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California State University-San Marcos
San Marcos, CA 14,877 Undergrads 67.8% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$21,649
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$10,229
After Aid
Median Earnings
$67,891
4yr Post-Grad
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$10,229
Peer Midpoint: $20,080.5
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)$67,891
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Graduation Rate67.8%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients43.3%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time83.7%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS75.2%
Admissions Profile
Acceptance
95.1%
SAT Avg
-
SAT Reading
25th: --75th: -
SAT Math
25th: --75th: -
ACT Composite
25th: --75th: -
ROI Sensitivity Analysis
This analysis tests three cost scenarios (Scholarship, Average Net Price, Full Sticker Price) to show how college costs impact your long-term return compared to the average student and a high school graduate.
Lifetime Value Added (NPV)
Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$598k
+$131k
+$113k
Median Cost$10k/yr
+$561k
+$94k
+$76k
Full Cost$22k/yr
+$520k
+$53k
+$35k
ROI Efficiency Metrics
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
31
∞
Median Cost$10k/yr
37
208%
Full Cost$22k/yr
47
45%
Analysis Assumptions:
- Starting Salary: Estimated from the 4-year post-graduation median earnings (assuming 2% annual growth from graduation).
- Comparisons: "Vs Median Peer" compares to the median student nationwide in a similar level program. "Vs HS Grad" compares to a median high school graduate.
- Break-Even: The age at which the college investment net income exceeds the median high school graduate's lifetime earnings.
- NPV: Net Present Value of all future earnings minus costs and taxes, discounted at 7.8%.
Social Impact ROINew
Measures the societal return on a donor's investment. Calculated as the incremental pre-tax lifetime earnings vs. HS grad, divided by the tax-adjusted donation cost.
Donor Return184%
Gov. Pell Grant ROINew
Measures the government's return on Pell Grants via increased tax revenue. Calculated as the portion of incremental lifetime taxes (discounted at 5.4%) attributed to the Pell Grant investment.
Taxpayer Return5%
Important Note: Your ROI with any major will depend on the cost you pay to attend the program, and your starting salary. Both vary significantly across institutions. We encourage you to explore the ROI of a specific program variant by selecting the Program title of the credential level you are interested in. You will then have a more detailed return analysis for programs at specific institutions. We also encourage you to use the ROI calculator with your specific estimates of cost and salary.
Program ROI Analysis
Bachelor's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
BachCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$20,452
Earnings (4yr)
$86,318
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$217k
Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
$16,250
Earnings (4yr)
$49,848
Natl Median: $46,676
Lifetime Value Added
-$69k
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology
BachCIP: 2602
Median Debt
$20,983
Earnings (4yr)
$65,479
Natl Median: $65,466
Lifetime Value Added
+$58k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$23,750
Earnings (4yr)
$70,789
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
+$99k
Biotechnology
BachCIP: 2612
Median Debt
$16,500
Earnings (4yr)
$76,622
Natl Median: $67,097
Lifetime Value Added
+$143k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$70,900
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$100k
Business/Commerce, General
BachCIP: 5201
Median Debt
$20,951
Earnings (4yr)
$68,984
Natl Median: $68,407
Lifetime Value Added
+$85k
Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences
BachCIP: 2604
Median Debt
$19,462
Earnings (4yr)
$80,303
Natl Median: $66,697
Lifetime Value Added
+$171k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
$14,545
Earnings (4yr)
$59,842
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
+$13k
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
BachCIP: 5102
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (4yr)
$71,068
Natl Median: $58,928
Lifetime Value Added
+$101k
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$12,500
Earnings (4yr)
$97,827
Natl Median: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
+$305k
Computer Systems Analysis
BachCIP: 1105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$93,047
Natl Median: $78,929
Lifetime Value Added
+$269k
Criminology
BachCIP: 4504
Median Debt
$14,810
Earnings (4yr)
$55,418
Natl Median: $55,556
Lifetime Value Added
-$23k
Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology
BachCIP: 2613
Median Debt
$23,000
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,842
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$18,620
Earnings (4yr)
$83,339
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
+$195k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
$15,500
Earnings (4yr)
$54,985
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$26k
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies
BachCIP: 0502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,710
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Finance and Financial Management Services
BachCIP: 5208
Median Debt
$16,337
Earnings (4yr)
$77,312
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
+$149k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$16,847
Earnings (4yr)
$52,985
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$43k
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services
BachCIP: 1907
Median Debt
$17,362
