CIIS vs. California State University-San Marcos

Comparable Facts

Compare California Institute of Integral Studies in San Francisco, CA with California State University San Marcos in San Marcos, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

California State University San Marcos is larger than CIIS based on total student enrollment (16,237 students vs. 1,874 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California Institute of Integral Studies is located in San Francisco, CA (Large City setting); California State University San Marcos is in San Marcos, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• California Institute of Integral Studies is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. California State University San Marcos is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California Institute of Integral Studies 15:1; California State University San Marcos 24:1.

CIIS vs. California State University-San Marcos Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CIIS or California State University-San Marcos? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• In-state tuition differs between California State University San Marcos and CIIS ($8,082.00 vs. $0.00).
• Out-of-state tuition differs between California State University-San Marcos and California Institute of Integral Studies ($20,682.00 vs. $0.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at California State University San Marcos than at California Institute of Integral Studies (71% vs. 0%).

CIIS vs. California State University-San Marcos Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CIIS or California State University-San Marcos? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between California State University-San Marcos and CIIS.

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scoresCalifornia State University San Marcos 950/1130.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scoresCalifornia State University San Marcos 17/22.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CIIS - Not reported; California State University-San Marcos - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: California State University-San Marcos Nov 30, 2026.

CIIS vs. California State University-San Marcos Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CIIS and California State University-San Marcos? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

• California State University San Marcos's six-year graduation rate is 49%. Comparable graduation rate data is not available for CIIS.
• Graduates from California State University San Marcos have median earnings of about $49,100 about ten years after starting college (College Scorecard). Comparable earnings data is not available for CIIS.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, California State University San Marcos graduates have a $755 lower median loan debt than CIIS graduates ($17,995 vs. $18,750).
• Among borrowers, California State University-San Marcos graduates have an estimated $7 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CIIS graduates ($186 vs. $193).
• More California State University-San Marcos graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CIIS students, three years after graduation. (66% vs. 45%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.