California State University-San Marcos vs University of North Carolina at Greensboro

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

Admissions: University of North Carolina at Greensboro is more selective with a 89.8% acceptance rate compared to California State University-San Marcos's 95.7%.

Cost: University of North Carolina at Greensboro offers a lower average net price at $10,170, which is $380 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 $14,748 more than University of North Carolina at Greensboro graduates ($48,160).

Graduation: University of North Carolina at Greensboro leads with a 57.9% graduation rate, and freshman retention rates are 74.8% vs 75.8%.

Campus Size: California State University-San Marcos is the larger campus with 14,174 total students, while University of North Carolina at Greensboro has 13,848.

Bottom Line: University of North Carolina at Greensboro 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.