California State University-San Marcos vs. CSUMB

Comparable Facts

Compare California State University San Marcos in San Marcos, CA with California State University Monterey Bay in Seaside, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

California State University San Marcos is larger than CSUMB based on total student enrollment (16,237 students vs. 7,713 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California State University San Marcos is located in San Marcos, CA (Rural Fringe setting); California State University Monterey Bay is in Seaside, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• California State University San Marcos is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. California State University Monterey Bay is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California State University San Marcos 24:1; California State University Monterey Bay 24:1.

California State University-San Marcos vs. CSUMB Cost Comparison

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

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at California State University San Marcos than CSUMB ($10,241 vs. $14,493).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California State University San Marcos are 17.9% lower than at California State University Monterey Bay ($14,152 vs. $17,234).
• California State University San Marcos is 3.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than CSUMB (about $303 more per year; $8,082.00 vs. $7,779.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 1.5% higher at California State University-San Marcos than at California State University Monterey Bay (about $303 more per year; $20,682.00 vs. $20,379.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at California State University San Marcos as at California State University Monterey Bay (71% vs. 71%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by California State University Monterey Bay students is 9.5% larger than aid received by California State University San Marcos students ($12,185 vs. $11,123).

California State University-San Marcos vs. CSUMB Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at California State University Monterey Bay (1060) is 20 points higher than at California State University-San Marcos (1040).
• Incoming CSUMB students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (20 vs. 19 at California State University-San Marcos).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California State University San Marcos 950/1130; California State University Monterey Bay 960/1160.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California State University San Marcos 17/22; California State University Monterey Bay 17/23.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: California State University-San Marcos - Test-free; CSUMB - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: California State University-San Marcos Nov 30, 2026; CSUMB Jan 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman CSUMB students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (3.45) than students at California State University-San Marcos (3.32).
• CSUMB has a higher acceptance rate (97.4%) than California State University-San Marcos (95.1%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 14% at California State University-San Marcos vs. 9.8% at CSUMB.

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

How do outcomes compare for California State University-San Marcos and CSUMB? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• California State University San Marcos's six-year graduation rate (49%) is higher than California State University Monterey Bay's (38%).
• Graduates from California State University San Marcos earn a median of about $3,800 more per year than CSUMB graduates about ten years after starting college ($49,100 vs. $45,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, California State University Monterey Bay graduates have a $3,995 lower median loan debt than California State University-San Marcos graduates ($14,000 vs. $17,995).
• Among borrowers, CSUMB graduates have an estimated $42 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than California State University-San Marcos graduates ($144 vs. $186).
• More California State University-San Marcos graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CSUMB 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.