- Acceptance rate: 95% for fall 2024
- Average high school GPA: 3.316, as reported by the college for 2025–26
- Average net price: $10,500 a year (2022–23)
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How does your GPA compare?
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Where you standEnter your GPA
Type your GPA to compare it with what California State University San Marcos reported: an average GPA of 3.316 (2025–26) and an acceptance rate of 95% for fall 2024.
Weighted GPAs above 4.0 can't be compared directly. Many colleges recalculate on their own scale, so use your unweighted GPA here.
A guide based on reported data, not a prediction. California State University San Marcos reviews each application.
California State University San Marcos average GPA
California State University San Marcos reported an average high school GPA of 3.316 for its first-year students who submitted one (100% did), in its 2025–26 Common Data Set. The college doesn't say whether it's weighted or unweighted.
How their high school GPAs were spread:
| High school GPA | Share of first-year students |
|---|---|
| 4.0 | |
| 3.75–3.99 | |
| 3.50–3.74 | |
| 3.25–3.49 | |
| 3.00–3.24 | |
| 2.50–2.99 | |
| 2.00–2.49 |
An average, not a cutoffColleges calculate GPA in different ways, so these figures can't be compared directly with your own GPA.
California State University San Marcos acceptance rate
California State University San Marcos admitted 18,755 of 19,721 first-year applicants for fall 2024, an acceptance rate of 95%, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education.
California State University San Marcos is a public 4-year university in San Marcos, California, with 14,977 undergraduates.
Admission requirements
What California State University San Marcos looks at when it decides on first-year applicants, as it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024:
| Admission factor | Status |
|---|---|
| High School GPAYour cumulative high school grade point average. | Required |
| High School RecordYour transcript: the courses you took and the grades you earned. | Required |
| College Preparatory ProgramCompletion of a college preparatory curriculum in high school. | Required |
| High School Class RankYour ranking relative to other students in your graduating class. | Not considered |
| RecommendationsLetters of recommendation from teachers, counselors, or other mentors. | Not considered |
| Essay or Personal StatementA personal statement or essay written for your application. | Not considered |
| Test ScoresSAT or ACT scores. | Not considered |
| Other TestsOther admission tests, such as the Wonderlic or WISC-III. | Not considered |
| Demonstration of CompetenciesEvidence of specific skills through portfolios, auditions, or other demonstrations. | Not considered |
| Work ExperiencePaid or volunteer work. | Not considered |
| Legacy StatusWhether a parent or other relative attended the college. | Not considered |
California State University San Marcos didn't report SAT or ACT scores for its fall 2024 first-year students.
AP credit
California State University San Marcos awards college credit for Advanced Placement (AP) exams, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for 2024–25. The college decides which exams and scores earn credit.
It also awards credit for life experience, such as work or military service.
Average net price
First-time, full-time undergraduates paying in-state tuition who received grant or scholarship aid paid an average net price of $10,500 a year at California State University San Marcos in 2022–23, according to the U.S. Department of Education.
Net price is the full cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships.
Frequently asked questions
Is a 3.0 GPA good enough for California State University San Marcos?
It would be within the usual range there: 25.9% of California State University San Marcos' first-year students who submitted a GPA had one below 3.0, as the college reported in its 2025–26 Common Data Set, and it admitted 95% of applicants for fall 2024. Colleges calculate GPA in different ways, so compare on the same scale and look at your courses and test scores too.
Is there a minimum GPA for California State University San Marcos?
California State University San Marcos doesn't set a minimum GPA we could verify. Its first-year students averaged 3.316, as reported by the college in its 2025–26 Common Data Set. The college doesn't say whether that average is weighted or unweighted.
How much does GPA matter at California State University San Marcos?
A lot: California State University San Marcos requires high school GPA, high school record and college preparatory program. It doesn't consider high school class rank, recommendations, essay or personal statement, test scores, other tests, demonstration of competencies, work experience and legacy status. That's what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
What GPA do most California State University San Marcos students have?
36.8% of California State University San Marcos' first-year students who submitted a high school GPA had 3.50 or higher, and the largest group (22%) had 2.50–2.99, as the college reported in its 2025–26 Common Data Set. The college doesn't say whether these GPAs are weighted or unweighted.
How selective is California State University San Marcos?
Not very selective: at least 3 in 4 applicants got in. California State University San Marcos admitted 95% of first-year applicants for fall 2024.
What is California State University San Marcos' acceptance rate?
California State University San Marcos' acceptance rate was 95% for fall 2024: it admitted 18,755 of 19,721 first-year applicants, as it reported to the U.S. Department of Education.
Do you need SAT or ACT scores to apply to California State University San Marcos?
Check California State University San Marcos' admissions website for the current rule: testing policies change from year to year. California State University San Marcos didn't consider SAT or ACT scores, even if you sent them (test blind), it said in its report to the U.S. Department of Education (fall 2024).
What do students pay at California State University San Marcos after grants?
First-time, full-time undergraduates paying in-state tuition who received grant or scholarship aid paid an average of $10,500 a year at California State University San Marcos in 2022–23, according to the U.S. Department of Education. Net price is the cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships.
Can you get college credit for AP scores at California State University San Marcos?
Yes. California State University San Marcos awards college credit for Advanced Placement (AP) exams, as it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for 2024–25. The college decides which exams and scores earn credit.
Does it matter at California State University San Marcos if a parent went there?
No. California State University San Marcos doesn't consider whether a parent or other relative attended, according to its filing with the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
Before you apply, check California State University San Marcos' official admissions site: requirements can differ by program and change from year to year.
Sources
- College Navigator: California State University-San MarcosU.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, IPEDS (2024–25 provisional data): admissions, test scores and admission factors for fall 2024, undergraduate enrollment for fall 2024, net price for 2022–23 and credit policies for 2024–25.
- California State University San Marcos Common Data Set 2025–26California State University San Marcos: average high school GPA of first-year students and how their GPAs were spread.
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