Colleges Near San Marcos, California
Looking for information about the best colleges and universities serving San Marcos? Here's your guide to the top schools offering degrees to students in the area, including institutions located within 20 miles of San Marcos, California.
There are at least 14 colleges serving the area, including 7 private colleges and universities, 2 public colleges and universities, and 3 community colleges offering 2-year degrees.
The Best Adult Colleges & Careers Guide provides a breakdown of the colleges serving San Marcos, with details about cost, enrollment, student type and degree offerings. Click here to learn more about the guide.
San Marcos, California Colleges by the Numbers
Associate, bachelor's, masters, and doctoral degree completions at institutions near San Marcos, California have been growing over the past 5 years. In 2022, students completed 24,282 doctorates at colleges and universities near San Marcos. That was an increase of 18% from completions reported in 2018.
Schools with Degree Completions
Est. Total Completions in 2022
Est. Completions (Last 5 Years)
Sponsored
Top School For Adults & Online Students
Franklin University is a top choice for transfer students, online learners and adults who need to balance school with busy lives. Founded in 1902 in Columbus, Ohio, Franklin's main focus has been serving adult students and tailoring education to fit their needs. Nonprofit and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org/800.621.7440), Franklin offers more than 50 bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs — all available 100% online.
Undergraduate Enrollment
4,444
Completions By Degree
1,820
Est. Online Degree Offerings
100%
Private Colleges & Universities Offering Degrees Near San Marcos, California
There are at least 7 schools offering degrees near San Marcos, California, and 7 are four-year private colleges or universities where about 5,097 undergraduate students were enrolled. In 2022, a total of 3,725 degrees were completed at private colleges and universities, including 3,107 that were offered online.
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
Franklin offers more than 50 online bachelor's degrees, master's degrees and doctoral programs in the San Marcos, California area. Franklin University is an institutionally accredited nonprofit 4-year school where most students attend classes part-time. Most of the students are adults and all programs completed were offered online. Bachelor's degrees are the most popular at Franklin University. In 2022, 1,011 bachelor's degrees were completed. In addition, 94 associate degrees, 676 master's degrees, and 39 doctoral degrees were earned.
Undergraduate Enrollment
4,444
Completions By Degree
1,820
Est. Online Degree Availability
100%
Completions by Program Area
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
John Paul the Great Catholic University is an institutionally accredited nonprofit 4-year school where most students attend classes full-time. Most of the students are of traditional age and no programs completed were offered online. Bachelor's degrees are the most popular at John Paul the Great Catholic University. In 2022, 63 bachelor's degrees were completed. In addition, 0 associate degrees, 0 master's degrees, and 0 doctoral degrees were earned.
Undergraduate Enrollment
292
Completions By Degree
63
Est. Online Degree Availability
0%
Completions by Program Area
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
Design Institute of San Diego is an institutionally accredited for profit 4-year school where most students attend classes full-time. Most of the students are a mixture of traditional and adult aged and minimal programs completed were offered online. Bachelor's degrees are the most popular at Design Institute of San Diego. In 2022, 26 bachelor's degrees were completed. In addition, 0 associate degrees, 4 master's degrees, and 0 doctoral degrees were earned.
Undergraduate Enrollment
119
Completions By Degree
30
Est. Online Degree Availability
13%
Completions by Program Area
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute is an institutionally accredited nonprofit 4-year school where most students attend classes full-time. Most of the students are of traditional age and no programs completed were offered online. Doctoral degrees are the most popular at Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute. In 2022, 6 doctoral degrees were completed. In addition, 0 associate degrees, 0 bachelor's degrees, 0 master's degrees, were earned.
Undergraduate Enrollment
0
Completions By Degree
6
Est. Online Degree Availability
0%
Completions by Program Area
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
University of Saint Katherine is an institutionally accredited nonprofit 4-year school where most students attend classes full-time. Most of the students are of traditional age and minimal programs completed were offered online. Bachelor's degrees are the most popular at University of Saint Katherine. In 2022, 59 bachelor's degrees were completed. In addition, 0 associate degrees, 9 master's degrees, and 0 doctoral degrees were earned.
Undergraduate Enrollment
242
Completions By Degree
68
Est. Online Degree Availability
13%
Completions by Program Area
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
Westminster Theological Seminary in California is an institutionally accredited nonprofit 4-year school where most students attend classes full-time. Most of the students are of traditional age and no programs completed were offered online. Master's degrees are the most popular at Westminster Theological Seminary in California. In 2022, 33 master's degrees were completed. In addition, 0 associate degrees, 0 bachelor's degrees, and 0 doctoral degrees were earned.
