Real costs by school · San Marcos, CA · Public
At California State University-San Marcos, families earning $75,000–$110,000 paid an average of $12,525 per year — the published cost of attendance is $21,649. (Federal College Scorecard data, July 2026 refresh.)
| Household income | Avg net price / yr | ≈ four years* |
|---|---|---|
| Under $30k | $6,230 / yr | $26,259 |
| $30–48k | $7,240 / yr | $30,517 |
| $48–75k | $8,928 / yr | $37,632 |
| $75–110k | $12,525 / yr | $52,793 |
| Over $110k | $18,734 / yr | $78,964 |
*Four-year figures grow each year's price by 3.5% — the same method College Compass uses in a family's plan. "Net price" is what families actually paid after grants and scholarships, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education — not a calculator's estimate. Federal reporting groups every income above $110k into one band; families well above it often pay closer to the full cost.
Earnings and completion from federal reporting — not the school's own placement survey.
These are averages. Your family isn't average.
College Compass runs California State University-San Marcos against your student's real GPA, your real income band, and your actual high school — admit odds with the math shown, merit likelihood, and the season's deadlines. First three schools free.
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