UHCL vs. California State University-San Marcos

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Houston Clear Lake in Houston, TX 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 UHCL based on total student enrollment (16,237 students vs. 8,137 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of Houston Clear Lake is located in Houston, TX (Large Suburban setting); California State University San Marcos is in San Marcos, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• University of Houston Clear Lake is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. California State University San Marcos is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Houston Clear Lake 15:1; California State University San Marcos 24:1.

Cost details

• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Houston Clear Lake are 10.7% lower than at California State University San Marcos ($12,642 vs. $14,152).
• Out-of-state tuition is 2.1% higher at UHCL than at California State University San Marcos (about $432 more per year; $21,114 vs. $20,682).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Houston Clear Lake than at California State University San Marcos (76% vs. 71%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of Houston Clear Lake students is 13.5% larger than aid received by California State University San Marcos students ($12,630 vs. $11,123).

Admissions details

• Typical ACT composite is 3 points higher at UHCL than at California State University-San Marcos (22 vs. 19, midpoint estimate).
• SAT or ACT scores are test optional at UHCL, test-free at California State University-San Marcos.
• Typical fall application deadline: UHCL Jun 1, 2027; California State University-San Marcos Nov 30, 2026.
• Enrolled first-year students at UHCL average a 3.39 high school GPA, 0.07 higher than at California State University-San Marcos (3.32).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 22.2% at UHCL vs. 14% at California State University-San Marcos.

Loans and repayment

• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Houston Clear Lake graduates have a $845 lower median loan debt than California State University-San Marcos graduates ($17,150 vs. $17,995).
• Among borrowers, UHCL graduates have an estimated $9 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than California State University-San Marcos graduates ($177 vs. $186).
• More California State University-San Marcos graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UHCL students, three years after graduation (66% vs. 56%).

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