Average after grants for all families receiving federal aid. Pick your income above.
Sticker price $21,649. College Scorecard.
Net price by family income
Average after grants and scholarships for California residents receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard, latest reported year
Sticker price, line by line
| Per year, living on campus | In-state | Out-of-state |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition & fees | $8,082 | $20,682 |
| Housing & meals | $14,152 | $14,152 |
| Books & supplies | $1,018 | $1,018 |
| Personal & travel | $3,714 | $3,714 |
| Living-at-home adjustment | −$5,317 | −$5,317 |
| Total cost of attendance | $21,649 | $34,249 |
Cost items: IPEDS 2023-24, on-campus budget. Total: College Scorecard, which averages students living on and off campus; the adjustment row reconciles the two. Out-of-state total = in-state total with out-of-state tuition.
Debt after graduation
College Scorecard; Urban Institute Education Data Portal
Who gets aid
State aid: California residents who meet income, asset and GPA standards may receive a Cal Grant (California Student Aid Commission); apply with the FAFSA or California Dream Act Application. At University of California and California State University campuses, the Middle Class Scholarship can also help families with income and assets up to $250,000 (2026-27, dependent students). Not included in the prices above. California Student Aid Commission
College Scorecard
California State University-San Marcos net price compared with other California colleges
California State University-San Marcos has the 26th-lowest average net price of 115 California colleges we cover. Schools around it:
| Rank | College | Avg. net price | Graduation | Earnings, 10 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22 | California State University-Sacramento | $9,338 | 56% | $64,876 |
| 23 | West Los Angeles College | $9,634 | 28% | $38,537 |
| 24 | California State University-Channel Islands | $9,849 | 51% | $62,152 |
| 25 | Latin American Bible Institute | $10,030 | 33% | — |
| 26 | California State University-San Marcos | $10,229 | 55% | $62,908 |
| 27 | California State University-Long Beach | $10,440 | 69% | $64,403 |
| 28 | Feather River Community College District | $10,800 | 35% | $38,142 |
| 29 | Bethesda University | $11,097 | 11% | — |
| 30 | California State Polytechnic University-Pomona | $11,531 | 68% | $71,902 |
College Scorecard, latest year. Average for all aided students; your price depends on income. All California colleges →
Why California State University-San Marcos costs more or less than similar schools
| School | Acceptance | You'd pay | Graduation | Earnings, 10 yrs | Price gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California State University-San Marcos | 95% | $10,229 | 55% | $62,908 | This school |
| California State University-San Bernardino | 94% | $4,564 | 55% | $59,977 | |
| California State University-Chico | 93% | $14,480 | 63% | $64,172 | |
| San Francisco State University | 96% | $12,278 | 50% | $68,077 | |
| California State University-Dominguez Hills | 93% | $8,615 | 43% | $57,162 |
College Scorecard, latest reported year. “You'd pay” follows your residency and income choices above.
Why the price is different
California State University-San Marcos would cost you $5,665 more per year than California State University-San Bernardino, on average.
- Higher sticker price at California State University-San Marcos, mostly from more California State University-San Bernardino students living at home, which lowers its average (+$2,871).
- California State University-San Bernardino gives aided families $1,443 more in grants, on average.
| Per year, California resident | California State University-San Marcos | California State University-San Bernardino | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition & fees | $8,082 | $8,093 | −$11 |
| Books & supplies | $1,018 | $788 | +$230 |
| Housing & meals | $14,152 | $12,996 | +$1,156 |
| Personal & travel | $3,714 | $3,738 | −$24 |
| Living-at-home adjustment | −$5,317 | −$8,188 | +$2,871 |
| Sticker price | $21,649 | $17,427 | +$4,222 |
| Average grants | −$11,420 | −$12,863 | +$1,443 |
| You pay | $10,229 | $4,564 | +$5,665 |
“+” means California State University-San Marcos costs more; “−” means it costs less. Grants are the sticker price minus the net price. Cost items: IPEDS, on-campus budget. Sticker and net price: College Scorecard, latest reported year; the adjustment reconciles the two. Net price is an average for first-time, full-time students receiving federal aid, not a quote.
California State University-San Marcos cost questions
How much is tuition at California State University-San Marcos?
Tuition and fees are $8,082 a year for California residents and $20,682 for out-of-state students.
What is the total cost of attending California State University-San Marcos?
The total cost of attendance, including housing, meals, books and personal costs, is $21,649 a year for California residents living on campus and about $34,249 for out-of-state students.
What do families actually pay at California State University-San Marcos?
After grants and scholarships, students receiving federal aid pay $10,229 a year on average. Families earning $0–30k pay $6,230; $48–75k pay $8,928; $110k+ pay $18,734. These figures are for California residents.
How much debt do California State University-San Marcos graduates have?
The median federal loan debt at graduation is $13,500, and 3.3% of borrowers defaulted within three years of entering repayment (2017 cohort).
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Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS; Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-By). Net price is an average for first-time, full-time students receiving federal aid, not a quote; confirm with the school's net price calculator. Back to California State University-San Marcos overview