SAN MARCOS, CA · PUBLIC
California State University-San Marcos reported a $10,229 average net price, a completion rate of 54.4%, $67,891 median earnings four years after completion, and $17,350 median federal debt among completers in the June 2026 College Scorecard release.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College ScorecardPage compiled September 16, 2026Download source data ↗
01 · Earnings after completion
California State University-San Marcos’s median earnings were $67,891 four years after completion and $64,649 five years after completion, based on 3,709 and 2,237 working graduates, respectively.
The red marker shows the federal earnings threshold where available. Earnings cover graduates who were working and not enrolled; they do not include every former student.
02 · Cost after grant aid
California State University-San Marcos reported a $10,229 average net price. Published lower-income figures were $6,230 for households below $30,001 and $7,240 for households from $30,001 to $48,000.
| Federal income band | Average net price |
|---|---|
| $0–30,000 | $6,230 |
| $30,001–48,000 | $7,240 |
| $48,001–75,000 | $8,928 |
| $75,001–110,000 | $12,525 |
| $110,001+ | $18,734 |
Average net price is cost of attendance minus average grant and scholarship aid for the defined cohort. Your actual price depends on the institution’s aid offer.
03 · Student progress and aid
California State University-San Marcos reported a completion rate of 54.4%, a retention rate of 76.8%, a Pell-recipient share of 42.6%, and a federal-loan share of 28.3%.
These percentages have different denominators. Completion and retention describe first-time student cohorts; Pell and federal-loan shares describe undergraduate aid receipt.
04 · Federal student debt
Median federal debt among California State University-San Marcos completers was $17,350 across 3,596 reported borrowers. The figure is cumulative debt, not annual cost or a monthly payment.
$17,350
Borrower repayment progress after four years: 33.0% across a reported cohort of 2,152 undergraduate completers.
05 · Field-of-study evidence
12 California State University-San Marcos programs met this site’s evidence threshold, including Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing, Computer Science, and Accounting and Related Services.
A program page requires at least 75 working graduates plus published four-year earnings and median debt. This is our evidence threshold, not a federal rating.
06 · Nearby comparison set
This report lists 6 other public institutions in California that match California State University-San Marcos on state and control type; the set is not ranked.
Answers at a glance
The California State University-San Marcos FAQ reports $10,229 average net price, $67,891 four-year median earnings, and $17,350 median federal debt.
The reported average net price was $10,229 for the applicable Title IV student cohort. It is a cohort average, not an individual aid offer.
California State University-San Marcos’s median earnings were $67,891 four years after completion and $64,649 five years after completion, based on 3,709 and 2,237 working graduates, respectively.
Median federal debt among California State University-San Marcos completers was $17,350 across 3,596 reported borrowers. The figure is cumulative debt, not annual cost or a monthly payment.
