Fresno Pacific University vs. California State University-San Marcos

Should I go to Fresno Pacific University or California State University San Marcos? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Fresno Pacific University or California State University-San Marcos is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Fresno Pacific University vs. California State University San Marcos comparison
Fresno Pacific University California State University San Marcos College 3 College 4
Fresno Pacific University California State University San Marcos
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Overview

Fresno Pacific University California State University-San Marcos
Location Fresno, CA San Marcos, CA
Setting Large City Rural Fringe
Enrollment 3,032 15,109
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #589 #836
Religious Affiliation Mennonite Brethren Church - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website fresno.edu csusm.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Fresno Pacific University California State University-San Marcos
Tuition (In State) $33,614 $5,742
Tuition (Out of State) $33,614 $17,622
Room & Board $9,238 $13,972
Avg Net Price $15,255 $10,463
Avg Grant Aid $26,985 $8,922
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 67%

Admission

Fresno Pacific University California State University-San Marcos
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 832 14,774
Admitted 624 14,064
Acceptance Rate 75% 95.2%
Enrolled % 24.8% 18.1%
Avg High School GPA 3.54 3.32
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Moderate Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 17/24 17/22
SAT Range 970/1240 950/1130
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Aug 1, 2025 Nov 30, 2024

Academics

Fresno Pacific University California State University-San Marcos
Student to Faculty Ratio 10:1 23:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (29%)
  • Education (28%)
  • Work and Family Studies (17%)
  • Social Sciences (7%)
  • Health Professions (3%)
  • Business (22%)
  • Social Sciences (18%)
  • Communication (12%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
  • Work and Family Studies (7%)

Outcomes

Fresno Pacific University California State University-San Marcos
Graduation Rate 50% 49%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $43,600 $49,100
Making Student Loan Payments 53% 66%
Median Student Loan Debt $21,500 $17,995
Median Loan Payment $222 $186

Diversity

Fresno Pacific University California State University-San Marcos
% Men 26% 39%
% Women 74% 61%
Racial Diversity Very High Very High
HBCU No No
% White 35% 30%
% Black 5% 3%
% Hispanic 43% 42%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 1% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 6%
% International 2% 2%
% Unknown Race 7% 5%

Students

Fresno Pacific University California State University-San Marcos
% In-State 88% 98%
% Out-of-State 3% 1%

Campus

Fresno Pacific University California State University-San Marcos
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes No
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • California State University San Marcos is larger than than Fresno Pacific University based on total student enrollment (15,109 students vs. 3,032 students)

Fresno Pacific University vs. California State University-San Marcos Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Fresno Pacific University or California State University-San Marcos?

  • Fresno Pacific University is 485.4% more expensive to attend than California State University-San Marcos for in-state tuition ($33,614.00 vs. $5,742.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 90.8% higher at Fresno Pacific University than California State University San Marcos ($33,614.00 vs. $17,622.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at California State University San Marcos than Fresno Pacific University ($10,463 vs. $15,255)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Fresno Pacific University are 51.2% lower than costs at California State University San Marcos ($9,238 vs. $13,972)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Fresno Pacific University than California State University San Marcos (100% vs. 67%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Fresno Pacific University students is 202.5% larger than aid received California State University San Marcos ($26,985 vs. $8,922)

Fresno Pacific University vs. California State University-San Marcos Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Fresno Pacific University or California State University-San Marcos? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between California State University-San Marcos or Fresno Pacific University .

  • The average SAT score at Fresno Pacific University (988) is 33 points higher than at California State University-San Marcos (955)
  • Incoming Fresno Pacific University students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (22) than students at California State University-San Marcos (21)
  • Accepted freshman Fresno Pacific University students have a 0.22 point higher average high school GPA (3.54) than students at California State University-San Marcos (3.32)
  • California State University-San Marcos has a higher acceptance rate (95.2%) than Fresno Pacific University (75%)

Fresno Pacific University vs. California State University-San Marcos Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Fresno Pacific University or California State University-San Marcos? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between California State University-San Marcos and Fresno Pacific University.

  • The graduation rate at Fresno Pacific University is higher than California State University San Marcos (50% vs. 49%)
  • Graduates from California State University San Marcos earn on average $5,500 more per year than Fresno Pacific University graduates after ten years. ($49,100 vs. $43,600)
  • California State University San Marcos students graduate with a $3,505 lower median federal student loan debt than Fresno Pacific University graduates. ($17,995 vs. $21,500)
  • California State University-San Marcos graduates are paying $36 less per month on federal student loans than Fresno Pacific University graduates. ($186 vs. $222)
  • More California State University-San Marcos graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Fresno Pacific University students, three years after graduation. (66% vs. 53%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/