Admission

Entrance Difficulty

Moderately difficult

Overall Admission Rate

58% of 17,648 applicants were admitted

Early Action Offered

No

Early Decision Offered

No

Regular Admission Deadline

 

Qualifications of Enrolled Freshmen

Average GPA

3.38

SAT Math

500-605 range of middle 50%

SAT EBRW

460-630 range of middle 50%

ACT Composite

17-22 range of middle 50%

See more

Money Matters

Cost of Attendance

In-state: $24,017
Out-of-state: $33,521

Tuition and Fees

In-state: $5,742
Out-of-state: $15,246

Room and Board

$13,227

Average Percent of Need Met

57%

Average Freshman Award

$11,111

Average Indebtedness of 2018 Graduates

$24,304

See more

Academics

Academic Calendar System

Semester

General Education/Core Curriculum

Required for most or all students

Full-Time Faculty Teaching Undergraduates

290

Regular Class Size

2-9 students: 4% of classes
10-19 students: 11% of classes
20-29 students: 24% of classes
30-39 students: 31% of classes
40-49 students: 22% of classes
50-99 students: 5% of classes
Over 100 students: 3% of classes

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Campus Life

San Marcos Population

86,752

Nearest Metropolitan Area

San Diego

Freshman Housing Guarantee

 

Students in College Housing

80% of all students

Athletic Conferences

NCAA Division I

Mascot

Cougars

Sororities

 

Fraternities

 

See more

Students

Ethnicity of Students from U.S.

0.3% American Indian/Alaskan Native
9.7% Asian
3.1% Black/African-American
49.2% Hispanic/Latino
5.4% Multi-race (not Hispanic/Latino)
0.2% Native Hawaiian/ Pacific Islander
27.5% White
4.4% Unknown

International Students

4.8%

First-Year Students Returning

76.9%

Students Graduating Within 4 Years

15.7%

Graduates Offered Full-Time Employment Within 6 Months

Not reported

Graduates Pursuing Advanced Study Directly

Not reported

See more

Freshman Admission Requirements

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Entrance Difficulty

Moderately Difficult: More than 75% of freshmen were in the top 50% of their high school class and scored over 1010 on the SAT I or over 18 on the ACT; about 85% or fewer of all applicants accepted.

High School Preparation

High School Graduation

High school diploma required and GED is accepted

High School Program

College preparatory program is required

High School Units Required or Recommended

High School Units Required or Recommended

Subject	Required Units	Recommended Units
English	4
Mathematics	2	4
Science	2
Foreign Language	2
Social Studies
History	2
Academic Electives	1

Examinations

Examinations

Exam	Required Units	Scores Due in Admissions Office
SAT or ACT	Required	February 15
SAT Only
ACT Only
SAT and SAT Subject Tests, or ACT
SAT Subject Tests Only
SAT Essay Component Policy	Accepted with or without essay component
ACT Writing Test Policy	Accepted with or without writing component
ACT Writing Test Policy	SAT: No policy as of now ACT: No policy as of now

Applying for Admission

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Admissions Office

Address

333 South Twin Oaks Valley Road

City, State, Zip

San Marcos, CA 92096-0001

Phone

(760) 750-4848

Fax

(760) 750-4030

E-mail

apply@csusm.edu

Application Dates and Fees

Regular Admisson Deadline

 

Application Fee

$55

Application Fee Waiver

Available

Regular Admission Notification

Rolling

Accept Offer of Admission

By May 1 or within 4 weeks if notified after May 1

Waiting List Used

No

Defer Admission

Student cannot defer admission

Transfer Admission

Transfer applications accepted

Early Admission

Early Decision Offered

No

Early Decision Deadline

 

Early Decision Notification

 

Early Action Offered

No

Early Action Deadline

 

Early Action Notification

 

Application Form

Common Application

Not accepted

Universal College Application

Not accepted

Electronic Application

Available

Other Application Requirements

Interview

Not Required

Essay or Personal Statement

 

Letters of Recommendation

 

Other

 

Financial Need

 

