GeraMarket / US College ROI / California State University-San Marcos
California State University-San Marcos: College ROI
San Marcos, CA · 14,877 undergraduates. Median 10-yr earnings: $62,908 · Median debt: $17,350 · Net price: $10,229/yr · GEROI: 6.0/100.
What is the return on investment for California State University-San Marcos?
As of June 2026, California State University-San Marcos (San Marcos, CA) alumni have a median income of $62,908 ten years after entry — 14.5% above the cohort median of $54,940 — with median debt of $17,350 and a net annual cost of $10,229, per the US Dept of Education College Scorecard (public domain). Gera Education ROI Index: 6.0/100 (Below-average ROI).
GEROI tier: Below-average ROI (6.0/100)
Based on (median 10-yr earnings − median debt) ÷ net price, normalised within the top-300 US institutions by enrollment. See full methodology.
California State University-San Marcos — key figures (June 2026)
| Measure | Value | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Median 10-yr earnings | $62,908 | MD_EARN_WNE_P10 (June 2026) — 14.5% above cohort median |
| Median debt at graduation | $17,350 | GRAD_DEBT_MDN (June 2026) — 4.1% below cohort median ($18,095) |
| Annual net price | $10,229/yr | NPT4_PUB/NPT4_PRIV (June 2026) — 24% below cohort median ($13,461/yr) |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 14,877 | UGDS — total undergrad enrolled (June 2026) |
| GEROI score | 6.0 / 100 | Gera Education ROI Index (Below-average ROI) — normalised within top-300 cohort |
Compare California State University-San Marcos with other CA institutions
Filter, sort, and rank all institutions in our database by state, GEROI score, earnings, debt, or net price — personalised to your criteria.
Higher = better ROI
| # | Institution | GEROI | 10-yr earnings | Median debt | Net price | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | College of the SequoiasVisalia, CA | 100.0/100 | $39,092 | $4,500 | $480/yr | View |
| #2 | San Joaquin Delta CollegeStockton, CA | 20.4/100 | $43,212 | $7,500 | $2,407/yr | View |
| #3 | Cerritos CollegeNorwalk, CA | 18.6/100 | $41,156 | $8,447 | $2,424/yr | View |
| #4 | Santa Monica CollegeSanta Monica, CA | 17.7/100 | $42,193 | $6,450 | $2,779/yr | View |
| #5 | San Diego Miramar CollegeSan Diego, CA | 17.1/100 | $48,224 | $6,750 | $3,337/yr | View |
| #6 | Santa Ana CollegeSanta Ana, CA | 16.1/100 | $43,552 | $6,871 | $3,133/yr | View |
| #7 | California State University-Los AngelesLos Angeles, CA | 16.0/100 | $59,211 | $13,000 | $3,967/yr | View |
| #8 | College of the CanyonsSanta Clarita, CA | 14.6/100 | $49,022 | $9,612 | $3,702/yr | View |
| #9 | Saddleback CollegeMission Viejo, CA | 13.7/100 | $50,874 | $9,500 | $4,152/yr | View |
| #10 | California State University-San BernardinoSan Bernardino, CA | 13.6/100 | $59,977 | $14,715 | $4,564/yr | View |
| #11 | Pasadena City CollegePasadena, CA | 13.2/100 | $43,937 | $6,651 | $3,864/yr | View |
| #12 | De Anza CollegeCupertino, CA | 10.5/100 | $56,596 | $5,625 | $6,642/yr | View |
| #13 | California State University-FullertonFullerton, CA | 10.2/100 | $62,951 | $13,750 | $6,555/yr | View |
| #14 | Cypress CollegeCypress, CA | 9.9/100 | $43,533 | $10,000 | $4,606/yr | View |
| #15 | San Diego Mesa CollegeSan Diego, CA | 9.5/100 | $45,120 | $4,725 | $5,814/yr | View |
| #16 | California State University-FresnoFresno, CA | 9.1/100 | $61,244 | $14,505 | $7,000/yr | View |
| #17 | California State University-NorthridgeNorthridge, CA | 8.8/100 | $59,115 | $13,872 | $7,021/yr | View |
| #18 | Fullerton CollegeFullerton, CA | 8.6/100 | $43,366 | $4,500 | $6,134/yr | View |
