Vanguard University of Southern California vs. California State University-San Marcos

Should I go to Vanguard University of Southern California or California State University San Marcos? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Vanguard University of Southern California or California State University-San Marcos is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Vanguard University of Southern California vs. California State University San Marcos comparison
Vanguard University of Southern California California State University San Marcos College 3 College 4
California State University San Marcos
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Overview

Vanguard University of Southern California California State University-San Marcos
Location Costa Mesa, CA San Marcos, CA
Setting Midsize City Rural Fringe
Enrollment 2,256 15,109
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #660 #836
Religious Affiliation Assemblies of God Church - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website vanguard.edu csusm.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Vanguard University of Southern California California State University-San Marcos
Tuition (In State) $38,000 $5,742
Tuition (Out of State) $38,000 $17,622
Room & Board $10,290 $13,972
Avg Net Price $24,279 $10,463
Avg Grant Aid $28,914 $8,922
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 67%

Admission

Vanguard University of Southern California California State University-San Marcos
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,778 14,774
Admitted 2,079 14,064
Acceptance Rate 74.8% 95.2%
Enrolled % 26% 18.1%
Avg High School GPA 3.31 3.32
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Easy Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 19/25 17/22
SAT Range 980/1200 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 Aug 1, 2024 Nov 30, 2023

Academics

Vanguard University of Southern California California State University-San Marcos
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 23:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (32%)
  • Psychology (19%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Theology and Religious Vvocations (8%)
  • Social Sciences (7%)
  • Business (22%)
  • Social Sciences (18%)
  • Communication (12%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
  • Work and Family Studies (7%)

Outcomes

Vanguard University of Southern California California State University-San Marcos
Graduation Rate 55% 49%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $43,200 $49,100
Making Student Loan Payments 64% 66%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,000 $17,995
Median Loan Payment $258 $186

Diversity

Vanguard University of Southern California California State University-San Marcos
% Men 33% 39%
% Women 67% 61%
Racial Diversity Very High Very High
HBCU No No
% White 45% 30%
% Black 5% 3%
% Hispanic 36% 42%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 1% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 6%
% International 1% 2%
% Unknown Race 2% 5%

Students

Vanguard University of Southern California California State University-San Marcos
% In-State 93% 98%
% Out-of-State 7% 1%

Campus

Vanguard University of Southern California 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 No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • California State University San Marcos is larger than than Vanguard University of Southern California based on total student enrollment (15,109 students vs. 2,256 students)

Vanguard University of Southern California vs. California State University-San Marcos Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Vanguard University of Southern California or California State University-San Marcos?

  • Vanguard University of Southern California is 561.8% more expensive to attend than California State University-San Marcos for in-state tuition ($38,000.00 vs. $5,742.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 115.6% higher at Vanguard University of Southern California than California State University San Marcos ($38,000.00 vs. $17,622.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at California State University San Marcos than Vanguard University of Southern California ($10,463 vs. $24,279)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Vanguard University of Southern California are 35.8% lower than costs at California State University San Marcos ($10,290 vs. $13,972)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Vanguard University of Southern California than California State University San Marcos (100% vs. 67%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Vanguard University of Southern California students is 224.1% larger than aid received California State University San Marcos ($28,914 vs. $8,922)

Vanguard University of Southern California vs. California State University-San Marcos Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Vanguard University of Southern California 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 Vanguard University of Southern California .

  • The average SAT score at Vanguard University of Southern California (975) is 20 points higher than at California State University-San Marcos (955)
  • Incoming Vanguard University of Southern California students have at the same average ACT score (21) as students at California State University-San Marcos (21)
  • Accepted freshman California State University-San Marcos students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.32) than students at Vanguard University of Southern California (3.31)
  • California State University-San Marcos has a higher acceptance rate (95.2%) than Vanguard University of Southern California (74.8%)

Vanguard University of Southern California vs. California State University-San Marcos Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Vanguard University of Southern California 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 Vanguard University of Southern California.

  • The graduation rate at Vanguard University of Southern California is higher than California State University San Marcos (55% vs. 49%)
  • Graduates from California State University San Marcos earn on average $5,900 more per year than Vanguard University of Southern California graduates after ten years. ($49,100 vs. $43,200)
  • California State University San Marcos students graduate with a $7,005 lower median federal student loan debt than Vanguard University of Southern California graduates. ($17,995 vs. $25,000)
  • California State University-San Marcos graduates are paying $72 less per month on federal student loans than Vanguard University of Southern California graduates. ($186 vs. $258)
  • More California State University-San Marcos graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Vanguard University of Southern California students, three years after graduation. (66% vs. 64%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/