View source for California State University, San Marcos

{{Short description|Public university in California, US}}
{{For|the railway station that serves the campus|Cal State San Marcos (NCTD station)}}
<noinclude>{{Requested move notice|1=California State University San Marcos|2=Talk:California State University, San Marcos#Requested move 8 November 2025}}
</noinclude>{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox university
 | name                   = California State University<br> San Marcos
 | image                  = CSU San Marcos seal.svg
 | image_upright          = .7
 | established            = {{start date and age|1989}}
 | type                   = [[Public university]]
 | parent                 = [[California State University]]
 | accreditation          = [[WASC Senior College and University Commission|WSCUC]]
 | endowment              = $33.8 million (2024)<ref>As of 2024. {{cite report|title=UCSUSMEndow_Rebalance_08.29.24.xlsx|url=https://www.csusm.edu/giving/csusm-foundation/transparency/fdn_endow_082924.pdf}}</ref>
 | staff                  = 
 | faculty                = 854 (299 tenured or tenure-track)<ref name="calstate.edu">{{cite web|url=https://www.calstate.edu/csu-system/faculty-staff/employee-profile/Documents/Fall2022CSUProfiles.pdf  |title=CSU Employee Profile|website=calstate.edu|access-date=June 14, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230328190219/https://www.calstate.edu/csu-system/faculty-staff/employee-profile/Documents/Fall2022CSUProfiles.pdf|archive-date=March 28, 2023|url-status=live}}</ref>
 | president              = Ellen Neufeldt<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.csusm.edu/president/index.html/ |title=Office of the President |publisher=Csusm.edu |access-date=October 31, 2019}}</ref>
 | provost                = Carl Kemnitz<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.csusm.edu/csusm-appoints-new-provost-and-vice-president-for-academic-affairs/ |title=Office of the Interim Provost |publisher=Csusm.edu |access-date=June 8, 2020}}</ref>
 | students               = 15,431 (fall 2024)<ref name=Enrollment>{{cite web |url=https://www.csusm.edu/housing/aboutus/index.html#:~:text=Total%20Enrollment%20for%20CSUSM%20(Fall,of%20Applications%20Submitted:%202%2C651%20applications. | title=About Us &#124; Housing &#124; CSUSM }}</ref>
 | undergrad              = 14,246 (fall 2024)<ref name=Enrollment />
 | postgrad               = 1,185 (fall 2024)<ref name=Enrollment />
 | city                   = [[San Marcos, California]]
 | state                  = 
 | country                = United States
 | coordinates            = {{Coord|33|07|42|N|117|09|34|W|region:US-CA_type:edu_source:dewiki|display=title,inline}}
 | campus                 = Large suburb<ref>{{cite web|url=https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?q=San+marco&s=all&id=366711|title=IPEDS-California State University, San Marco}}</ref>
 | campus_size            = {{convert|340|acre|ha}}
 | colors                 = Blue, black, and white<br />{{color box|#1E2A5B}}&nbsp;{{color box|#222021}}&nbsp;{{color box|#FFFFFF}}
 | sporting_affiliations  = [[NCAA Division II]] – [[California Collegiate Athletic Association|CCAA]]
 | sports_nickname        = [[Cal State San Marcos Cougars|Cougars]]
 | academic_affiliations  = [[Coalition of Urban and Metropolitan Universities|CUMU]]
 | footnotes              = 
 | website                = {{URL|https://www.csusm.edu/csusm.edu}}
 | logo                   = CSU San Marcos logo.svg
 | logo_upright           = .8
 | free_label             = Other campuses
 | free                   = [[Temecula]]
 | free_label2            = Newspaper
 | free2                  = ''The Cougar Chronicle''
}}

'''California State University San Marcos''' ('''CSUSM''' or '''Cal State San Marcos''') is a [[public university]] in [[San Marcos, California]], United States. It was founded in 1989 as the 21st campus in the [[California State University]] (CSU) system.

CSUSM offers 43 [[bachelor's degree]] programs,<ref>[http://www.csusm.edu/academics/majorsminors.html Academic Offerings] {{webarchive|url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20080831004227/http://www.csusm.edu/academics/majorsminors.html |date=August 31, 2008 }}. California State University, San Marcos.</ref> 24 [[master's degree]] programs, 8 credential programs, and 1 joint doctoral with the [[University of California, San Diego]].<ref name="about">{{Cite web |title=About CSUSM |url=https://www.csusm.edu/about.html |access-date=2024-12-27 |website=csusm.edu}}</ref>

CSUSM is accredited by the [[Western Association of Schools and Colleges]] (WASC) and also [[ABET|Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology]] (ABET). The university had a total undergraduate enrollment of 15,431 students in fall 2024. In 2024, the university had 284 tenured faculty.<ref name=about/> The [[Cal State San Marcos Cougars]] compete in [[NCAA Division II]] as a member of the [[California Collegiate Athletic Association]].