Selection of Students

---

Selection of Students

Factor	Very Important	Important	Considered	Not Considered
Rigor of Secondary School Record				X
Academic GPA	X
Standardized Tests	X
Class Rank				X
Recommendations				X
Essay				X
Interview				X
Level of Applicant's Interest				X
Extracurricular Activities				X
Volunteer Work				X
Particular Talent/Ability			X
Character/Personal Qualities			X
First Generation to Attend College				X
State Residency			X
Geographic Residence			X
Relation with Alumnus			X
Religious Affiliation/Commitment				X
Ethnicity				X
Work Experience				X

Profile of Fall Admission

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Overall Admission Rate

58% of 17,648 applicants were admitted

Women

61% of 11,064 applicants were admitted

Men

55% of 6,584 applicants were admitted

Students Enrolled

4,273 (41%) of 10,311 admitted students enrolled

Women

2,748 (41%) of 6,703 admitted students enrolled

Men

1,788 (50%) of 3,608 admitted students enrolled

Early Decision Admission Rate

 

Early Action Admission Rate

 

Students Offered Wait List

 

Students Accepting Wait List Position

 

Students Admitted From Wait List

 

Grade Point Average of Enrolled Freshmen (4.0 scale)

Average GPA

3.38

3.75 and Above

16%

3.50 - 3.74

20%

3.25 - 3.49

22%

3.00 - 3.24

21%

2.50 - 2.99

19%

2.00 - 2.49

2%

SAT Scores of Enrolled Freshmen

SAT Math

500-605 range of middle 50%

Score of 700 - 800

0%

Score of 600 - 700

22%

Score of 500 - 600

67%

Score of 400 - 500

11%

Score of 300 - 400

0%

Score of 200 - 300

0%

SAT EBRW

460-630 range of middle 50%

Score of 700 - 800

0%

Score of 600 - 700

33%

Score of 500 - 600

22%

Score of 400 - 500

45%

Score of 300 - 400

0%

Score of 200 - 300

0%

ACT Scores of Enrolled Freshmen

ACT Composite

17-22 range of middle 50%

Score of 30 - 36

1%

Score of 24 - 29

14%

Score of 18 - 23

56%

Score of 12 - 17

29%

Score of 6 - 11

0%

Score of 5 or Below

0%

Other Qualifications of Enrolled Freshmen

High School Class Rank

 

National Merit Scholar

Not reported

Valedictorian

Not reported

Class President

Not reported

Student Government Officer

Not reported

Tuition and Expenses

---

Cost of Attendance

In-state: $24,017
Out-of-state: $33,521

Tuition and Fees

In-state: $5,742
Out-of-state: $15,246

Room and Board

$13,227

Books and Supplies

$2,000

Other Expenses

$3,048

Payment Plans

 

Applying for Financial Aid

---

Financial Aid Office

Email

Web Site

Financial Aid Web Site

Net Price Calculator URL

Net Price Calculator URL

Application Process

Application Deadline

Priority deadline March 2

Award Notification

On a rolling basis beginning March 2

Methodology for Awarding Institutional Aid

Federal Methodology

Forms Required	Cost to File
FAFSA Code is 030113	Free

Profile of 2018 - 19 Financial Aid

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Freshman

Financial Aid Applicants

2,179 (88.9%) of freshmen

Found to Have Financial Need

1,791 (79.6%) of applicants

Received Financial Aid

1,660 (92.2%) of applicants with financial need

Need Fully Met

74 (3.9%) of aid recipients

Average Percent of Need Met

57%

Average Award

$11,111

Need-Based Gift

Received by 1,573 (93.1%) of aid recipients, average amount $9,910

Need-Based Self-Help

Received by 731 (48.3%) of aid recipients, average amount $5,563

Merit-Based Gift

Received by 21 (1.6%) of aid recipients

Merit-Based Gift

3 (.1%) of freshmen had no financial need and received merit aid, average amount $4,331

All Undergraduates

Financial Aid Applicants

9,047 (80.4%) of undergraduates

Found to Have Financial Need

8,017 (88.6%) of applicants

Received Financial Aid

7,715 (96.7%) of applicants with financial need

Need Fully Met

413 (2.9%) of aid recipients

Average Percent of Need Met

42%

Average Award

$11,052

Need-Based Gift

Received by 7,180 (92.3%) of aid recipients, average amount $9,495

Need-Based Self-Help

Received by 3,755 (52.8%) of aid recipients, average amount $6,442

Merit-Based Gift

Received by 71 (.9%) of aid recipients

Merit-Based Gift

10 (.1%) of undergraduates had no financial need and received merit aid, average amount $3,251

