California State University-San Marcos Acceptance Rate
San Marcos, California · Public · 4-year or above
- Applicants
- 17,519
- Admitted
- 16,765
- Yield
- 15.7%
- Test policy
- Test-blind
Latest official IPEDS 2023–24 · Updated July 2026
Acceptance rate & applications over time
Hover or tap the chart to read any year.
Over the 10 years of federal data, California State University-San Marcos's acceptance rate has risen from 61.8% in 2014–15 to 95.7% in 2023–24. Applications grew from 12,838 to 17,519 (+36%) over that period.
Its 95.7% rate makes California State University-San Marcos more selective than about 8% of the 1,419 schools tracked here. Among 84 tracked California schools, it is more selective than about 11%.
California State University-San Marcos has been test-blind (scores not considered) since 2021–22. Of admitted students, 15.7% enrolled (the yield rate) in 2023–24.
Full year-by-year table
| Year | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance | Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014–15 | 12,838 | 7,934 | 61.8% | 2,167 |
| 2015–16 | 13,718 | 7,413 | 54% | 2,202 |
| 2016–17 | 15,366 | 7,965 | 51.8% | 2,152 |
| 2017–18 | 16,514 | 9,374 | 56.8% | 2,499 |
| 2018–19 | 17,649 | 10,311 | 58.4% | 2,474 |
| 2019–20 | 17,349 | 10,699 | 61.7% | 2,245 |
| 2020–21 | 15,413 | 12,241 | 79.4% | 2,255 |
| 2021–22 | 13,986 | 13,049 | 93.3% | 2,413 |
| 2022–23 | 14,774 | 14,064 | 95.2% | 2,551 |
| 2023–24 | 17,519 | 16,765 | 95.7% | 2,625 |
Acceptance rate by gender
| Group | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Women | 10,614 | 10,184 | 95.9% |
| Men | 6,905 | 6,581 | 95.3% |
SAT / ACT ranges & policy
Test-blind (not considered).
How California State University compares
Where this school sits among peers of similar selectivity — each dot is a school's current acceptance rate on the same scale.
Frequently asked
What is California State University-San Marcos's acceptance rate?
California State University-San Marcos's acceptance rate is 95.7% for 2023–24, the most recent year of federal IPEDS data (16,765 admitted of 17,519 applicants).
Is California State University-San Marcos test optional?
California State University-San Marcos is test-blind: SAT/ACT scores are not considered in admission.
How many people apply to California State University-San Marcos?
California State University-San Marcos received 17,519 applications in 2023–24 and admitted 16,765.
Is California State University-San Marcos getting harder to get into?
California State University-San Marcos has become easier to get into: its acceptance rate went from 61.8% in 2014–15 to 95.7% in 2023–24.
How this is calculated
Acceptance rate = admitted ÷ applicants, first-time degree-seeking undergraduates, from the U.S. Department of Education's IPEDS Admissions (ADM) survey; institution details from the IPEDS Institutional Characteristics (HD) survey. Data span: 2014–15 to 2023–24. Official site: www.csusm.edu/.