PASSWORDMANAGEMENT
Cost of Attendance
The Cost of Attendance is intended to help you build a budget and ensure you have a plan for the nine-month academic year. Standard expenses include the cost of tuition fees, books and supplies for two semesters of full-time enrollment, as well as an allowance for food, housing, and other personal expenses based on where you plan to live while in school.
We include the following elements in our Cost of Attendance:
- Tuition and Fees
- Living Expenses (Food and Housing)
- Transportation
- Books, Course Materials, Supplies, and Equipment
- Personal Expenses
- Direct Loan origination fees (are only included for those that borrow)
Except for tuition and fees (and on-campus food and housing), all other components of our Cost of Attendance are based on the data from the administered by the California Student Aid Commission. The survey is conducted every three years (the last survey was conducted in 2021) and results are updated annually based on inflation for non-surveyed years. The last survey was conducted in 2021, and 239 糖心少女 students responded to the survey. The results are updated annually based on inflation for non-surveyed years.
For housing and meal plan charges please review this information Housing | 糖心少女
2026-27 Cost of Attendance - Full Year (Fall/Spring)
- Undergraduate/Resident/Full-Time
Undergraduate/Resident/Full-Time* Fee Living with Parents or Relatives Living On-Campus Living Off-Campus Tuition Fee $6,838 $6,838 $6,838 Mandatory Fees $2,496 $2,496 $2,496 Books, Course Materials, Supplies, and Equipment $1,136 $1,136 $1,136 Meals $3,332 $3,368 $7,854 Housing $6,512 $12,020 $15,248 Transportation $2,834 $1,656 $2,992 Personal/Misc. $3,352 $3,352 $$3,352 Total $26,500 $30,866 $39,916 * Resident full-time tuition fees are based on 7 or more units per term.
* First time 糖心少女 students will pay a $140 New Student Experience Fee - Undergraduate/Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) Full-Time
Undergraduate/Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) Full-Time* Fee Undergraduate Living with Parents or Relatives Undergraduate Living On-Campus Undergraduate Living Off-Campus Tuition Fee $9,126 $9,126 $9,126 Mandatory Fees $2,496 $2,496 $2,496 Books, Course Materials, Supplies, and Equipment $1,136 $1,136 $1,136 Meals $3,332 $3,368 $7,854 Housing $6,512 $12,020 $15,248 Transportation $2,834 $1,656 $2,992 Personal/Misc. $3,352 $3,352 $3,352 Total $28,788 $33,154 $42,204 *WUE full time tuition fees are based on 12 units per term.
- Undergraduate/Non-Resident/Full-Time
Undergraduate/Non-Resident/Full-Time* Fee Undergraduate Living with Parents or Relatives Undergraduate Living On-Campus Undergraduate Living Off-Campus Tuition Fee $18,790 $18,790 $18,790 Mandatory Fees $2,496 $2,496 $2,496 Books, Course Materials, Supplies, and Equipment $1,136 $1,136 $1,136 Meals $3,332 $3,368 $7,854 Housing $6,512 $12,020 $15,248 Transportation $2,834 $1,656 $2,992 Personal/Misc. $3,352 $3,352 $3,352 Total $38,452 $42,818 $51,868 * Non-Resident full-time tuition fees are based on 12 units per term.
- Credential/Resident/Full-Time
Credential/Resident/Full-Time* Living with Parents or Relatives Living On-Campus Living Off-Campus Tuition Fee** $7,938 $7,938 $7,938 Mandatory Fees ** $2496 $2496 $2496 Books, Course Materials, Supplies, and Equipment $1,136 $1,136 $1,136 Meals $3,332 $3,368 $7,854 Housing $6,512 $12,020 $15,248 Transportation $2,834 $1,656 $2,992 Personal/Misc. $3,352 $3,352 $3,352 Total $27,600 $31,966 $41,016 * Resident full-time tuition fees are based on 7 or more units per term.
