CSUSM 31st Nationally on Best Value Public Universities List
Cal State San Marcos ranks 31st in the country in SmartAsset’s 2026 study of America’s Best Value Public Universities for its cost of attendance, median alumni earnings and graduation rate.
SmartAsset, a financial technology company, evaluated more than 500 public colleges and universities in the United States to identify the best values. Schools with an average cost of attendance below the median for similar institutions were assigned composite scores based on graduation rates and median earnings 10 years after first enrollment. The 50 highest-scoring schools were named America’s best-value public universities.
CSUSM was one of 13 California universities to make the list, which was topped by the University of Florida at No. 1.
Earlier this summer, CSUSM received 4.5 out of a possible five stars on Money magazine's list of “Best Colleges in America" for 2026.
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ebreier@csusm.edu | Office: 760-750-7314