California Baptist University vs. California State University-San Marcos

Comparable Facts

Compare California Baptist University in Riverside, CA with California State University San Marcos in San Marcos, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

California State University San Marcos is larger than California Baptist University based on total student enrollment (16,237 students vs. 11,902 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California Baptist University is located in Riverside, CA (Large City setting); California State University San Marcos is in San Marcos, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• California Baptist University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. California State University San Marcos is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California Baptist University 21:1; California State University San Marcos 24:1.

Cost details

• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California Baptist University are 14.2% lower than at California State University San Marcos ($12,140 vs. $14,152).
• Out-of-state tuition is 99.3% higher at California Baptist University than at California State University San Marcos (about $20,546 more per year; $41,228 vs. $20,682).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at California Baptist University than at California State University San Marcos (99% vs. 71%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by California Baptist University students is 140.4% larger than aid received by California State University San Marcos students ($26,743 vs. $11,123).

Admissions details

• Typical ACT composite is 2 points higher at California Baptist University than at California State University-San Marcos (21 vs. 19, midpoint estimate).
• SAT or ACT scores are test-free at both California Baptist University and California State University-San Marcos.
• Typical fall application deadline: California State University-San Marcos Nov 30, 2026.
• Enrolled first-year students at California Baptist University average a 3.58 high school GPA, 0.26 higher than at California State University-San Marcos (3.32).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 23.8% at California Baptist University vs. 14% at California State University-San Marcos.

Loans and repayment

• Among federal student loan borrowers, California State University San Marcos graduates have a $9,005 lower median loan debt than California Baptist University graduates ($17,995 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, California State University-San Marcos graduates have an estimated $93 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than California Baptist University graduates ($186 vs. $279).
• More California State University-San Marcos graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former California Baptist University students, three years after graduation (66% vs. 58%).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.