Borrowing

2018 Graduates Who Took Out Loans

53%

Average Indebtedness of 2018 Graduates

$24,304

Parents of Students Receiving Aid

Not reported

Parents of Students Not Receiving Aid

Not reported

Financial Aid Programs

---

Loans

Federal Loans

Direct subsidized Stafford loans, direct unsubsidized Stafford loans, direct PLUS loans, Federal Perkins loans

State Loans

 

Other Loans

College/university loans

Scholarships and Grants

Need-Based Available

Federal Pell grants, SEOG, State scholarships, Institutional scholarships, Private scholarships

Non-Need–Based Available

None

Non-Need Awards

Academic Interest/Achievement Award Areas

Mathematics

Number of Awards

Not reported

Top Areas (By Money Awarded)

 

Creative Arts/Performance Award Areas

Applied Art and Design

Number of Awards

Not reported

Top Areas (By Money Awarded)

 

Special Achievements/Activities Award Areas

Leadership

Number of Awards

Not reported

Top Areas (By Money Awarded)

 

Special Characteristics Award Areas

Local/State Students

Number of Awards

Not reported

Top Areas (By Money Awarded)

 

Employment

Work-Study Programs

Federal work study available, other work study available

Average Earnings from On-Campus Employment

Not reported

Location and Setting

---

San Marcos Population

86,752

Nearest Metropolitan Area

San Diego

Campus Size

304 acres

Weather

Temperature

48.8 average low in January, 77.1 average high in September

Rain

42 rainy days per year

Getting Around

Campus Map

Map

Nearest Bus Station

5 mile(s) from campus in Escondido

Nearest Train Station

15 mile(s) from campus in Oceanside

Housing

---

College Housing

College offers housing to students

Types of Housing

Disabled student housing

Students in College Housing

80% of all students

Housing Requirements

 

Freshman Housing Guarantee

 

Students Living Off Campus/Commuting

 

Off-Campus Housing Assistance

Assistance in locating off-campus housing is available

Security

---

24-Hour Emergency Phone/Alarm Devices

Available

24-Hour Security Patrols

Available

Late-Night Transport/Escort Services

Available

Electronically Operated Housing Entrances

Not available

Other

 

Personal Support Services

---

Health Service

Offered

Personal Counseling

Offered

Child Care

Offered

Sports and Recreation

---

Intercollegiate Athletics

Athletic Conferences

NCAA Division I

Mascot

Cougars

School Colors

Navy and white

Intercollegiate Sports Offered

Women's Club Sports

golf

Men's Club Sports

 

Recreational Sports

Intramural Sports

 

Student Activities

---

Activities and Organizations

choral groups, drama theatre, student newspaper, national fraternities, national sororities

Sororities

 

Fraternities

 

ROTC

Army ROTC offered on campus, Navy ROTC is offered off campus, Air Force ROTC offered off campus

Student Body

---

Coeducational

Yes

All Undergraduates

13,962

Women

8,522 (61.0%)

Men

5,440 (39.0%)

Full-Time Undergraduates

11,400

Ethnicity of Students from U.S.

0.3% American Indian/Alaskan Native
9.7% Asian
3.1% Black/African-American
49.2% Hispanic/Latino
5.4% Multi-race (not Hispanic/Latino)
0.2% Native Hawaiian/ Pacific Islander
27.5% White
4.4% Unknown

International Students.

4.8%

Average Age

22

All Graduate Students

542

Undergraduate Retention and Graduation

---

First-Year Students Returning

76.9%

Students Graduating Within 4 Years

15.7%

Students Graduating Within 5 Years

44.5%

Students Graduating Within 6 Years

52.8%

After Graduation

---

Graduates Offered Full-Time Employment Within 6 Months

Not reported

Average Starting Salary

Not reported

Graduates Pursuing Advanced Study Directly

Not reported

Disciplines Pursued

Not reported