CSU San Marcos vs Nevada State College
California State University-San Marcos (CSUSM) and Nevada State College (NSC) are two distinct institutions of higher learning, each offering unique opportunities and experiences to their students. CSUSM, located in the vibrant city of San Marcos, California, boasts a diverse student body and a wide range of academic programs, while NSC, situated in the heart of Henderson, Nevada, prides itself on its small class sizes and personalized attention. With acceptance rates of 78% and 85% respectively, both universities welcome a substantial number of applicants each year. While CSUSM's student body is predominantly Hispanic, NSC's student population is more evenly distributed across various ethnicities. Explore the comprehensive comparison table below to delve into further details about these institutions, including popular majors, graduation rates, and additional factors that may influence your decision in choosing the ideal fit for your academic and personal aspirations.
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![]() California State University-San Marcos |
![]() Nevada State College |
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Overview |
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Location | San Marcos, California | Henderson, Nevada |
Campus setting | Suburb: Large | Rural: Fringe |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Public | Public |
Calendar system | Semester | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 79.0% | 76.0% |
![]() |
No | No |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 93.3% | 79.0% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$70
Graduate:
$70
|
Undergraduate:
$30
Graduate:
$30
|
SAT range | N/A | N/A |
ACT range | N/A | N/A |
Students submitting SAT score | ||
Students submitting ACT score | ||
Total number of applicants | 13,986 | 1,230 |
Total number of admissions given out | 13,049 | 972 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 2,413 | 348 |
Yield rate | 18.5% | 35.8% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Required | Required |
Recommendation letters | Not required | Not required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Not required | Not required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price |
In state:
$22,366
Out of state:
$34,246
|
In state:
$24,651
Out of state:
$38,016
|
Average net price | $14,296 | $17,046 |
Tuition |
In state:
$5,742
Out of state:
$17,622
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In state:
$5,400
Out of state:
$18,765
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Room & board | ||
Available payment plans |
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|
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
70.0%
Average amount $9,298 |
95.0%
Average amount $6,349 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
22.0%
Average amount $4,734 |
15.0%
Average amount $5,218 |
Students taking out private loans |
1.0%
Average amount $12,988 |
0.0%
Average amount $0 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
14,963
Men 38.4% Women 61.6% |
7,158
Men 26.4% Women 73.6% |
Graduate students |
1,292
Men 28.4% Women 71.6% |
69
Men 7.2% Women 92.8% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Moderate
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Moderate
|
Out-of-state students | 1.5% | 1.4% |
International students | 3.4% | 0.1% |
Campus local/setting | Suburb: Large | Rural: Fringe |
Dormitory capacity | 1,547 | N/A |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | N/A |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | California Colorado Washington Virginia Arizona | Nevada California Nebraska Washington |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 25:1 | 18:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission | Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 59.2% | 28.5% |
Dropout rate | 33.6% | 42.2% |
Transferred out | 2.6% | 27.3% |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Special Education and Teaching (Master's Degrees)
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
Education, General (Master's Degrees)
Physics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Finance and Financial Management Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
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Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Area Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Criminal Justice and Corrections (Bachelor's Degrees)
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
History (Bachelor's Degrees)
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