California State University-San Bernardino vs California State University-San Marcos

California State University-San Bernardino and California State University-San Marcos are both well-regarded institutions, but they differ in important ways. Here's how they compare across key dimensions.

Admissions: California State University-San Marcos is more selective with a 95.7% acceptance rate compared to California State University-San Bernardino's 98.3%.

Cost: California State University-San Bernardino offers a lower average net price at $5,918, which is $4,632 less than California State University-San Marcos ($10,550). After financial aid, this can make a significant difference over 4 years.

Career Outcomes: Graduates from California State University-San Marcos earn a median salary of $62,908 ten years after enrollment, which is $2,931 more than California State University-San Bernardino graduates ($59,977).

Graduation: California State University-San Marcos leads with a 55.3% graduation rate, and freshman retention rates are 77.6% vs 74.8%.

Campus Size: California State University-San Bernardino is the larger campus with 15,771 total students, while California State University-San Marcos has 14,174.

Bottom Line: California State University-San Bernardino wins on affordability while California State University-San Marcos leads in career earnings. Your choice depends on whether upfront cost or long-term ROI matters more.