| #19 | Mt San Antonio CollegeWalnut, CA | 8.5/100 | $46,283 | $5,880 | $6,490/yr | View |
| #20 | Antelope Valley Community College DistrictLancaster, CA | 8.5/100 | $36,526 | $12,500 | $3,860/yr | View |
| #21 | Foothill CollegeLos Altos Hills, CA | 8.3/100 | $57,072 | $10,500 | $7,653/yr | View |
| #22 | Santa Rosa Junior CollegeSanta Rosa, CA | 8.1/100 | $47,224 | $9,500 | $6,331/yr | View |
| #23 | Grossmont CollegeEl Cajon, CA | 8.1/100 | $40,309 | $8,625 | $5,311/yr | View |
| #24 | University of California-BerkeleyBerkeley, CA | 8.0/100 | $92,446 | $13,000 | $13,481/yr | View |
| #25 | University of California-San DiegoLa Jolla, CA | 7.6/100 | $84,943 | $15,500 | $12,470/yr | View |
Showing top 25 of 60 matching institutions. Source: US Dept of Education — College Scorecard (June 2026).
GEROI (Gera Education ROI Index) = normalised score 0–100 based on (median 10-yr earnings − median debt) ÷ annual net price. Data: College Scorecard June 2026, public domain, no key required.
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Frequently asked questions
- What are the average earnings for California State University-San Marcos graduates?
- In June 2026, the median earnings for working California State University-San Marcos alumni 10 years after first enrollment are $62,908, per the US Department of Education College Scorecard (MD_EARN_WNE_P10). This is 14.5% above the top-300-institution cohort median of $54,940.
- What is the typical student debt for California State University-San Marcos graduates?
- The median cumulative debt at graduation for California State University-San Marcos students is $17,350, per the College Scorecard (GRAD_DEBT_MDN, June 2026). This is 4.1% below cohort median ($18,095).
- What does California State University-San Marcos actually cost after financial aid?
- The average annual net price at California State University-San Marcos — the cost actually paid after grants and scholarships are applied — is $10,229/yr, per the College Scorecard (NPT4_PUB/NPT4_PRIV, June 2026). This is 24% below cohort median ($13,461/yr).
- What is California State University-San Marcos's GEROI score?
- California State University-San Marcos's Gera Education ROI Index (GEROI) is 6.0/100 (Below-average ROI). GEROI = (median 10-yr earnings − median debt) ÷ net price, normalised 0–100 across the top-300 US colleges by enrollment. A score of 6.0 means California State University-San Marcos is in the lower half of the cohort on financial return per dollar of net tuition. See the methodology page for the full formula.
- Is California State University-San Marcos worth it financially?
- Based on College Scorecard data (June 2026): California State University-San Marcos has a median 10-yr earnings of $62,908, median debt of $17,350, and net price of $10,229/yr — giving a GEROI of 6.0/100. Whether it's "worth it" depends on your field of study, career goals, and financial situation — GEROI provides the factual financial context, not a personalised recommendation.
Other CA institutions (by GEROI)
- College of the Sequoias — GEROI 100.0/100 · $39,092 10yr
- San Joaquin Delta College — GEROI 20.4/100 · $43,212 10yr
- Cerritos College — GEROI 18.6/100 · $41,156 10yr
- Santa Monica College — GEROI 17.7/100 · $42,193 10yr
- San Diego Miramar College — GEROI 17.1/100 · $48,224 10yr
- Santa Ana College — GEROI 16.1/100 · $43,552 10yr
- All 300 institutions →
Contains public sector information published by US Department of Education and licensed under the US Federal Government Open Data (public domain). Source: US Department of Education — College Scorecard (Most Recent Institution Data) (June 2026, published 10 June 2026).