Head-to-head comparison
California State University-San Marcos vs Pacific College: which has better ROI?
Option A San Marcos, CA
California State University-San Marcos
- Net price / year
- $10,229
- Earnings, 10 years
- $62,908
- Payback
- 2.8 yrs
Option B Costa Mesa, CA
Pacific College
- Net price / year
- $29,363
- Earnings, 10 years
- $70,064
- Payback
- 2.7 yrs
Pacific College has the better ROI: it clears its 2-year net cost of $58,726 in 2.7 years versus 2.8 years at California State University-San Marcos, on median earnings of $70,064 vs $62,908 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | California State University-San Marcos | Pacific College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $10,229 | $29,363 |
| Total net cost | $40,916 | $58,726 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $62,908 | $70,064 |
| Median debt | $17,350 | $22,469 |
| Payback | 2.8 yrs | 2.7 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $250,044 | $375,354 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, California State University-San Marcos or Pacific College?
California State University-San Marcos, at $10,229 a year after aid versus $29,363 — a gap of $19,134 a year, or $17,810 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do California State University-San Marcos or Pacific College graduates earn more?
Pacific College graduates report a median $70,064 ten years after entry, $7,156 more than the $62,908 at California State University-San Marcos. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, California State University-San Marcos or Pacific College?
California State University-San Marcos: its completers carry a median $17,350 in federal loans versus $22,469 at Pacific College, a difference of $5,119. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
63% of students finish at Pacific College, against 55% at California State University-San Marcos. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.