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

Comparable Facts

Compare Vanguard University of Southern California in Costa Mesa, 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 Vanguard University of Southern California based on total student enrollment (16,237 students vs. 2,246 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Vanguard University of Southern California is located in Costa Mesa, CA (Midsize City setting); California State University San Marcos is in San Marcos, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Vanguard University of Southern California 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: Vanguard University of Southern California 13:1; California State University San Marcos 24:1.

Cost details

• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Vanguard University of Southern California are 5% lower than at California State University San Marcos ($13,450 vs. $14,152).
• Out-of-state tuition is 101.6% higher at Vanguard University of Southern California than at California State University San Marcos (about $21,018 more per year; $41,700 vs. $20,682).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Vanguard University of Southern California than at California State University San Marcos (100% vs. 71%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Vanguard University of Southern California students is 168.3% larger than aid received by California State University San Marcos students ($29,847 vs. $11,123).

Admissions details

• Typical ACT composite is 3 points higher at Vanguard University of Southern California than at California State University-San Marcos (22 vs. 19, midpoint estimate).
• SAT or ACT scores are test-free at both Vanguard University of Southern California and California State University-San Marcos.
• Typical fall application deadline: Vanguard University of Southern California Aug 1, 2027; California State University-San Marcos Nov 30, 2026.
• Enrolled first-year students at California State University-San Marcos average a 3.32 high school GPA, 0.01 higher than at Vanguard University of Southern California (3.31).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 19.7% at Vanguard University of Southern California vs. 14% at California State University-San Marcos.

Loans and repayment

• Among federal student loan borrowers, California State University San Marcos graduates have a $7,005 lower median loan debt than Vanguard University of Southern California graduates ($17,995 vs. $25,000).
• Among borrowers, California State University-San Marcos graduates have an estimated $72 lower median monthly federal student loan payment 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, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.