Is California State University-San Marcos worth it?
California State University-San Marcos is a public, four-year institution in San Marcos, California (large suburb). It awarded 3,748 degrees and certificates in 2024, most often in business administration and management, registered nursing and psychology.
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Federal data
Federal context for California State University-San Marcos
Published by the federal government for federally aided students. It does not say which employers hire graduates.
Median earnings 1 year after
$42,878
Median earnings 4 years after
$67,891
Median earnings 10 years after
$62,908
Average net price
$10,229
Completion rate
55%
Completions (2024)
3,748
Years to pay back
under 1 year
Students (undergrad)
14,877
Median earnings after completing, by program
| Program | Credential | Median earnings, 1yr | Median earnings, 4yr | Graduates counted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | Bachelor's | $103,799 | $120,196 | 555 |
| Criminology | Bachelor's | $34,694 | $55,418 | 281 |
| Psychology, General | Bachelor's | $31,355 | $55,196 | 264 |
| Communication and Media Studies | Bachelor's | $36,310 | $59,842 | 263 |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | Bachelor's | $31,184 | $53,568 | 248 |
| Sociology | Bachelor's | $34,541 | $53,287 | 214 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | Bachelor's | $49,543 | $70,900 | 205 |
| Computer Science | Bachelor's | $60,645 | $97,827 | 130 |
| Social Work | Master's | $62,668 | $77,471 | 124 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | Bachelor's | $26,203 | $61,252 | 123 |
| Marketing | Bachelor's | $43,134 | $73,290 | 122 |
| Accounting and Related Services | Bachelor's | $63,366 | $86,318 | 94 |
| Education, General | Master's | $77,823 | $95,348 | 84 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | Bachelor's | $54,408 | $77,312 | 83 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | Bachelor's | $29,055 | $51,445 | 76 |
Source: College Scorecard, June 2026 release, and IPEDS. Earnings cover federally aided students only, so they do not cover every graduate.
Awards conferred, by program
| Program | Award level | Awards |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration and Management, General | Bachelor's | 537 |
| Psychology, General | Bachelor's | 306 |
| Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse | Bachelor's | 294 |
| Sociology, General | Bachelor's | 236 |
| Computer Science | Bachelor's | 193 |
| Criminology | Bachelor's | 178 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness, General | Bachelor's | 164 |
| Biology/Biological Sciences, General | Bachelor's | 161 |
| Speech Communication and Rhetoric | Bachelor's | 158 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies | Bachelor's | 146 |
Similar schools
Other public four year schools in California
Same state, same sector, nearest by completions.
California State University-Chico
Chico, CA
63%
completion rate
3,706
completions
Graduate data being added
See the pageMiraCosta College
Oceanside, CA
41%
completion rate
3,883
completions
Graduate data being added
See the pageCalifornia State University-Dominguez Hills
Carson, CA
43%
completion rate
3,907
completions
Graduate data being added
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Sources: federal figures for California State University-San Marcos. Federal figures from College Scorecard and IPEDS. Occupation pay from Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS for California. Counts under 10 are not published.
Updated September 18, 2026 · Methodology · Report a problem with this page