A college's ethnic diversity is indicated by the student body's equal inclusion of students from different backgrounds . Students at California State University-San Marcos are predominantly Hispanic with a significant White population. The school has very high racial diversity. 70% percent of students are minorities or people of color (BIPOC). The ethnic breakdown is detailed in the following table.
California State University San Marcos has been designated as a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) and is eligible for federal grants supporting the school's efforts to serve Hispanic Americans.
| Race | Percent of Students |
|---|---|
| White |
30%
|
| Black |
3%
|
| Hispanic |
42%
|
| Asian |
10%
|
| American Indian / Alaskan |
0%
|
| Hawaiian / Pacific Islander |
0%
|
| Two or more races |
6%
|
| International |
2%
|
| Race Unknown |
5%
|
There are 54% more female students than male students enrolled at California State University San Marcos with a gender ratio of 61% women to 39% men. Compared to the US average of 56% female students, California State University-San Marcos has a lower gender diversity than other US colleges and is slightly less inclusive of males.
| Gender | Percent of Students |
|---|---|
| Men |
39%
|
| Women |
61%
|
| Gender | Number of Students |
|---|---|
| Men |
5,955
|
| Women |
9,154
|
California State University-San Marcos serves a very low number of students outside of California, with 98 percent of the student body residing in-state.
| Origin | Percent of Students |
|---|---|
| In State |
98%
|
| Out of State |
1%
|
| Foreign |
1%
|
| Unknown Location |
0%
|
45% of students can be considered low-income as indicated by their receipt of Federal Pell Grant Aid.
| Segment | Percent of Students |
|---|---|
| Students Over 25 Years Old | 17.9% |
| Part time Undergrads | 16% |
Primary data source, U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=366711 IPEDS survey data for California State University San Marcos.