal State San Marcos student organization, governed by students who are elected annually and who are recognized as the voice of San Marcos’ student body. ASI offers programming such as speakers, festivals, and cookouts, as well as athletic programs, student services, and service opportunities. Cal State San Marcos is also home to over 60 student organizations, including social and academic clubs. Students are encouraged and motivated to start their own clubs due to the small size of the student body. The University Village apartments offer either a 4-bedroom or a 2-bedroom suite. Each suite has private bedrooms for each student and residents are welcome to live there year-round.
This site is not sponsored by, affiliated with, nor endorsed by California State University-San Marcos
California State University-San Marcos Local Community
San Marcos is a beautiful city surrounded by green, rolling hills. The population is just over 60,000. The Historical Society and Museum offer visitors a chance to learn about the history of San Marcos, while Jacks Pond and the Wildlife Discovery Center cater to those inclined toward the outdoors. Entertainment includes an 18-hold golf course, public lake, and an 18-theatre cinema.
This site is not sponsored by, affiliated with, nor endorsed by California State University-San Marcos
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