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History bachelor's degree outcomes at California State University, San Marcos

San Marcos, CA · Public · Federal field 5401

Data scope

Federal records group outcomes by college, four-digit field and credential level. A record may cover several catalog programs or concentrations.

The short version

Reported earnings are close to the same-degree benchmark.

$2,305 above the national median for the same field and credential.

Debt pressure
31.9% of annual earnings
Positive-payoff price ceiling
Not reached
10-year scenario
−64% · Negative payoff
Price evidence
College-wide context only
OUTCOME SIGNALS

Graduate outcomes from several angles.

Follow earnings over time and inspect the cohort behind each federal measure.

+92%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$22,407$43,090
24Earn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
39Working in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
43Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median
78Borrowers representedCohort behind the debt median
Not availableAwarding-school debtDebt attributed to the college granting the credential
Recent awardsIPEDS 2023–24 first-major completions in this field and credential
01 · PRICE CONTEXT$10,229

Institution-wide annual average net price—not this program’s price.

02 · BORROWING$16,923

Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.

03 · EARNINGS$52,985

Observed median earnings four full years after completion.

04 · REPAYMENT$179/mo

Estimated standard 10-year federal payment.

WHAT WILL IT COST?

Published college costs provide the starting point.

Your exact offering, aid, residency and time to finish determine the price you actually pay.

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AVERAGE NET PRICE$10,229Institution-wide annual figure
COST OF ATTENDANCE$21,649Institution-wide annual budget
ADMISSION RATE95.1%Institution context
COMPLETION RATE54.6%Institution-wide completion rate
WHAT DO GRADUATES EARN?

Reported earnings after completion.

Each point may represent a different federal cohort. A missing bar means the figure was unavailable or suppressed.

$22,407Year 1
$52,985Year 4
$43,090Year 5
CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?

4.1% of gross monthly earnings

Estimated monthly payment divided by observed gross monthly earnings. This excludes taxes, other debts and income-driven repayment.

Gross monthly earnings$4,415
Estimated loan payment$179
78borrowers represented where reported
HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$52,985 vs. $50,680

$2,305 above the national median for the same field and credential.

Same-field national median
WHAT WORK CAN IT LEAD TO?

Related occupations, wages and outlook.

Official CIP–SOC links show careers the curriculum may prepare students for—not observed jobs held by this school’s graduates. BLS wages describe everyone working in an occupation.

BLS May 2025 wage estimates and 2025–35 employment projections.
Managers, All Other$174,560 median wageCA estimate · 99,580 jobs · 11-9199+4.9% projected U.S. growth · 100.9k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeHistory Teachers, Postsecondary$127,170 median wageCA estimate · 1,450 jobs · 25-1125+0.0% projected U.S. growth · 1.5k openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeHistorians$97,420 median wageCA estimate · 210 jobs · 19-3093+3.0% projected U.S. growth · 0.3k openings/yrTypical entry: Master's degreeSecondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$101,370 median wageCA estimate · 99,230 jobs · 25-2031-0.2% projected U.S. growth · 63.5k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeNatural Sciences Managers$210,230 median wageCA estimate · 14,950 jobs · 11-9121+8.2% projected U.S. growth · 9.2k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeCurators$78,740 median wageCA estimate · 1,140 jobs · 25-4012+4.9% projected U.S. growth · 1.6k openings/yrTypical entry: Master's degreeArchivists$70,530 median wageCA estimate · 1,160 jobs · 25-4011+3.4% projected U.S. growth · 1.1k openings/yrTypical entry: Master's degreeMuseum Technicians and Conservators$61,550 median wageCA estimate · 1,610 jobs · 25-4013+3.6% projected U.S. growth · 1.6k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeTour Guides and EscortsNot available median wageU.S. estimate · Unreported jobs · 39-7011
Possible alternatives

Same degree, stronger on at least one reported measure.

Every option below reports higher earnings, lower federal debt or a lower college-wide net price. Same-state options appear first.

Los Angeles, CA

California State University, Los Angeles

$2,428 higher earnings · $2,202 less debt · $6,262 lower annual net price

Earnings
$55,413
Debt
$14,721
Annual net price
$3,967
View outcomes →
Los Angeles, CA

University of Southern California

$26,955 higher earnings · $4,285 less debt

Earnings
$79,940
Debt
$12,638
Annual net price
$32,740
View outcomes →
Hayward, CA

California State University, East Bay

$12,232 higher earnings · $909 lower annual net price

Earnings
$65,217
Debt
$20,000
Annual net price
$9,320
View outcomes →
Berkeley, CA

University of California, Berkeley

$11,770 higher earnings · $3,855 less debt

Earnings
$64,755
Debt
$13,068
Annual net price
$13,481
View outcomes →
Compare these programs →
DATA QUALITY

Check the evidence behind the estimate.

43 observations in the earnings cohort

June 10, 2026 College Scorecard release

Observed, estimated and contextual figures are labeled separately throughout this page

IS IT WORTH IT AT YOUR PRICE?

Your price and current earnings determine the result.

Add your grants, borrowing and current salary to estimate payment pressure, break-even time and ten-year payoff.

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