California State University-San Marcos Admission Requirements
Chances of getting into California State University San Marcos
Acceptance Rate
Acceptance Rate
56.8%| Measure | Difficulty | |
|---|---|---|
| Admission Standards | Very Easy | |
| Applicant Competition | Average |
How hard is it to get into California State University-San Marcos and can I get accepted? The school has a 57% acceptance rate ranking it #52 in California for lowest rate of acceptance. Last year, 9,374 out of 16,514 applicants were admitted making California State University-San Marcos a more competitive school to get into with a good chance of acceptance for qualifying applicants. Academically, it has very easy requirements for admission test scores, generally admitting students who score in the top 58 percent. California State University San Marcos typically accepts and attracts "B" average high school students. Only 27% of those admitted chose to enroll in the school.
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Find out which students are getting accepted at California State University-San Marcos, which are not, and how your GPA, SAT, or ACT scores compare.
Calculate My ChancesCalifornia State University-San Marcos SAT Scores
SAT Requirements & Average SAT Score
SAT Range
1030-1200Applicants Submitting SAT
91%| SAT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| SAT Reading 25th | 520 |
| SAT Math 25th | 510 |
| SAT Composite 25th | 1030 |
| SAT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| SAT Reading 75th | 620 |
| SAT Math 75th | 580 |
| SAT Composite 75th | 1200 |
| Average SAT Score | 1120 |
SAT Scores you need to get in
What are the SAT requirements for students to be admitted to California State University San Marcos?
California State University San Marcos typically requires applicants to be in the top 55 percent of SAT test takers. The school consistently takes SAT composite scores down to 1030 on a 1600 scale, below which admission should be considered a reach. We estimate some students could be accepted with SAT's as low as 940. The estimated average SAT composite for admitted freshman is 1120 out of 1600. The school ranks #60 in California for highest average SAT composite score. A competitive SAT score is critical as 91 percent of applicants submit SAT scores to the school. Note: SAT scores presented on this page have been adjusted upwards per the College Board's concordance tables for test takers after March 2016.
Estimated Chance of Acceptance by SAT Score
| SAT Score (1600 scale) | Competitiveness | Admission Chances |
|---|---|---|
| 1200 and Above | Good | >69% |
| 1115 to 1200 | Avg + | 57%-69% |
| 1030 to 1115 | Avg - | 44%-57% |
| 945 to 1030 | Reach | 31%-44% |
| Less than 945 | Low | <31% |
California State University-San Marcos ACT Scores
ACT Requirements & Average ACT Score
ACT Range
18-23Applicants Submitting ACT
29%| ACT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| ACT Reading 25th | 16 |
| ACT Math 25th | 17 |
| ACT Composite 25th | 18 |
| ACT Test | 75th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| ACT Reading 75th | 23 |
| ACT Math 75th | 23 |
| ACT Composite 75th | 23 |
| Average ACT Score | 20 |
ACT Scores needed to get accepted
What are the ACT requirements for prospective students to get into California State University-San Marcos?
Admission data indicates that California State University-San Marcos regularly accepts students with ACT's of 18 and above. Successful applicants typically send ACT scores in the top 62 percent nationally. We estimate the school accepting minimum ACT composite scores around 16 in some instances. Prospective students submitting an ACT composite of 20 or higher should be in the upper half of applicants - and students with a 23 and above have very competitive chances. The school ranks #62 in California for highest average ACT composite score. 29 percent of applicants submit ACT scores to California State University San Marcos.
Estimated Chance of Acceptance by ACT Score
| ACT Score | Competitiveness | Admission Chances |
|---|---|---|
| 23 and Above | Good | >71% |
| 20 to 23 | Avg + | 57%-71% |
| 18 to 20 | Avg - | 46%-57% |
| 16 to 18 | Reach | 36%-46% |
| Less than 16 | Low | <36% |
Estimated GPA Requirements & Average GPA
Avg. High School GPA
3.18Typical High School Grades
BYou will need about average high school grades to get into California State University San Marcos. The average high school GPA of the admitted freshman class at California State University San Marcos was 3.18 on the 4.0 scale indicating that primarily B students are accepted and ultimately attend. The school ranks #76 in California for highest average GPA. If your high school GPA meets these requirements, there is a good chance you will be accepted as California State University-San Marcos accepts 57% of students who apply.
| High School GPA | Freshmen Within Range | Competitiveness |
|---|---|---|
| 3.75+ | 7% | Good |
| 3.50 to 3.75 | 12% | Good |
| 3.25 to 3.50 | 20% | Good |
| 3.00 to 3.25 | 30% | Avg + |
| 2.75 to 3.00 | 29% | Avg - |
| 2.50 to 2.75 | 2% | Reach |
| 2.25 to 2.50 | N/A% | Low |
| 2.00 to 2.25 | N/A% | Low |
Admission Statistics
| Women | Men | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Applied | 10,236 | 6,278 | 16,514 |
| Accepted | 5,856 | 3,518 | 9,374 |
| Acceptance Rate | 57% | 56% | 57% |
| Enrolled | 1,573 | 926 | 2,499 |
| Percent of Admitted Who Enrolled (Admission Yield) | 27% | 26% | 27% |
Fall 2020 Application Deadline
Applications were Due
Nov 30, 2019Days left to Apply
NoneThe application deadline for Fall 2020 has passed. Applications were due on Nov 30, 2019.
Admission Requirements
What are the requirements for admission to California State University San Marcos and what considerations affect admission decisions?
| Test Scores | Recommended |
| High School GPA | Required |
| High School Class Rank | Neither required nor recommended |
| Completion of College Preparatory Program | Required |
| Recommendations | Neither required nor recommended |
| Demonstration of Competencies | Neither required nor recommended |
Credits Accepted
| AP Credit | Yes |
| Dual Credit | Yes |
| Credit for Life Experiences | No |
Primary data source, U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=366711 IPEDS survey data for California State University San Marcos.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does California State University San Marcos prefer SAT or ACT?
91% of students submit their SAT scores to California State University-San Marcos. 29% of applicants send their ACT scores when applying.
What is my chance of getting into California State University San Marcos?
57% of those who apply are granted admission to California State University-San Marcos. Admission competition is low and the college has very easy admission standards. See if your grades and scores are good enough for admission.
What SAT score is required for California State University San Marcos?
The middle 50% of addmitted applicants have SAT scores between 1030 and 1200. 91% of students submit SAT scores when applying. See if your SAT score is good enough for admission.
What ACT score is required for California State University San Marcos?
The middle 50% of addmitted applicants have ACT scores between 18 and 23. 29% of students submit ACT scores when applying. See if your ACT score is good enough for admission.
