CSU San Marcos vs Fayetteville State
California State University-San Marcos (CSUSM) and Fayetteville State University (FSU) are two distinct institutions of higher learning with unique characteristics. CSUSM, located in the vibrant city of San Marcos, California, boasts an acceptance rate of 78%, while FSU, situated in the historic city of Fayetteville, North Carolina, has a slightly lower acceptance rate of 68%. Both universities offer a diverse range of undergraduate and graduate programs, with CSUSM excelling in fields like business, psychology, and criminal justice, and FSU excelling in areas such as education, nursing, and social work. While CSUSM's student body is predominantly Hispanic, FSU's student body is predominantly African American. Additionally, CSUSM has a higher graduation rate of 59% compared to FSU's 48%. To help you make an informed decision about your higher education journey, we have compiled a comprehensive comparison table that delves into these differences and more. Explore
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![]() California State University-San Marcos |
![]() Fayetteville State University |
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Overview |
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Location | San Marcos, California | Fayetteville, North Carolina |
Campus setting | Suburb: Large | City: Midsize |
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% | 63.0% |
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No | No |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 93.3% | 82.1% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$70
Graduate:
$70
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Undergraduate:
$50
Graduate:
$50
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SAT range | N/A | 830 - 1040 |
ACT range | N/A | 14 - 19 |
Students submitting SAT score | 5.0% | |
Students submitting ACT score | 19.0% | |
Total number of applicants | 13,986 | 4,135 |
Total number of admissions given out | 13,049 | 3,393 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 2,413 | 632 |
Yield rate | 18.5% | 18.6% |
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 | Required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price |
In state:
$22,366
Out of state:
$34,246
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In state:
$16,256
Out of state:
$27,864
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Average net price | $14,296 | $6,718 |
Tuition |
In state:
$5,742
Out of state:
$17,622
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In state:
$2,982
Out of state:
$14,590
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Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$4,513
Meal plan:
$4,103
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Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
70.0%
Average amount $9,298 |
80.0%
Average amount $10,353 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
22.0%
Average amount $4,734 |
50.0%
Average amount $5,121 |
Students taking out private loans |
1.0%
Average amount $12,988 |
1.0%
Average amount $14,334 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
14,963
Men 38.4% Women 61.6% |
5,557
Men 29.5% Women 70.5% |
Graduate students |
1,292
Men 28.4% Women 71.6% |
1,191
Men 32.5% Women 67.5% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Moderate
|
Low
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Out-of-state students | 1.5% | 13.2% |
International students | 3.4% | 0.7% |
Campus local/setting | Suburb: Large | City: Midsize |
Dormitory capacity | 1,547 | 1,600 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | California Colorado Washington Virginia Arizona | North Carolina South Carolina Florida Maryland Illinois |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 25:1 | 15:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 59.2% | 37.3% |
Dropout rate | 33.6% | 28.7% |
Transferred out | 2.6% | 31.3% |
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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Fire Protection (Bachelor's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
Educational Administration and Supervision (Master's Degrees)
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions (Master's Degrees)
Social Work (Master's Degrees)
Finance and Financial Management Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Social Work (Bachelor's Degrees)
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
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