Earnings (4yr)
$53,568
Natl Median: $48,568
Lifetime Value Added
-$38k
International Business
BachCIP: 5211
Median Debt
$15,965
Earnings (4yr)
$77,965
Natl Median: $73,201
Lifetime Value Added
+$154k
International Relations and National Security Studies
BachCIP: 4509
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $66,596
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
BachCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$16,226
Earnings (4yr)
$58,289
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
+$718
Management Information Systems and Services
BachCIP: 5212
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (4yr)
$72,448
Natl Median: $83,290
Lifetime Value Added
+$111k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$18,000
Earnings (4yr)
$73,290
Natl Median: $69,303
Lifetime Value Added
+$118k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
BachCIP: 3099
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,693
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
BachCIP: 0301
Median Debt
$13,273
Earnings (4yr)
$55,903
Natl Median: $55,012
Lifetime Value Added
-$19k
Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
$19,000
Earnings (5yr)
$80,480
Natl Median: $76,786
Lifetime Value Added
+$161k
Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences
BachCIP: 2609
Median Debt
$15,154
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,172
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
$17,666
Earnings (4yr)
$50,857
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
-$60k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$17,750
Earnings (4yr)
$55,196
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$24k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$24,246
Earnings (4yr)
$120,196
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$475k
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
BachCIP: 1609
Median Debt
$9,000
Earnings (5yr)
$47,058
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
-$100k
Social Sciences, General
BachCIP: 4501
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (4yr)
$63,622
Natl Median: $53,366
Lifetime Value Added
+$43k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (4yr)
$53,287
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
-$40k
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$17,500
Earnings (4yr)
$61,252
Natl Median: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
+$25k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (4yr)
$51,445
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$56k
Visual and Performing Arts, General
BachCIP: 5001
Median Debt
$18,625
Earnings (4yr)
$48,043
Natl Median: $41,688
Lifetime Value Added
-$84k
Master's Degrees
Biology, General
MastCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,830
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biotechnology
MastCIP: 2612
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$92,859
Natl Median: $107,682
Lifetime Value Added
+$159k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$36,990
Earnings (4yr)
$105,743
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$272k
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
MastCIP: 5102
Median Debt
$70,750
Earnings (4yr)
$88,196
Natl Median: $67,030
Lifetime Value Added
+$118k
Computer Science
MastCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $145,571
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Education, General
MastCIP: 1301
Median Debt
$20,936
Earnings (4yr)
$95,348
Natl Median: $65,824
Lifetime Value Added
+$181k
Educational Administration and Supervision
MastCIP: 1304
Median Debt
$15,100
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
English Language and Literature, General
MastCIP: 2301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,512
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
MastCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,360
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mathematics
MastCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $72,654
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Psychology, General
MastCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,711
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
MastCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$60,000
Earnings (4yr)
$148,800
Natl Median: $120,193
Lifetime Value Added
+$645k
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
MastCIP: 1609
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,728
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (4yr)
$77,471
Natl Median: $65,123
Lifetime Value Added
+$24k
Sociology
MastCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$39,927
Natl Median: $63,330
Lifetime Value Added
-$308k
Special Education and Teaching
MastCIP: 1310
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$82,494
Natl Median: $61,632
Lifetime Value Added
+$54k
Professional Degrees
Education, General
ProfCIP: 1301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $72,062
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Note: Lifetime Value Added is the Net Present Value (NPV) of estimated career earnings relative to a median high school graduate (for undergraduate programs) or a median bachelor's degree holder (for graduate programs), accounting for this institution's average cost and taxes. Computed over a career to retirement age.
For graduate programs (Master's, Doctoral, etc.), the calculation assumes a starting age of 22 (after undergraduate completion) and does not include the sunk costs of prior degrees. It represents the value added of the graduate degree decision moving forward. These Lifetime Value Added results for graduate degrees should not be compared with those for Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors.