A&M Commerce vs. California State University-San Marcos

Comparable Facts

Compare East Texas A&M University in Commerce, TX 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 A&M Commerce based on total student enrollment (16,237 students vs. 13,252 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• East Texas A&M University is located in Commerce, TX (Remote Town setting); California State University San Marcos is in San Marcos, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• East Texas A&M 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: East Texas A&M University 17:1; California State University San Marcos 24:1.

A&M Commerce vs. California State University-San Marcos Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, A&M Commerce 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 A&M Commerce ($10,241 vs. $12,327).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at East Texas A&M University are 24.9% lower than at California State University San Marcos ($10,634 vs. $14,152).
• East Texas A&M University is 24.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than California State University-San Marcos (about $1,944 more per year; $10,026.00 vs. $8,082.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 7.9% higher at A&M Commerce than at California State University San Marcos (about $1,644 more per year; $22,326.00 vs. $20,682.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at East Texas A&M University than at California State University San Marcos (91% vs. 71%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by East Texas A&M University students is 2% larger than aid received by California State University San Marcos students ($11,342 vs. $11,123).

A&M Commerce vs. California State University-San Marcos Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, A&M Commerce 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 A&M Commerce.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at California State University San Marcos (1040) is 10 points higher than at A&M Commerce (1030).
• Incoming A&M Commerce students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (21 vs. 19 at California State University-San Marcos).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: East Texas A&M University 910/1150; California State University San Marcos 950/1130.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: East Texas A&M University 18/24; California State University San Marcos 17/22.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: A&M Commerce - Test optional; California State University-San Marcos - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: A&M Commerce Aug 15, 2027; California State University-San Marcos Nov 30, 2026.
• Accepted freshman A&M Commerce students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.36) than students at California State University-San Marcos (3.32).
• California State University-San Marcos has a higher acceptance rate (95.1%) than A&M Commerce (92.2%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.3% at A&M Commerce vs. 14% at California State University-San Marcos.

A&M Commerce vs. California State University-San Marcos Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for A&M Commerce 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 East Texas A&M University's (37%).
• Graduates from California State University San Marcos earn a median of about $7,900 more per year than A&M Commerce graduates about ten years after starting college ($49,100 vs. $41,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, California State University San Marcos graduates have a $2,519 lower median loan debt than A&M Commerce graduates ($17,995 vs. $20,514).
• Among borrowers, California State University-San Marcos graduates have an estimated $26 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than A&M Commerce graduates ($186 vs. $212).
• More California State University-San Marcos graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former A&M Commerce students, three years after graduation. (66% vs. 46%)

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.