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University of Phoenix-Online Campus Capella University Chamberlain College of Nursing-Arizona NAU ASU Cal State Fullerton San Diego State University-Imperial Valley Campus California State University-Northridge Sacramento State University of Phoenix-Phoenix-Hohokam Campus Purdue Global-Davenport Campus| Grand Canyon University | California State University San Marcos | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
GCU | California State University-San Marcos | ||
| Location | Phoenix, AZ | San Marcos, CA | ||
| Setting | Large City | Rural Fringe | ||
| Enrollment | 101,816 | 15,109 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #836 | |||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | For-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | gcu.edu | csusm.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
GCU | California State University-San Marcos | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $16,500 | $5,742 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $16,500 | $17,622 | ||
| Room & Board | $7,800 | $13,972 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $21,939 | $10,463 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $9,662 | $8,922 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 98% | 67% |
Admission |
GCU | California State University-San Marcos | ||
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| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 29,304 | 14,774 | ||
| Admitted | 22,818 | 14,064 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 77.9% | 95.2% | ||
| Enrolled % | 37% | 18.1% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | - | 3.32 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | - | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Unavailable | Extremely Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 17/22 | |||
| SAT Range | 950/1130 | |||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) | ||
| Application Deadline | Nov 30, 2023 |
Academics |
GCU | California State University-San Marcos | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 20:1 | 23:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
GCU | California State University-San Marcos | ||
| Graduation Rate | 31% | 49% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $54,300 | $49,100 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 32% | 66% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $18,750 | $17,995 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $193 | $186 |
Diversity |
GCU | California State University-San Marcos | ||
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| % Men | 27% | 39% | ||
| % Women | 73% | 61% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very High | Very High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 48% | 30% | ||
| % Black | 18% | 3% | ||
| % Hispanic | 19% | 42% | ||
| % Native American | 1% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 1% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 6% | ||
| % International | 0% | 2% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 6% | 5% |
Students |
GCU | California State University-San Marcos | ||
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| % In-State | 25% | 98% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 74% | 1% | ||
Campus |
GCU | California State University-San Marcos | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | No | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Grand Canyon University is larger than than California State University-San Marcos based on total student enrollment (101,816 students vs. 15,109 students)
GCU vs. California State University-San Marcos Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, GCU or California State University-San Marcos?
- Grand Canyon University is 187.4% more expensive to attend than California State University-San Marcos for in-state tuition ($16,500.00 vs. $5,742.00)
- Out of state tuition is 6.8% higher at California State University-San Marcos than Grand Canyon University ($17,622.00 vs. $16,500.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at California State University San Marcos than GCU ($10,463 vs. $21,939)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Grand Canyon University are 79.1% lower than costs at California State University San Marcos ($7,800 vs. $13,972)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Grand Canyon University than California State University San Marcos (98% vs. 67%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Grand Canyon University students is 8.3% larger than aid received California State University San Marcos ($9,662 vs. $8,922)
GCU vs. California State University-San Marcos Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, GCU or California State University-San Marcos? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between California State University-San Marcos or GCU .
- California State University-San Marcos has a higher acceptance rate (95.2%) than GCU (77.9%)
GCU vs. California State University-San Marcos Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, GCU or California State University-San Marcos? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between California State University-San Marcos and GCU.
- The graduation rate at California State University-San Marcos is higher than Grand Canyon University (49% vs. 31%)
- Graduates from Grand Canyon University earn on average $5,200 more per year than California State University-San Marcos graduates after ten years. ($54,300 vs. $49,100)
- California State University San Marcos students graduate with a $755 lower median federal student loan debt than GCU graduates. ($17,995 vs. $18,750)
- California State University-San Marcos graduates are paying $7 less per month on federal student loans than GCU graduates. ($186 vs. $193)
- More California State University-San Marcos graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former GCU students, three years after graduation. (66% vs. 32%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/