Undergraduate academic requirements
High school diploma with a minimum GPA of 2.5
Degree type
Bachelor's
Key facts
- Duration4 years
- Delivery methodOn campus
- PaceFull-time
- Annual tuition fee18,160USD
- Start dateJan, Aug
- University rankingNot ranked
Program overview
What California State University, San Marcos says about their program:
After successful completion of the Lower-Division Pre-Business Core, students take an associated set of Foundation of Business and Core courses for their selected option/track. Each option/track has numerous required and elective courses from which a student can tailor a program to satisfy individual career goals. Students in the College of Business Administration (CoBA) will find that their program of study is both rigorous and relevant to real-world business problems. The curriculum is designed to help students develop a wide range of skills and abilities applicable to both for-profit and not-for-profit sectors of the economy. The program’s focus on problem identification and problem-solving allow students to develop analytical and critical thinking skills that give Cal State San Marcos business graduates a distinctive advantage in today’s job market.
Admission requirements
Postgraduate academic requirements
A Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution with a minimum GPA of 3.0 for the MBA in Business Administration and MS in Computer Science, and a minimum GPA of 2.5 for Biotechnology, Mathematics, and Public Health.
English proficiency
Undergraduate
- TOEFL IBT
61 (min 19 Writing and no other subscore below 14)
- IELTS
5.5 ((min 5.5 Writing and no other subscore below 5.0)
- PTE
50
- Duolingo
95
Postgraduate
- TOEFL IBT
80
- IELTS
6.0 (min 6.0 Writing and no subscore below a 5.5)
- PTE
65
- Duolingo
110
English proficiency waivers
Applicants must have completed at least three years of secondary education in English, either in the United States, a country where English is the majority native language, or where English is the primary language of instruction. Additionally, applicants should have completed at least 60 post-secondary credits, an associate degree, or higher from a regionally accredited institution in the U.S. or an equivalent institution abroad where English is the language of instruction.
Native English speakers or applicants with a Bachelor's or Master's degree from an institution where English is the principal language of instruction also meet this requirement.
English Waiver Policy by Country
Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Botswana, British Virgin Islands, Canada (except Quebec), Cayman Islands, Dominica, Gambia, Gibraltar, Grenada, Guyana, Ireland, Jamaica, Kenya, Kiribati, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Montserrat, Namibia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Sudan, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and Grenadines, Swaziland, Tanzania, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuvalu, Uganda, United Kingdom, Zimbabwe
Documents required
- Your official transcripts
- Proof of English language proficiency
- Certified English translation of any documents issued in a language other than English
- A copy of your passport (photo page)
Scholarships at California State University, San Marcos
A university-sponsored partial tuition waiver for international undergraduate students at CSU San Marcos. It is aimed at F-1 visa holders in good academic standing with at least one semester of residence at CSUSM, enrolled in a minimum of 12 credit units. No minimum GPA is required; the office instead weighs the student's overall academic record and service to the campus community, and also considers diversity and geographic distribution among applicants. It is explicitly designed for currently enrolled international students, making it directly open to non-domestic undergraduates.
An annual $1,000 scholarship awarded to up to three international students in F-1 visa status who are enrolled full-time in an undergraduate or graduate degree program at a Study California member institution, which includes CSU San Marcos (CSUSM lists this award on its own international student financial aid page). Undergraduate applicants need a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 and must submit transcripts, a recommendation letter, a passport copy, and proof of admission by the program's October 31 deadline. Because eligibility is explicitly limited to F-1 international students, it is open to CSUSM's international undergraduate population rather than domestic students.
All scholarship information on Studee is provided for guidance only. Always check the for the latest information on eligibility, award amounts, deadlines, and application requirements.
Fees
Fee information
- Undergraduate tuition
US$18,160 per year
- Postgraduate tuition
From US$17,158 to US$31,515 per year
What is the cost of living near California State University, San Marcos?
| Category | Cost (in United States Dollar) |
|---|---|
| Rent, 1-bed apartment in city centre | $2,176 |
| Rent, 1-bed apartment outside centre | $1,852 |
| Utilities (electricity, heating, water, refuse) | $132 |
| Internet (60 Mbps unlimited) | $70 |
| Mobile phone plan (data + calls) | $61 |
| Monthly public transport pass | $65 |
| Monthly grocery basket | $189 |
| Coffee shop drink | $6 |
| Cinema or cultural event ticket | $15 |
| Gym membership | $45 |
Indicative monthly costs per person.
Data sourced from livingcost.org (Crowdsourced) and numbeo.com (Crowdsourced).
Visa requirements for California State University, San Marcos
Many international students will require a visa to study in the USA, and this is a vital step of your study abroad journey. Make sure you understand the requirements you may need to meet before applying.