California State University-San Marcos vs. Pathways College

Comparable Facts

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

California State University San Marcos is larger than Pathways College based on total student enrollment (16,237 students vs. 196 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California State University San Marcos is located in San Marcos, CA (Rural Fringe setting); Pathways College is in Phoenix, California (Midsize City setting).
• California State University San Marcos is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Pathways College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California State University San Marcos 24:1; Pathways College 7:1.

Cost details

• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California State University San Marcos are 40.3% lower than at Pathways College ($14,152 vs. $23,712).
• Out-of-state tuition is 234.7% higher at California State University-San Marcos than at Pathways College (about $14,502 more per year; $20,682 vs. $6,180).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at California State University San Marcos than at Pathways College (71% vs. 0%).

Admissions details

• SAT or ACT scores are test-free at California State University-San Marcos, not reported at Pathways College.
• Typical fall application deadline: California State University-San Marcos Nov 30, 2026.

Loans and repayment

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