== History ==

Efforts by community and political leaders to bring a state university to [[North County]] date back to the 1960s. In 1969, the [[Chancellor (education)|chancellor]] of the CSU system, [[Glenn S. Dumke]], issued a report concluding that there was "an ultimate need" for a new university campus in the area.<ref name="History">[http://www.csusm.edu/about/facts/history.html CSUSM Campus History], California State University, San Marcos.</ref>

In 1978, [[California State Senate|State Senator]] William A. Craven won $250,000 in state funding for a North County [[satellite campus]] of [[San Diego State University]], which opened at Lincoln Junior High School in [[Vista, California|Vista]]<ref name="Cox" /> with an enrollment of 148 students. In 1982, the satellite moved to larger quarters in an office building on Los Vallecitos Boulevard in San Marcos.<ref name="History" /> When it appeared that the new San Marcos campus would be a satellite of San Diego State, CSU Chancellor [[W. Ann Reynolds]] insisted on an independent university with the goal of creating leadership opportunities for women and minorities. CSUSM would also go on to attract more STEM-focused students than SDSU, as well. In September 1985, Senate Bill 1060, introduced by Craven, passed, appropriating $250,000 for a [[feasibility study]] on building a university in North County. By 1988, the enrollment of SDSU North County had reached 1,250 students, and the CSU board of trustees purchased for $10.6 million the future site of CSUSM, the 304-acre Prohoroff Poultry Farm in San Marcos. The hillside site lies approximately {{convert|8|mi|km}} due east of the [[Pacific Ocean]] and {{convert|35|mi|km}} due north of downtown San Diego. The CSU trustees also requested $51.8 million in state funds for the first phase of construction.<ref name="History" />
[[File:Campustwinspeak.jpg|thumb|View of CSUSM (to the right of the photo) from Double Peak.]]
In 1989, Governor [[George Deukmejian]] signed Senate Bill 365 (also sponsored by Craven) into law, officially creating Cal State San Marcos. [[Bill W. Stacy]] was named the university's first president in June 1989, and over the next year recruited the first 12 members of the faculty.<ref name="History" /> These dozen "founding faculty" played an important role in the university's early years and are today honored at Founders Plaza on the CSUSM campus. Stacy and the faculty were given $3.9 million to begin the university.

On February 23, 1990, ground was broken on the new campus, and construction began at the former [[chicken farm]].<ref name="Cox">[http://www.csusm.edu/news/steps/carolcox.html Carol Cox: The inspirational catalyst for Cal State San Marcos] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130308150751/http://csusm.edu/news/steps/carolcox.html |date=March 8, 2013 }}, Spring/Summer 2010. Steps Magazine, CSU San Marcos.</ref> In the fall of 1990, the first class enrolled at the new university: 448 juniors and seniors. (Initially, only upperclassmen were admitted to CSUSM.) While construction continued on the permanent campus, classes continued to be held at the former SDSU satellite location on Los Vallecitos Boulevard. An industrial facility on Stone Drive was also used to provide lab space for the biology program, and was used through January 1993. In 1991, the university conferred its first degrees, as seven students were awarded [[Bachelor of Arts]] degrees. CSUSM's first official [[commencement ceremony]] was held in May 1992.<ref name="History" />

In the fall of 1992, the permanent CSUSM campus at Twin Oaks Valley Road opened. The first buildings were the Administrative Building (formerly Craven Hall), Academic Hall, Science Hall I, and the University Commons.<ref name="History" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.csusm.edu/pdc/Projects_Completed/Commons_Complete.html |title=University Commons |publisher=Csusm.edu |access-date=August 6, 2013}}</ref> The university had grown to 1,700 students and 305 faculty and staff.<ref name="History" />

The university continued to grow rapidly, and by 1993 CSUSM's enrollment had grown to almost 2,500 and it received accreditation from the [[Western Association of Schools and Colleges]]. In 1995, CSUSM admitted its first freshman class and offered lower-division (and general education) courses for the first time, with enrollment growing to 3,600. The same year, the College of Education was fully accredited by the [[National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education]].<ref name="History" />
[[File:Kellogg Library.jpg|thumb|Cal State San Marcos' Kellogg Library, Administrative Building, and Science Hall I to the left of the photo]]
In 1996, CSUSM received two major gifts: $1 million from Jean and W. Keith Kellogg II, the first of a series of gifts for the Kellogg Library, and a $1.3 million [[bequest]] from Lucille Griset Spicer (presented by Spicer's siblings Richard H. Griset Sr. and Margaret Griset Liermann) to begin a [[student loan]] fund.<ref name="History" />

