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California State University San Marcos

About California State University San Marcos

The California State University, San Marcos was founded in 1989 as a public institution. It has a total enrollment of 13,865 undergraduates (fall 2021), a suburban setting, and a campus size of 304 acres. A semester-based academic calendar is utilised. California State University, San Marcos is ranked #39 among Regional Universities West in the 2022-2023 edition of Best Colleges. Out-of-state tuition and fees are $17,958 compared to $8,454 for in-state students.

Why California State University San Marcos?

  • It is the 20th campus and one of the 23 universities in the CSU system.
  • The university offers 23 bachelor's degrees and 21 master's degrees in a variety of fields, including biotechnology, nursing, and business.
  • The university's most popular UG degrees are Business Administration, Psychology, Human Development, Biology, and Computer Science.

Admission Standards - Extremely Easy

SAT 950/1130
ACT 17/22
GPA 3.4

Applications Accepted - 79.4% 

Applications Due -
Applicant Competition Very Low
Application Fee $70

California State University San Marcos Tuition Fees

Courses Duration Tuition Fees
MBA (1 Courses) ---- AUD
Information Technology (IT) (1 Courses) 2 year USD 15340
Management (1 Courses) 4 year USD 15246

California State University San Marcos International Student Admissions

International students are welcome at California State University, San Marcos. They need only a student visa and to satisfy a few requirements to apply to this university.

How to apply California State University San Marcos?

Application Portal: California State University Online Application Portal or Offline Application

Application Fee: USD 65

  • All academic records in the original language must be sent via post.
  • Official English translations of all academic records are needed.
  • Affidavit of Financial support
  • Official TOEFL / IELTS / Cambridge English Score report
  • Copy of passport
  • Equivalent of B (3.0) grade point equivalent and high school graduate or equivalent of Bachelor's degree with an overall 2.5 GPA or higher.

California State University San Marcos English Proficiency Test Scores

International applicants may submit TOEFL or IELTS scores to demonstrate English proficiency. The minimum requirements of the University are listed below. However, applicants should be aware that many divisions may have distinct scoring requirements:

English Test Minimum Score Required
TOEFL Internet-based: 61 or higher
IELTS Overall band of 5.5 or higher; not below 5.0 in any module
Cambridge English B2 First (FCE), C1 Advanced (CAE), C2 Proficiency (CPE) A score of 168 or higher

California State University San Marcos Highlights

University Type Public
Establishment Year 1989
Location San Marcos, California
Campus Setting Suburban
Parent University California State University
Mode of Program Full-time, part-time, online
Total enrollment 14,519
Student-faculty ratio 26:1
Retention rate 79%
Mode of Application Online
Work-study Available
Financial Aid Scholarships

California State University San Marcos Annual Cost to Attend

Fee Cost
California Resident Tuition $5,742
Books and Supplies $1,072
Other Fees $1,970
Room and Board $13,150
Budget for Other Expenses $3,152
Total One Year Cost $25,086
Fee Cost
Out of State Resident Tuition $17,622
Books and Supplies $1,072
Other Fees $1,970
Room and Board $13,150
Budget for Other Expenses $3,152
Total One Year Cost $36,966

Know more about Studying in USA

Tuition Fees in USA (1st Year Average) BE/Btech: USD 28300 | MS: USD 22693 | BBA: USD 26616 | MBA: USD 29558 | BSc: USD 29418 | MA: USD 20452 | MIS: USD 22133 | MFin: USD 37683 | MEng: USD 29558 | MIM: USD 35301 | MEM: USD 23254 | MArch: USD 34741 | MFA: USD 28857 | BHM: USD 27176
Average Accomodation & Food Costs in USA USD 700 to 1000 Per Month
Entrance Exams in USA TOEFL: 86 | IELTS: 6.5 | PTE: 60 | GRE: 309 | GMAT: 560 | SAT: 1177
Work and Study in USA Permitted for 20 hours/week with a valid study permit. Know More
Post Study Work Permit in USA One to Two Years after graduation depending on the course.
Cost of Student Visa in USA USD 160
Student Visa in USA F1 Visa for USA allows you study permit in USA in full time academic courses. Any accredited school, college, university, academic institute, seminary, or conservatory in USA must accept you beforehand to apply for F1 visa in USA. Know More
Intakes in USA There are Three Intakes in USA: Fall (August-September), Spring (January) Know More
Top Job Sectors in USA Health Care, Education, Construction, Hospitality & Tourism, Business Services, Finance.
Economy in USA GDP Growth of 2.1% (Q4 2019), The Larges Economy of the World by Nominal

California State University San Marcos Average Tuition Fee Per Year

Undergraduate

$ 15,300

Postgraduate

$ 18,700

Costs per year

Overall cost of living

$ 15,800

Campus accommodation

$ 11,200

Please note that fees will vary. Always check the exact cost of the program and bear in mind likely additional expenses.