California State University-San Marcos
San Marcos, California · Public · 14,877 undergraduates
Of 43 programs with reported earnings, 41 leave graduates out-earning a typical California high-school graduate (about $36,976/yr) and 2 fall short. Another 41 programs did not have enough data to judge.
What families actually pay
| Family income | Net price per year |
|---|---|
| Under $30k | $6,230 |
| $30k to $48k | $7,240 |
| $48k to $75k | $8,928 |
| $75k to $110k | $12,525 |
| $110k and up | $18,734 |
| All families (average) | $10,229 |
Net price is the yearly cost after grants and scholarships, by family income (College Scorecard). Credit: TuitionTracker.
Program earnings vs a high-school graduate
| Program | Credential | Median earnings | vs HS grad | Verdict | Median debt | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | Bachelor's Degree | $70,900 | +$33,924 | clears the bar | $19,500 | 0.6 yrs |
| Psychology, General | Bachelor's Degree | $55,196 | +$18,220 | clears the bar | $17,750 | 1 yr |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | Bachelor's Degree | $120,196 | +$83,220 | clears the bar | $24,246 | 0.3 yrs |
| Sociology | Bachelor's Degree | $53,287 | +$16,311 | clears the bar | $15,000 | 0.9 yrs |
| Criminology | Bachelor's Degree | $55,418 | +$18,442 | clears the bar | $14,810 | 0.8 yrs |
| Communication and Media Studies | Bachelor's Degree | $59,842 | +$22,866 | clears the bar | $14,545 | 0.6 yrs |
| Biology, General | Bachelor's Degree | $70,789 | +$33,813 | clears the bar | $23,750 | 0.7 yrs |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | Bachelor's Degree | $53,568 | +$16,592 | clears the bar | $17,362 | 1 yr |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | Bachelor's Degree | $58,289 | +$21,313 | clears the bar | $16,226 | 0.8 yrs |
| Computer Science | Bachelor's Degree | $97,827 | +$60,851 | clears the bar | $12,500 | 0.2 yrs |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | Bachelor's Degree | $61,252 | +$24,276 | clears the bar | $17,500 | 0.7 yrs |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | Bachelor's Degree | $51,445 | +$14,469 | clears the bar | $15,000 | 1 yr |
| Social Work | Master's Degree | $77,471 | +$40,495 | clears the bar | $41,000 | 1 yr |
| Visual and Performing Arts, General | Bachelor's Degree | $48,043 | +$11,067 | clears the bar | $18,625 | 1.7 yrs |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | Bachelor's Degree | $71,068 | +$34,092 | clears the bar | $15,000 | 0.4 yrs |
Showing the 15 largest programs by graduates. See all 43 on the full profile.
Access and outcomes: 43% of students receive Pell grants · 55% complete their program.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (release 2026-06-10). Earnings are median earnings of graduates measured up to four years after completing, compared to the state high-school-graduate earnings threshold. Figures describe past graduates and are never a promise. Method: methodology. Something look wrong? Report it.