In early 1997, Stacy departed as [[university president]], and [[Alexander Gonzalez (businessman)|Alexander Gonzalez]] was named interim president. In 1998, the CSU Board of Trustees made Gonzalez permanent president. By 1997, enrollment had grown to 4,400, the faculty had grown to 300 (including part-time instructors).<ref name="History" /> The university also received additional major donations, including a $2.3 million gift from Leonard Evers to establish the Evers Computer Scholarship and a donation from Bob and Ruth Mangrum to build the Mangrum Track & Soccer Field.<ref name="History" /> The university intercollegiate athletics department opened in 1998, and initially consisted of men's and women's golf, [[Cross country running|cross-country]], and [[track and field]].<ref name="History" />

A campus "building boom" began, with the Foundation Classroom Buildings opening in December 1996, University Hall in 1998, Science Hall II and the Arts Building in August 2002, and the University Village Apartments and the nearby M. Gordon Clarke Field House in 2003. The University Village Apartments were the university's first [[Dormitory|on-campus housing]]; the new [[student activity center|student union]], known as "the Clarke," was funded by $1.2 million gift pledged in 1998 by Helene Clarke in honor of her husband.<ref name="History" />

The campus' first freestanding library, the five-story, nearly {{convert|200000|sqft|m2}} Kellogg Library later opened. The campus' Starbucks coffee is next to it.

In 2004, [[Karen S. Haynes]] was named the university's third president, following Gonzalez's departure the year previously, and the university announced that it planned to establish a [[nursing school]]. In the fall of 2004, over 7,000 students enrolled.<ref name="History" />

[[File:Csusm from sprinter.jpg|thumb|A view of the campus from the Sprinter station. To the right is Parking Structure I.]]

In 2006, the College of Business Administration's Markstein Hall opened, funded by a 2003 state grant of almost $25 million and a 2005 pledge of $5 million from Kenneth and Carole Markstein.<ref name="History" /> The School of Nursing opened in the fall of 2006.<ref name="History" />

The university's first parking garage, the six-floor, 1,605-space Parking Structure I, is near the main campus.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.csusm.edu/pdc/Projects_Completed/ParkingStructure_Complete.html |title=Parking Structure I |publisher=Csusm.edu |access-date=August 6, 2013}}</ref> The 106,509 gross square foot Social and Behavioral Sciences Building at the north end of the campus is next to it.<ref>[http://www.csusm.edu/pdc/Projects_Completed/SBSB_Complete/SBSB_Complete.html Social and Behavior Sciences Building].</ref>
[[File:New housing.jpg|thumb|The building under construction in the foreground is the new housing for the school]]
CSUSM also has an Extended Learning program. According to its website: <blockquote>Extended Learning (EL) at California State University San Marcos serves as the academic outreach arm of the university. As a unit within the Academic Affairs Division, EL is North San Diego County's premier provider of continuing education and training programs.&nbsp;Cal State San Marcos, and—by extension, EL—is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.</blockquote>

For the 2011–2012 [[academic year]], tuition and fees rose to $6,596, a 31% increase attributed to the [[2008–11 California budget crisis|state's budget crisis]]; it was the largest such percentage increase in the United States.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://money.cnn.com/galleries/2011/pf/college/1110/gallery.tuition_increase/ |title= 5 biggest state tuition hikes |work=[[CNNMoney]] |date= October 26, 2011 |access-date= October 28, 2011}}</ref>

In 2023, the California State University Board of Trustees agreed to rename Craven Hall to the Administrative Building, as students and alumni voiced concerns over William A. Craven's history of racist remarks. Despite Craven's influential role in the founding of CSUSM, students felt that his reputation did not align with the university's goals as a [[Hispanic-Serving Institution]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rendon-Alvarez |first=Karla |last2=Stafford • • |first2=Audra |date=2023-01-30 |title=Cal State San Marcos' Craven Hall to Be Renamed Due to Controversial Connection |url=https://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/csusms-craven-hall-to-be-renamed-due-to-controversial-connection/3155110/ |access-date=2025-11-08 |website=NBC 7 San Diego |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Breaking News {{!}} CSU San Marcos Renames Craven Hall Building |url=https://www.csueu.org/news/archive/csu-san-marcos-renames-craven-hall-building |access-date=2025-11-08 |website=www.csueu.org |language=en-US}}</ref>

