California State University San Marcos
San Marcos, CA
California State University San Marcos, founded in 1989, is a public university. Its 302-acre campus is located in San Marcos.
Website: www.csusm.edu/
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%
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
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
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
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
Freshman Admission Requirements
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
Subject | Required Units | Recommended Units |
---|---|---|
English | 4 | |
Mathematics | 2 | 4 |
Science | 2 | |
Foreign Language | 2 | |
Social Studies | ||
History | 2 | |
Academic Electives | 1 |
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
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
- 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
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
- 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
- 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
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
- Academic Calendar System
- Semester
- Summer Session
- Offered
- General Catalog/Bulletin
- Online Catalog
Undergraduate Education
Undergraduate Majors
- Accounting
- Anthropology
- Biochemistry
- Biology/Biological Sciences, General
- Biotechnology
- Business Administration and Management, General
- Cell/Cellular Biology and Histology
- Chemistry, General
- Computer Science
- Criminology
- Data Processing and Data Processing Technology/Technician
- Early Childhood Education and Teaching
- Ecology
- Economics, General
- English Language and Literature, General
- Environmental Studies
- Finance, General
- General Studies
- Health and Physical Education/Fitness, General
- History, General
- Human Development and Family Studies, General
- International Business/Trade/Commerce
- International Relations and Affairs
- Kinesiology and Exercise Science
- Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies
- Marketing/Marketing Management, General
- Mass Communication/Media Studies
- Mathematics, General
- Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
- Music, General
- Physics, Other
- Physiology, General
- Political Science and Government, General
- Psychology, General
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse
- Social Sciences, General
- Sociology
- Spanish Language and Literature
- Speech Communication and Rhetoric
- Visual and Performing Arts, General
- Women's Studies
- Most Popular Disciplines
- Health professions and related sciences, Social sciences, Business/marketing
- Combined Liberal Arts/Professional Degree Programs
- None
- Special Programs
- Student-designed major, Distance learning, Double major, English as a second language, Independent study, Internships, Study abroad, Summer session
- Study Abroad
- Offered
- Online Degrees
- Not reported
Curriculum and Graduation Requirements
- General Education/Core Curriculum
- Required for most or all students
- Computer
- Not reported
- Foreign Language
- Required
- Math/Science
- Required for all students
Faculty and Instruction
- Full-Time Faculty
- 290
- Part-Time Faculty
- 617
- Full-Time Faculty with Ph.D./Terminal Degree
- Not reported
- 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 - Discussion Section/Lab Class Size
- Not reported
Advanced Placement
- International Baccalaureate
- Accepted
- Advanced Placement (AP) Examinations
- Accepted for placement and credit
- Sophomore Standing
- Available through AP examinations
Academic Resources
- Library Available on Campus
- Yes
- Holdings
- 568,464
- Computer Ownership
- Not reported
- Computers Available on Campus
- Not Reported
- Internet/E-mail Access
- Not reported
Academic Support Services
- Remedial Instruction
- Offered
- Tutoring
- Available
- Services for Learning Disabled Students
- Available
- Services for Physically Disabled Students
- Hearing impaired services, speech disorders services, visually impaired services, wheelchair access
Graduate/Professional School Education
Master's Degrees Offered
Master of Arts, Master of Science
Master's Programs of Study
- Computer Science
- Computer and Information Systems Security
- Education--General
- Educational Leadership and Administration
- Mathematics
- Reading Education
- Sociology
- Special Education
Doctoral Degrees Offered
Doctor of Education
Doctoral Programs of Study
- Education--General
- Educational Leadership and Administration
- Reading Education
- Special Education
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
Sports | Women | Men | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Offered | Scholarships | Offered | Scholarships | |
Baseball | x | |||
Basketball | x | x | ||
Cross-Country Running | x | x | ||
Golf | x | |||
Soccer | x | x | ||
Softball | x | |||
Track And Field | x | x | ||
Volleyball | x |
Women's Sports | Offered | Scholarships |
---|---|---|
Baseball | ||
Basketball | x | |
Cross-Country Running | x | |
Golf | ||
Soccer | x | |
Softball | x | |
Track And Field | x | |
Volleyball | x |
Mens's Sports | Offered | Scholarships |
---|---|---|
Baseball | x | |
Basketball | x | |
Cross-Country Running | x | |
Golf | x | |
Soccer | x | |
Softball | ||
Track And Field | x | |
Volleyball |
- 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
A portion of the College Profile data is provided under license by:
Peterson's Undergraduate and Undergraduate Financial Aid Databases, copyright © 2019 Peterson's, a Nelnet company. All rights reserved."