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California State University, San Marcos SAT Scores, ACT Scores, Acceptance Rate, and Admissions Requirements

SAT Range880 to 1070
ACT Range18 to 23
Average GPA3.34
Acceptance Rate95.1%

At Cal State San Marcos, the 95% acceptance rate means your strategy should focus on readiness, not test scores, since the school is test-free. Aim to keep your GPA around or above the 3.34 average, take a solid senior-year schedule, and make sure the cost and graduation outcomes fit your plan.

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Data on this page is sourced from our college data partners and was last updated on July 9, 2026.

California State University, San Marcos facts and stats

Quick Facts

California State University, San Marcos enrolls 14,977 undergraduates in a suburban campus setting. Cal State San Marcos has a 78% freshman retention rate, which is above the national average of roughly 70%, and a 55% 6-year graduation rate. The student-to-faculty ratio is 24.1:1. Cal State San Marcos is test-free for admissions.

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Location

San Marcos, CA

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Key California State University, San Marcos application dates

Key dates

Application deadlines

Regular Decision

January 31

Early Action

Not offered

Early Decision

Not offered

Priority Deadline

—

Financial aid deadlines

Financial Aid Priority

May 2

Test dates

SAT test dates

August 22, 2026

Registration deadline: August 7, 2026

September 12, 2026

Registration deadline: August 28, 2026

October 3, 2026

Registration deadline: September 18, 2026

ACT test dates

September 19, 2026

Registration deadline: August 14, 2026

October 17, 2026

Registration deadline: September 11, 2026

December 12, 2026

Registration deadline: November 6, 2026

Take tests early for the best outcomes

Cal State San Marcos is test-free, so SAT or ACT scores are not used for admission and you do not need a testing timeline for its January 31 Regular Decision deadline. Retakes and superscoring only matter if other test-using colleges on your list will consider scores.

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What you'll actually pay

At Cal State San Marcos, in-state tuition is $6,084 and out-of-state tuition is $16,164. About 61% of students receive aid, and the FAFSA priority deadline is May 2.

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House illustration

At Cal State San Marcos, out-of-state tuition is $16,164, compared with $6,084 in-state, and room and board is $14,152. Financial aid can meaningfully change the price: 61% of students receive aid, with an average package of $13,135. Merit awards are modest on average at $880. Graduates leave with an average debt of $19,774.

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Student life at California State University, San Marcos

Activities and Organizations
Student newspaper
Drama and theater
Housing

13% of undergrads live on campus

Freshman housing: Priority

Coed
Living-learning
Greek life

Fraternities and sororities are active on campus. 4% of men join fraternities, and 5% of women join sororities.

Similar schools

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