Woodbury University vs. California State University-San Marcos

Comparable Facts

Compare Woodbury University in Burbank, 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 Woodbury University based on total student enrollment (16,237 students vs. 849 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Woodbury University is located in Burbank, CA (Large City setting); California State University San Marcos is in San Marcos, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Woodbury University 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: Woodbury University 13:1; California State University San Marcos 24:1.

Woodbury University vs. California State University-San Marcos Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Woodbury University 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 Woodbury University ($10,241 vs. $37,258).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California State University San Marcos are 4.7% lower than at Woodbury University ($14,152 vs. $14,843).
• Woodbury University is 482.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than California State University-San Marcos (about $38,974 more per year; $47,056.00 vs. $8,082.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 127.5% higher at Woodbury University than at California State University San Marcos (about $26,374 more per year; $47,056.00 vs. $20,682.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Woodbury University than at California State University San Marcos (100% vs. 71%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Woodbury University students is 98.5% larger than aid received by California State University San Marcos students ($22,081 vs. $11,123).

Woodbury University vs. California State University-San Marcos Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Woodbury University 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 Woodbury University.

• 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: Woodbury University - Test-free; California State University-San Marcos - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: California State University-San Marcos Nov 30, 2026.
• Accepted freshman Woodbury University students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.39) than students at California State University-San Marcos (3.32).
• California State University-San Marcos has a higher acceptance rate (95.1%) than Woodbury University (81.6%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 5.9% at Woodbury University vs. 14% at California State University-San Marcos.

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

How do outcomes compare for Woodbury University 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).

• Woodbury University's six-year graduation rate (52%) is higher than California State University San Marcos's (49%).
• Graduates from Woodbury University earn a median of about $1,400 more per year than California State University-San Marcos graduates about ten years after starting college ($50,500 vs. $49,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, California State University San Marcos graduates have a $13,005 lower median loan debt than Woodbury University graduates ($17,995 vs. $31,000).
• Among borrowers, California State University-San Marcos graduates have an estimated $134 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Woodbury University graduates ($186 vs. $320).
• More California State University-San Marcos graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Woodbury University students, three years after graduation. (66% vs. 60%)

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.