DSC vs. California State University-San Marcos

Comparable Facts

Compare Utah Tech University in Saint George, UT 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 DSC based on total student enrollment (16,237 students vs. 13,167 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Utah Tech University is located in Saint George, UT (Small City setting); California State University San Marcos is in San Marcos, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Utah Tech University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. California State University San Marcos is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Utah Tech University 23:1; California State University San Marcos 24:1.

DSC vs. California State University-San Marcos Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, DSC or California State University-San Marcos? 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 DSC ($10,241 vs. $17,598).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Utah Tech University are 33.3% lower than at California State University San Marcos ($9,434 vs. $14,152).
• California State University San Marcos is 28.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than DSC (about $1,776 more per year; $8,082.00 vs. $6,306.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 13.4% higher at California State University-San Marcos than at Utah Tech University (about $2,436 more per year; $20,682.00 vs. $18,246.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Utah Tech University than at California State University San Marcos (87% vs. 71%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by California State University San Marcos students is 57.1% larger than aid received by Utah Tech University students ($11,123 vs. $7,081).

DSC vs. California State University-San Marcos Admissions comparison

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

• Utah Tech University reports an open admissions policy.
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsCalifornia State University San Marcos 950/1130.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsCalifornia State University San Marcos 17/22.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: DSC - Open admission; California State University-San Marcos - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: California State University-San Marcos Nov 30, 2026.
• Accepted freshman DSC students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.4) than students at California State University-San Marcos (3.32).

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

How do outcomes compare for DSC and California State University-San Marcos? 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 $9,500 more per year than DSC graduates about ten years after starting college ($49,100 vs. $39,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Utah Tech University graduates have a $1,370 lower median loan debt than California State University-San Marcos graduates ($16,625 vs. $17,995).
• Among borrowers, DSC graduates have an estimated $15 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than California State University-San Marcos graduates ($171 vs. $186).
• More California State University-San Marcos graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former DSC students, three years after graduation. (66% vs. 49%)

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.