California State University-San Marcos vs. Claremont Lincoln University

Comparable Facts

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

California State University San Marcos is larger than Claremont Lincoln University based on total student enrollment (16,237 students vs. 271 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California State University San Marcos is located in San Marcos, CA (Rural Fringe setting); Claremont Lincoln University is in Claremont, California (Large Suburban setting).
• California State University San Marcos is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Claremont Lincoln University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California State University San Marcos 24:1; Claremont Lincoln University 8:1.

California State University-San Marcos vs. Claremont Lincoln University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, California State University-San Marcos or Claremont Lincoln University? 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 Claremont Lincoln University ($8,082.00 vs. $0.00).
• Out-of-state tuition differs between California State University-San Marcos and Claremont Lincoln University ($20,682.00 vs. $0.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at California State University San Marcos than at Claremont Lincoln University (71% vs. 0%).

California State University-San Marcos vs. Claremont Lincoln University Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, California State University-San Marcos or Claremont Lincoln University? 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 Claremont Lincoln University and California State University-San Marcos.

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

California State University-San Marcos vs. Claremont Lincoln University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for California State University-San Marcos and Claremont Lincoln University? 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 Claremont Lincoln University.
• 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 Claremont Lincoln University.

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.