Pacific Oaks College vs. California State University-San Marcos

Comparable Facts

Compare Pacific Oaks College in Pasadena, CA 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 Pacific Oaks College based on total student enrollment (16,237 students vs. 1,068 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Pacific Oaks College is located in Pasadena, CA (Midsize City setting); California State University San Marcos is in San Marcos, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Pacific Oaks College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. California State University San Marcos is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Pacific Oaks College 11:1; California State University San Marcos 24:1.

Pacific Oaks College vs. California State University-San Marcos Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Pacific Oaks College or California State University-San Marcos? 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 26.2% lower than at Pacific Oaks College ($14,152 vs. $19,185).
• Pacific Oaks College is 302.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than California State University-San Marcos (about $24,438 more per year; $32,520.00 vs. $8,082.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 57.2% higher at Pacific Oaks College than at California State University San Marcos (about $11,838 more per year; $32,520.00 vs. $20,682.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at California State University San Marcos than at Pacific Oaks College (71% vs. 0%).

Pacific Oaks College vs. California State University-San Marcos Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Pacific Oaks 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 Pacific Oaks College.

• 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: Pacific Oaks College - Test optional; California State University-San Marcos - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: California State University-San Marcos Nov 30, 2026.
• California State University-San Marcos has a higher acceptance rate (95.1%) than Pacific Oaks College (34.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 22.7% at Pacific Oaks College vs. 14% at California State University-San Marcos.

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

How do outcomes compare for Pacific Oaks 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).

• Graduates from California State University San Marcos earn a median of about $7,000 more per year than Pacific Oaks College graduates about ten years after starting college ($49,100 vs. $42,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, California State University San Marcos graduates have a $2,972 lower median loan debt than Pacific Oaks College graduates ($17,995 vs. $20,967).
• Among borrowers, California State University-San Marcos graduates have an estimated $30 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Pacific Oaks College graduates ($186 vs. $216).
• More California State University-San Marcos graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Pacific Oaks College students, three years after graduation. (66% vs. 51%)

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.