In 2024, CSUSM broke ground on Black Oak Hall, a new housing building and dining commons. It is expected to be completed by fall 2026. The structure will be seven stories tall, include a 10,000-square-foot dining facility, and will provide housing for more than 500 students. The dining commons will be named Kwíila Dining, utilizing the [[Luiseño language|Luiseño]] word for "acorn."<ref>{{Cite web |title=CSUSM Breaks Ground on New Housing and Dining Project |url=https://news.csusm.edu/csusm-breaks-ground-on-new-housing-and-dining-project/ |access-date=2024-12-27 |website=CSUSM Breaks Ground on New Housing and Dining Project |language=en-us}}</ref>

== Academics ==
{| class="wikitable floatright" style="text-align:center"
|+ Fall freshman profile <ref>{{Cite web |title=Common Data Set {{!}} Institutional Planning & Analysis {{!}} CSUSM |url=https://www.csusm.edu/ipa/campus-data/common-data-set.html |access-date=2025-08-15 |website=www.csusm.edu}}</ref>
|-
!
! 2024 || 2023!! 2022!! 2021!! 2020
|-
! Applicants
| 19,721 || 16,156 || 15,000 || 13,986 || 15,398 
|-
! Admits
| 18,755 || 15,797 || 14,064 || 13,049 || 12,230 
|-
! Acceptance Rate
| 95.1% || 97.8% || 93.8% || 93.3% || 79.4% 
|-
! Enrolled
| 2,624 || 2,533 || 2,551 || 2,413 || 2,255 
|-
! Avg GPA
| 3.34 || 3.40 || 3.39 || 3.32 || 3.40 
|}

The university is [[Higher education accreditation in the United States|accredited]] by the [[WASC Senior College and University Commission]].

The university has four colleges:<ref>[http://www.csusm.edu/academics/colleges.html Colleges and Programs]. California State University, San Marcos.</ref>
*College of Business Administration (COBA)<ref>{{Cite web |title=College of Business Administration  |url=https://www.csusm.edu/coba/ |access-date=June 12, 2023 |website=csusm.edu}}</ref>
*College of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (CSTEM)<ref>{{Cite web |title=College of Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (CSTEM) {{!}} College of Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics |url=https://www.csusm.edu/cstem/ |access-date=June 12, 2023 |website=csusm.edu}}</ref>
*College of Humanities, Arts, Behavioral and Social Sciences (CHABSS)<ref>{{Cite web |title=College of Humanities, Arts, Behavioral and Social Sciences {{!}} College of Humanities, Arts, Behavioral & Social Sciences |url=https://www.csusm.edu/chabss/ |access-date=June 12, 2023 |website=csusm.edu}}</ref>
*College of Education, Health and Human Services (CEHHS)<ref>{{Cite web |title=College of Education, Health & Human Services (CEHHS) |url=https://www.csusm.edu/cehhs/ |access-date=June 12, 2023 |website=csusm.edu}}</ref>

The five most popular undergraduate majors for 2021 graduates were:<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 13, 2023 |title=U.S. News |url=https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/california-state-university-san-marcos-30113/academics |access-date=June 13, 2023}}</ref>
* Health Professions and Related Programs at 10%
* Social Sciences at 19%
* Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services at 17%
* Communications, Journalism, and Related Programs at 6%
* Psychology at 9%

=== Rankings ===
CSUSM Social Mobility Outcomes include: #1 in the U.S.<ref>{{Cite web |date=November 4, 2022 |title=CSU San Marcos Tops Ninth Annual Social Mobility Index of Schools Driving the American Dream Through Their Ethos and Action |url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221104005031/en/CSU-San-Marcos-Tops-Ninth-Annual-Social-Mobility-Index-of-Schools-Driving-the-American-Dream-Through-Their-Ethos-and-Action |access-date=June 12, 2023 |website=businesswire.com |language=en}}</ref> in the 2022 Social Mobility Index <ref>{{Cite web |last=Kragen |first=Pam |date=November 4, 2022 |title=Cal State San Marcos ranked No. 1 on survey for offering best social mobility for students in need |url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/communities/north-county/story/2022-11-04/cal-state-san-marcos-ranked-no-1-on-survey-for-offering-best-social-mobility-for-students-in-need |access-date=June 12, 2023 |website=San Diego Union-Tribune |language=en-US}}</ref> & Top 3% in National Economic Mobility Index.<ref>{{Cite web |title=CSUSM Ranks High in New Economic Mobility Index |url=https://news.csusm.edu/csusm-ranks-high-in-new-economic-mobility-index/ |access-date=June 12, 2023 |website=CSUSM Ranks High in New Economic Mobility Index |language=en-us}}</ref>

