Lewis-Clark State College vs. California State University-San Marcos

Comparable Facts

Compare Lewis Clark State College in Lewiston, ID 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 Lewis-Clark State College based on total student enrollment (16,237 students vs. 3,801 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Lewis Clark State College is located in Lewiston, ID (Small City setting); California State University San Marcos is in San Marcos, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Lewis Clark State College 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: Lewis Clark State College 16:1; California State University San Marcos 24:1.

Lewis-Clark State College vs. California State University-San Marcos Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Lewis-Clark State College 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 Lewis-Clark State College ($10,241 vs. $15,917).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Lewis Clark State College are 11.7% lower than at California State University San Marcos ($12,492 vs. $14,152).
• California State University San Marcos is 6.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Lewis-Clark State College (about $472 more per year; $8,082.00 vs. $7,610.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 6.5% higher at Lewis-Clark State College than at California State University San Marcos (about $1,346 more per year; $22,028.00 vs. $20,682.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Lewis Clark State College than at California State University San Marcos (88% vs. 71%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by California State University San Marcos students is 50.9% larger than aid received by Lewis Clark State College students ($11,123 vs. $7,371).

Lewis-Clark State College vs. California State University-San Marcos Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Lewis-Clark State College 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 Lewis-Clark State College.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at California State University San Marcos (1040) is 60 points higher than at Lewis-Clark State College (980).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Lewis Clark State College 850/1110; California 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: Lewis-Clark State College - Test-free; California State University-San Marcos - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Lewis-Clark State College Aug 8, 2027; California State University-San Marcos Nov 30, 2026.
• Accepted freshman California State University-San Marcos students have a 0.09 point higher average high school GPA (3.32) than students at Lewis-Clark State College (3.23).
• California State University-San Marcos has a higher acceptance rate (95.1%) than Lewis-Clark State College (87.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 14.7% at Lewis-Clark State College vs. 14% at California State University-San Marcos.

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

How do outcomes compare for Lewis-Clark State College 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).

• California State University San Marcos's six-year graduation rate (49%) is higher than Lewis Clark State College's (28%).
• Graduates from California State University San Marcos earn a median of about $11,100 more per year than Lewis-Clark State College graduates about ten years after starting college ($49,100 vs. $38,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, California State University San Marcos graduates have a $3,949 lower median loan debt than Lewis-Clark State College graduates ($17,995 vs. $21,944).
• Among borrowers, California State University-San Marcos graduates have an estimated $40 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Lewis-Clark State College graduates ($186 vs. $226).
• More California State University-San Marcos graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Lewis-Clark State College students, three years after graduation. (66% vs. 55%)

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.