- Credential/Non-Resident/Full-Time
Credential/Non-Resident/Full-Time* Living with Parents or Relatives Living On-Campus Living Off-Campus Tuition Fee** $19,890 $19,890 $19,890 Mandatory Fees ** $2,496 $2,496 $2,496 Books, Course Materials, Supplies, and Equipment $1,136 $1,136 $1,136 Meals $3,332 $3,368 $7,854 Housing $6,512 $12,020 $15,248 Transportation $2,834 $1,656 $2,992 Personal/Misc. $3,352 $3,352 $3,352 Total $39,552 $43,918 $52,968 * Non-Resident full-time tuition fees are based on 12 units per term.
- Graduate/Resident/Full-Time
Graduate/Resident/Full-Time* Living with Parents or Relatives Living On-Campus Living Off-Campus Tuition Fee** $8,548 $8,548 $8,548 Mandatory Fees ** $2,496 $2,496 $2,496 Books, Course Materials, Supplies, and Equipment $1,136 $1,136 $1,136 Meals $3,332 $3,368 $7,854 Housing $6,512 $12,020 $15,248 Transportation $2,834 $1,656 $2,992 Personal/Misc. $3,352 $3,352 $3,352 Federal Loan Origination Fee $78 $78 $78 Total $28,288 $32,654 $41,704 * Resident full-time tuition fees are based on 7 or more units per term.
** Graduate Professional Business Fees are an additional $270 - Graduate/Non-Resident/Full-Time
Graduate/Non-Resident/Full-Time* Fee Graduate Living with Parents or Relatives Graduate Living On/Off Campus Graduate Living On/Off Campus Tuition Fee** $20,500 $20,500 $20,500 Mandatory Fees ** $2,496 $2,496 $2,496 Books, Course Materials, Supplies, and Equipment $1,136 $1,136 $1,136 Meals $3,332 $3,368 $7,854 Housing $6,512 $12,020 $15,248 Transportation $2,834 $1,656 $2,992 Personal/Misc. $3,352 $3,352 $3,352 Federal Loan Origination Fee $78 $78 $78 Total $40,240 $44,606 $53,656 * Non-Resident full-time tuition fees are based on 12 units per term.
** Graduate Professional Business Fees are an additional $270 per units in addition to the fees listed. - Doctoral/Resident/Full-Time
Doctoral/Resident/Full-Time* Living with Parents or Relatives Living On-Campus Living Off-Campus Tuition Fee** $18,190 $18,190 $18,190 Mandatory Fees ** $2,496 $2,496 $2,496 Books, Course Materials, Supplies, and Equipment $1,136 $1,136 $1,136 Meals $3,332 $3,368 $7,854 Housing $6,512 $12,020 $15,248 Transportation $2,834 $1,656 $2,992 Personal/Misc. $3,352 $3,352 $3,352 Federal Loan Origination Fee $78 $78 $78 Total $37,930 $42,296 $48,646 * Resident full-time tuition fees are based on 7 or more units per term.
- Doctoral/Non-Resident/Full-Time
Doctoral/Non-Resident/Full-Time* Living with Parents or Relatives Living On-Campus Living Off-Campus Tuition Fee** $30,142 $30,142 $30,142 Mandatory Fees ** $2,496 $2,496 $2,496 Books, Course Materials, Supplies, and Equipment $1,136 $1,136 $1,136 Meals $3,332 $3,368 $7,854 Housing $6,512 $12,020 $15,248 Transportation $2,575 $1,656 $2,992 Personal/Misc. $3,352 $3,352 $3,352 Federal Loan Origination Fee $78 $78 $78 Total $49,882 $54,248 $63,298 * Non-Resident full-time tuition fees are based on 12 units per term.
When your financial aid award notification is emailed to you, it includes directions to the Financial Planning Sheet. This document is prefilled with your cost of attendance, your financial aid and provides you with the Net Cost.
For Informational purposes only: In accordance with California Assembly Bill 990 the California State University San Marcos provides the typical market cost of a one bedroom apartment in the San Marcos area.
- Cost of a one-bedroom apartment $2200 per month
- Cost of a two-bedroom apartment $2798 per month
- Cost of renting a room in an off-campus house $995 per month
The food and housing expenses included in the off-campus Cost of Attendance represent the typical costs students pay when enrolled at California State University San Marcos. Actual costs of room and board will vary. Many students living off-campus have roommates, which decreases their housing costs.