California State University-San Marcos vs. Pathways College

Comparable Facts

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

California State University San Marcos is larger than Pathways College based on total student enrollment (16,237 students vs. 196 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California State University San Marcos is located in San Marcos, CA (Rural Fringe setting); Pathways College is in Phoenix, California (Midsize City setting).
• California State University San Marcos is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Pathways College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California State University San Marcos 24:1; Pathways College 7:1.

California State University-San Marcos vs. Pathways College Cost Comparison

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

• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California State University San Marcos are 40.3% lower than at Pathways College ($14,152 vs. $23,712).
• California State University San Marcos is 30.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Pathways College (about $1,902 more per year; $8,082.00 vs. $6,180.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 234.7% higher at California State University-San Marcos than at Pathways College (about $14,502 more per year; $20,682.00 vs. $6,180.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at California State University San Marcos than at Pathways College (71% vs. 0%).

California State University-San Marcos vs. Pathways College Admissions comparison

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

• 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; Pathways College - Not reported.
• Typical fall application deadline: California State University-San Marcos Nov 30, 2026.

California State University-San Marcos vs. Pathways College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for California State University-San Marcos and Pathways College? 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).

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.