Chances of getting into California State University San Marcos
Acceptance Rate
How hard is it to get into California State University-San Marcos and can I get accepted?
The acceptance rate at California State University-San Marcos is 79%. It ranks #71 in California for lowest rate of acceptance. California State University San Marcos is an easy school to get into with a very good chance of acceptance if you meet the admission requirements. Last year, 12,241 out of 15,413 applicants were admitted.
The school has extremely easy admission requirements for SAT and ACT scores, generally admitting students who score in the top 69 percent (SAT 950/1130 ACT 17/22). California State University San Marcos typically accepts and attracts "B+" average high school students with an average GPA around 3.4. 18% of those admitted chose to enroll in the school.
Testing Requirements
You are required to submit admission test scores with your application. California State University San Marcos is not a test optional school. Note: Please consult the school directly to confirm the most up to date testing requirements.
California State University-San Marcos SAT Scores
SAT Requirements & Average SAT Score
| SAT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| SAT Reading 25th | 480 |
| SAT Math 25th | 470 |
| SAT Composite 25th | 950 |
| SAT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| SAT Reading 75th | 570 |
| SAT Math 75th | 560 |
| SAT Composite 75th | 1130 |
| Average SAT Score | 1040
|
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 prefers applicants to be in the top 69 percent of SAT test takers. The school consistently takes SAT composite scores down to 950 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 860. The estimated average SAT composite for admitted freshman is 1040 out of 1600. California State University-San Marcos ranks #52 in California for highest average SAT composite score. A competitive SAT score is critical as 94 percent of applicants submit SAT scores to the school.
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Data Sources, IPEDS for Fall 2020 starting classEstimated Chance of Acceptance by SAT Score
California State University-San Marcos ACT Scores
ACT Requirements & Average ACT Score
| ACT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| ACT Reading 25th | 15 |
| ACT Math 25th | 16 |
| ACT Composite 25th | 17 |
| ACT Test | 75th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| ACT Reading 75th | 22 |
| ACT Math 75th | 22 |
| ACT Composite 75th | 22 |
| Average ACT Score | 19
|
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 17 and above. Successful applicants typically send ACT scores in the top 69 percent nationally. We estimate the school accepting minimum ACT composite scores around 14 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 22 and above have very competitive chances. The school ranks #61 in California for highest average ACT composite score. 28 percent of applicants submit ACT scores to California State University San Marcos.
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Data Sources, IPEDS for Fall 2020 starting classEstimated Chance of Acceptance by ACT Score
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California State University-San Marcos GPA
Estimated GPA Requirements & Average GPA
What GPA do you need to get into California State University San Marcos?
Applicants require above 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 3.4 on the 4.0 scale indicating that primarily B+ students are accepted and ultimately attend. The school ranks #62 in California for highest average GPA. If your high school grades are above the average 3.4 GPA, you have a very good chance of being admitted as California State University-San Marcos accepts 79% of all applicants.
Explore more colleges with similar GPA requirements
GPA Data Source, Peterson's Data 2021
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Applying
Admission Statistics
| Women | Men | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Applied | 9,744 | 5,669 | 15,413 |
| Accepted | 7,930 | 4,311 | 12,241 |
| Acceptance Rate | 81% | 76% | 79% |
| Enrolled | 1,450 | 805 | 2,255 |
| Percent of Admitted Who Enrolled (Admission Yield) | 18% | 19% | 18% |
Application Fee
The cost for prospective students to apply to California State University San Marcos is $70.
Application Requirements
What are the requirements for admission to California State University San Marcos and what student information is used for admission decisions?
| Test Scores | Required |
| 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.
FAQs
Does California State University San Marcos prefer SAT or ACT?
94% of students submit their SAT scores to California State University-San Marcos. 28% of applicants send their ACT scores when applying.
What is my chance of getting into California State University San Marcos?
79% of those who apply are granted admission to California State University-San Marcos. Admission competition is and the college has extremely 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 950 and 1130. 94% 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 17 and 22. 28% of students submit ACT scores when applying. See if your ACT score is good enough for admission.