Graduates of California State University-San Marcos earn median 4-year earnings of $67,891, placing California State University-San Marcos in the 71.8 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $17,903 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 94.4 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks California State University-San Marcos #297 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Program outcomes vary by major. Business Administration, Management and Operations reports 532 graduates and median 4-year earnings of $70,900, ranked #91 nationally in its major. Psychology, General reports 325 graduates and median 4-year earnings of $55,196, ranked #77 nationally in its major. Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing reports 318 graduates and median 4-year earnings of $120,196, ranked #14 nationally in its major. Sociology reports 283 graduates and median 4-year earnings of $53,287, ranked #62 nationally in its major.
Graduates of California State University-San Marcos earn median 4-year earnings of $67,891, placing California State University-San Marcos in the 71.8 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $17,903 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 94.4 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks California State University-San Marcos #297 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Program outcomes vary by major. Business Administration, Management and Operations reports 532 graduates and median 4-year earnings of $70,900, ranked #91 nationally in its major. Psychology, General reports 325 graduates and median 4-year earnings of $55,196, ranked #77 nationally in its major. Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing reports 318 graduates and median 4-year earnings of $120,196, ranked #14 nationally in its major. Sociology reports 283 graduates and median 4-year earnings of $53,287, ranked #62 nationally in its major.
Latest FE earnings field: 10-year
Lower quartile, 10-year field
How graduate earnings grow across the currently available FE horizons.
Financial justification for the investment.
Excellent affordability. Median debt of $17,350 is well under annual earnings, enabling comfortable repayment.
Graduates of California State University-San Marcos earn median 4-year earnings of $67,891, placing California State University-San Marcos in the 71.8 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $17,903 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 94.4 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks California State University-San Marcos #297 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Program outcomes vary by major. Business Administration, Management and Operations reports 532 graduates and median 4-year earnings of $70,900, ranked #91 nationally in its major. Psychology, General reports 325 graduates and median 4-year earnings of $55,196, ranked #77 nationally in its major. Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing reports 318 graduates and median 4-year earnings of $120,196, ranked #14 nationally in its major. Sociology reports 283 graduates and median 4-year earnings of $53,287, ranked #62 nationally in its major.
Program mix and student pathways explain much of the earnings story.
California State University-San Marcos's program mix is anchored in Social Sciences, with concentrations in Social Sciences at 20%, Business at 15%, and Education at 3%. The largest programs by graduates — Business Administration (532 graduates), Psychology, General (325 graduates), and Nursing (318 graduates) — reflect a broad applied-professional and social-sciences orientation typical of a regional public university serving a mixed enrollment. The strongest earnings come from health and business fields. Azimuth ranks Nursing #17 among nonprofit four-year institutions for median earnings four years after enrollment, with graduates earning $120,196. Azimuth ranks Computer Science #126 among nonprofit four-year institutions for median earnings four years after enrollment, with graduates earning $97,827. Business Administration adds further depth, with Azimuth ranking the program #87 among nonprofit four-year institutions for median earnings four years after enrollment and graduates earning $70,900. Among the larger programs, Sociology program graduates 283 students with median earnings of $53,287, and the The Criminology program graduates 273 students earning $55,418 four years after enrollment. Several of the social-sciences and liberal-arts programs are grad-school-dependent pathways where four-year earnings undercount the full trajectory for graduates who continue to graduate or professional study. The supply-demand map provides context for how California State University-San Marcos's dominant program families align with regional and national labor-market demand.
Upper quartile, 10-year field
Graduates of California State University-San Marcos earn median 4-year earnings of $67,891, placing California State University-San Marcos in the 71.8 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $17,903 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 94.4 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks California State University-San Marcos #297 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Program outcomes vary by major. Business Administration, Management and Operations reports 532 graduates and median 4-year earnings of $70,900, ranked #91 nationally in its major. Psychology, General reports 325 graduates and median 4-year earnings of $55,196, ranked #77 nationally in its major. Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing reports 318 graduates and median 4-year earnings of $120,196, ranked #14 nationally in its major. Sociology reports 283 graduates and median 4-year earnings of $53,287, ranked #62 nationally in its major.
See which programs drive the strongest earnings and career trajectories
