California State University-San Marcos vs. Pacific College of Health and Science

Comparable Facts

Compare California State University San Marcos in San Marcos, CA with Pacific College of Health and Science in San Diego, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

California State University San Marcos is larger than Pacific College of Health and Science based on total student enrollment (16,237 students vs. 786 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California State University San Marcos is located in San Marcos, CA (Rural Fringe setting); Pacific College of Health and Science is in San Diego, CA (Large City setting).
• California State University San Marcos is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Pacific College of Health and Science is a private, for-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California State University San Marcos 24:1; Pacific College of Health and Science 15:1.

California State University-San Marcos vs. Pacific College of Health and Science Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, California State University-San Marcos or Pacific College of Health and Science? 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 Pacific College of Health and Science ($10,241 vs. $51,918).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California State University San Marcos are 59.2% lower than at Pacific College of Health and Science ($14,152 vs. $34,705).
• Pacific College of Health and Science is 36.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than California State University-San Marcos (about $2,918 more per year; $11,000.00 vs. $8,082.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 88% higher at California State University-San Marcos than at Pacific College of Health and Science (about $9,682 more per year; $20,682.00 vs. $11,000.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at California State University San Marcos than at Pacific College of Health and Science (71% vs. 35%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by California State University San Marcos students is 267.6% larger than aid received by Pacific College of Health and Science students ($11,123 vs. $3,026).

California State University-San Marcos vs. Pacific College of Health and Science Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, California State University-San Marcos or Pacific College of Health and Science? 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 Pacific College of Health and Science and California State University-San Marcos.

• Pacific College of Health and Science reports an open admissions policy.
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California State University San Marcos 950/1130.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California State University San Marcos 17/22.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: California State University-San Marcos - Test-free; Pacific College of Health and Science - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: California State University-San Marcos Nov 30, 2026.

California State University-San Marcos vs. Pacific College of Health and Science Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for California State University-San Marcos and Pacific College of Health and Science? 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).

• Graduates from California State University San Marcos earn a median of about $21,400 more per year than Pacific College of Health and Science graduates about ten years after starting college ($49,100 vs. $27,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Pacific College of Health and Science graduates have a $1,048 lower median loan debt than California State University-San Marcos graduates ($16,947 vs. $17,995).
• Among borrowers, Pacific College of Health and Science graduates have an estimated $11 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than California State University-San Marcos graduates ($175 vs. $186).
• More California State University-San Marcos graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Pacific College of Health and Science students, three years after graduation. (66% vs. 34%)

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.