Azusa Pacific University vs. California State University-San Marcos

Should I go to Azusa Pacific University or California State University San Marcos? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Azusa Pacific University or California State University-San Marcos is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Azusa Pacific University vs. California State University San Marcos comparison
Azusa Pacific University California State University San Marcos College 3 College 4
California State University San Marcos
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Overview

Azusa Pacific University California State University-San Marcos
Location Azusa, CA San Marcos, CA
Setting Large Suburban Rural Fringe
Enrollment 7,169 15,109
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #268 #836
Religious Affiliation Undenominational - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website apu.edu csusm.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Azusa Pacific University California State University-San Marcos
Tuition (In State) $41,650 $5,742
Tuition (Out of State) $41,650 $17,622
Room & Board $9,222 $13,972
Avg Net Price $26,666 $10,463
Avg Grant Aid $27,474 $8,922
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 67%

Admission

Azusa Pacific University California State University-San Marcos
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 3,438 14,774
Admitted 2,991 14,064
Acceptance Rate 87% 95.2%
Enrolled % 17.3% 18.1%
Avg High School GPA 3.74 3.32
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Average Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 21/28 17/22
SAT Range 980/1240 950/1130
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Jun 1, 2025 Nov 30, 2024

Academics

Azusa Pacific University California State University-San Marcos
Student to Faculty Ratio 10:1 23:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (21%)
  • Health Professions (21%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (14%)
  • Communication (9%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Business (22%)
  • Social Sciences (18%)
  • Communication (12%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
  • Work and Family Studies (7%)

Outcomes

Azusa Pacific University California State University-San Marcos
Graduation Rate 63% 49%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $54,200 $49,100
Making Student Loan Payments 66% 66%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,500 $17,995
Median Loan Payment $232 $186

Diversity

Azusa Pacific University California State University-San Marcos
% Men 28% 39%
% Women 72% 61%
Racial Diversity Very High Very High
HBCU No No
% White 44% 30%
% Black 5% 3%
% Hispanic 29% 42%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 1% 0%
% Two or More Races 8% 6%
% International 2% 2%
% Unknown Race 2% 5%

Students

Azusa Pacific University California State University-San Marcos
% In-State 77% 98%
% Out-of-State 15% 1%

Campus

Azusa Pacific University California State University-San Marcos
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes No
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • California State University San Marcos is larger than than Azusa Pacific University based on total student enrollment (15,109 students vs. 7,169 students)

Azusa Pacific University vs. California State University-San Marcos Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Azusa Pacific University or California State University-San Marcos?

  • Azusa Pacific University is 625.4% more expensive to attend than California State University-San Marcos for in-state tuition ($41,650.00 vs. $5,742.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 136.4% higher at Azusa Pacific University than California State University San Marcos ($41,650.00 vs. $17,622.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at California State University San Marcos than Azusa Pacific University ($10,463 vs. $26,666)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Azusa Pacific University are 51.5% lower than costs at California State University San Marcos ($9,222 vs. $13,972)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Azusa Pacific University than California State University San Marcos (99% vs. 67%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Azusa Pacific University students is 207.9% larger than aid received California State University San Marcos ($27,474 vs. $8,922)

Azusa Pacific University vs. California State University-San Marcos Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Azusa Pacific University or California State University-San Marcos? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between California State University-San Marcos or Azusa Pacific University .

  • The average SAT score at Azusa Pacific University (1080) is 125 points higher than at California State University-San Marcos (955)
  • Incoming Azusa Pacific University students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at California State University-San Marcos (21)
  • Accepted freshman Azusa Pacific University students have a 0.42 point higher average high school GPA (3.74) than students at California State University-San Marcos (3.32)
  • California State University-San Marcos has a higher acceptance rate (95.2%) than Azusa Pacific University (87%)

Azusa Pacific University vs. California State University-San Marcos Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Azusa Pacific University or California State University-San Marcos? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between California State University-San Marcos and Azusa Pacific University.

  • The graduation rate at Azusa Pacific University is higher than California State University San Marcos (63% vs. 49%)
  • Graduates from Azusa Pacific University earn on average $5,100 more per year than California State University-San Marcos graduates after ten years. ($54,200 vs. $49,100)
  • California State University San Marcos students graduate with a $4,505 lower median federal student loan debt than Azusa Pacific University graduates. ($17,995 vs. $22,500)
  • California State University-San Marcos graduates are paying $46 less per month on federal student loans than Azusa Pacific University graduates. ($186 vs. $232)
  • More California State University-San Marcos graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Azusa Pacific University students, three years after graduation. (66% vs. 66%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/