Undergraduate Enrollment
0
Completions By Degree
33
Est. Online Degree Availability
0%
Completions by Program Area
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences is an institutionally accredited for profit 4-year school where most students attend classes full-time. Most of the students are of traditional age and most programs completed were offered online. Doctoral degrees are the most popular at University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences. In 2022, 1,186 doctoral degrees were completed. In addition, 0 associate degrees, 0 bachelor's degrees, 519 master's degrees, were earned.
Undergraduate Enrollment
0
Completions By Degree
1,705
Est. Online Degree Availability
75%
Completions by Program Area
Public Colleges & Universities Near San Marcos, California
There are 2 four-year public colleges located near San Marcos, California. About 48,276 students were enrolled in undergraduate programs, and about 16,169 degrees were completed at public colleges near San Marcos. Tuition shown reflects in-state rates.
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
University of California-San Diego is an institutionally accredited public 4-year school where most students attend classes full-time. Most of the students are of traditional age and no programs completed were offered online. Bachelor's degrees are the most popular at University of California-San Diego. In 2022, 9,422 bachelor's degrees were completed. In addition, 0 associate degrees, 1,946 master's degrees, and 742 doctoral degrees were earned.
Undergraduate Enrollment
33,339
Completions By Degree
12,110
Est. Online Degree Availability
0%
Completions by Program Area
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
California State University-San Marcos is an institutionally accredited public 4-year school where most students attend classes full-time. Most of the students are of traditional age and minimal programs completed were offered online. Bachelor's degrees are the most popular at California State University-San Marcos. In 2022, 3,567 bachelor's degrees were completed. In addition, 0 associate degrees, 492 master's degrees, and 0 doctoral degrees were earned.
Undergraduate Enrollment
14,937
Completions By Degree
4,059
Est. Online Degree Availability
16%
Completions by Program Area
Community Colleges Near San Marcos, California
There are 3 community colleges near San Marcos, California where students can earn 2-year associate degrees. In 2022, about 35,190 students were enrolled in undergraduate courses at community colleges near San Marcos, and about 5,215 associate degrees were completed.
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
Palomar College is an institutionally accredited 2-year school where most students attend classes part-time. Most of the students are a mixture of traditional and adult aged and no programs completed were offered online.
Undergraduate Enrollment
13,873
Completions By Degree
2,310
Est. Online Degree Availability
0%
Completions by Program Area
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
MiraCosta College is an institutionally accredited 2-year school where most students attend classes part-time. Most of the students are a mixture of traditional and adult aged and minimal programs completed were offered online.
Undergraduate Enrollment
10,436
Completions By Degree
1,791
Est. Online Degree Availability
1%
Completions by Program Area
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
San Diego Miramar College is an institutionally accredited 2-year school where most students attend classes part-time. Most of the students are a mixture of traditional and adult aged and no programs completed were offered online.
Undergraduate Enrollment
10,881
Completions By Degree
1,114
Est. Online Degree Availability
0%
Completions by Program Area
Affordable Colleges Near San Marcos, California
Wondering what you can expect to pay for a degree near San Marcos, California? According to undergraduate tuition data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, the average tuition at San Marcos-area's 4-year nonprofit schools is $17,341. The average tuition at similar 4-year for-profit schools near San Marcos is $25,613, while tuition at 2-year online colleges and universities is $1,213.
4-Year Nonprofit
4-Year For-Profit
2-Year
Accredited Colleges Serving San Marcos, California
Earning a college degree is an investment — and earning a degree from an institutionally accredited university is one of the best ways to ensure your education is of high quality. Institutionally accredited universities are held to rigorous standards by state and regional bodies and undergo regular reviews to verify that their processes and academic programs meet the proper standards.
Wondering if a certain college or university offering degree programs in San Marcos, California is institutionally accredited? View a list of institutionally accredited colleges and universities serving San Marcos, California here. We've made it easy to find your school by breaking down the list by school type.
- Franklin University
- University of California-San Diego
- Westminster Theological Seminary in California
- California State University-San Marcos
- Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute
- John Paul the Great Catholic University
- University of Saint Katherine
- Palomar College
- MiraCosta College
- San Diego Miramar College
- Design Institute of San Diego
- University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences
San Marcos, California Job Market & Opportunities
What happens after you earn your college degree in San Marcos? What's the San Marcos, California job market outlook? Get a snapshot of jobs and careers, including annual job openings, median earnings and more.
In 2022, there were about 2,188,296 jobs in the San Marcos, California area. From 2021-2022, job growth in San Marcos was above the national average, at 4.5%. There were 284,160 job openings in the area. In terms of earnings, workers in San Marcos do better than the national average, with an average hourly pay of $23.49.