Side-by-side
California State University-San Marcos vs North Dakota State University-Main Campus
The numbers that actually decide it — net price after aid, how hard each is to get into, and how many students finish — compared straight across. Net price beats sticker price every time.
Both admit around 95% of applicants, with 9k undergrads and a c campus — a close selectivity match.
| California State University-San Marcos | North Dakota State University-Main Campus | |
|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 95% | 95% |
| Net price (in-state) what the average family actually pays after aid | $8,082 | $11,110 |
| Net price (out-of-state) | $20,682 | $15,764 |
| Sticker tuition (in-state) | $8,082 | $11,110 |
| Sticker tuition (out-of-state) | $20,682 | $15,764 |
| Graduation rate | 54% | 64% |
| Total enrollment | 14,877 | 9,471 |
Net price = sticker price minus the average grant aid for that school (IPEDS / Dept. of Education data). Real numbers vary by family income and student stats — verify each school's own Net Price Calculator before committing. Canonical: /compare/california-state-university-san-marcos-vs-north-dakota-state-university-main-campus.