Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at California State University-San Marcos

Cal State San Marcos graduates start rough but climb fast. That first-year figure of $29,341 is concerning—nearly $7,000 below the national median and even trailing California's already-modest state average. This ranks in just the 19th percentile nationally. But here's the crucial detail: by year four, earnings jump to $43,664, a 49% increase that narrows the gap considerably. Among California's liberal arts programs, this sits right at the 40th percentile—middle of the pack for the state.

The debt picture deserves real attention. At $15,125, it's actually below both state and national medians, which matters given that 44% of students receive Pell grants. The debt-to-first-year-earnings ratio of 0.52 is manageable, especially compared to programs carrying $27,000 in typical debt. However, even with strong earnings growth, four-year graduates here earn roughly $13,000 less than those from top California programs like National University or Saint Mary's.

For families prioritizing low debt over peak earnings, this works—especially if a student plans to pursue graduate school or needs time to find their professional footing. But if maximizing bachelor's-level earnings matters most, the significant gap between CSU San Marcos and higher-performing programs in the state is worth confronting directly.