The 2022–2023 USNWR Best Regional Colleges West Rankings ranks San Marcos 7 on Top Performers on [[Social Mobility]], 10 on Best [[Undergraduate]] Teaching (tie), 17 on Top [[Public university|Public Schools]], 33 in Best Value Schools and 293 in [[Nursing]] (tie).<ref name="USNWR">{{cite web |title=2021 U.S. News |url=https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/california-state-university-san-marcos-366711/overall-rankings |access-date=December 15, 2020 |magazine=U.S. News & World Report}}</ref>

{{col-begin}}
{{col-break}}
{{Infobox US university ranking
| Forbes = 323
| THE_WSJ = 
| USNWR_REG = 22
| Wamo_MASTERSU = 38
}}
{{col-break}}
{| class="wikitable sortable collapsible collapsed" style="float:right; text-align:center;"
|-
! colspan="2" | 2024-2025 USNWR Best Regional Colleges West Rankings<ref>{{cite web |title=California State University--San Marcos Rankings|url=https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/california-state-university-san-marcos-30113/overall-rankings|access-date=June 10, 2025|magazine=U.S. News & World Report}}</ref>
|-
! Program
! Ranking
|-
| Top Performers on [[Social Mobility]]
| 8
|-
| Top [[Public University|Public Schools]]
| 12
|-
| [[Nursing]]
| 218
|-
| [[Economics]]
| 293-318
|}
{{col-break}}
{| class="wikitable sortable collapsible collapsed" style="float:right; text-align:center"
|-
! colspan=4 style="background:#000080; color:#FFFFFF; {{box-shadow border|a|#000000|2px}}"| 2024-2025 USNWR Graduate School Rankings<ref name="USNWR Grad School Rankings">{{cite web |title=California State University--San Marcos' Graduate School Rankings|url=https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/california-state-university-san-marcos-30113/overall-rankings|access-date=June 10, 2025|magazine=U.S. News & World Report}}</ref>
|-
! Program
! Ranking
|-
| [[Public health]] (tie) || 137
|-
| [[Social Work]] (tie) || 142
|-
| [[Speech–language pathology|Speech–Language Pathology]] (tie) || 198
|}
{{col-end}}

== Demographics ==
{| class="wikitable floatright sortable collapsible"; text-align:right; font-size:80%;"
|+ style="font-size:90%" |Undergraduate demographics as of Fall 2023
|-
! Race and ethnicity<ref>{{cite web |title=College Scorecard: California State University-San Marcos |url=https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?366711-California-State-University-San-Marcos |publisher=[[United States Department of Education]] |access-date=May 8, 2022}}</ref>
! colspan="2" data-sort-type=number |Total
|-
| [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic]]
|align=right| {{bartable|51|%|2||background:green}}
|-
| [[Non-Hispanic whites|White]]
|align=right| {{bartable|25|%|2||background:cyan}}
|-
| [[Asian Americans|Asian]]
|align=right| {{bartable|10|%|2||background:orange}}
|-
| [[Multiracial Americans|Two or more races]] 
|align=right| {{bartable|6|%|2||background:violet}}
|-
| [[African Americans|Black]]
|align=right| {{bartable|4|%|2||background:purple}}
|-
| Unknown
|align=right| {{bartable|3|%|2||background:brown}} 
|-
| [[Foreign national]]
|align=right| {{bartable|1|%|2||background:#008080}}
|-
! colspan="4" data-sort-type=number |[[Economic diversity]]
|-
| [[American lower class|Low-income]]{{efn|The percentage of students who received an income-based federal [[Pell grant]] intended for low-income students.}}
|align=right| {{bartable|45|%|2||background:blue}}
|-
| [[Affluence in the United States|Affluent]]{{efn|The percentage of students who are a part of the [[American middle class]] at the bare minimum.}}
|align=right| {{bartable|55|%|2||background:red}}
|}

In 2022 59% of the students were female, 41% male.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Workbook: Enrollment Dashboard |url=https://tableau.calstate.edu/views/SelfEnrollmentDashboard/EnrollmentSummary?iframeSizedToWindow=true&:embed=y&:showAppBanner=false&:display_count=no&:showVizHome=no |access-date=June 14, 2023 |website=tableau.calstate.edu}}</ref> There are also a sizable number of [[transfer students]] from [[community college]]s. The "local admissions area community colleges" for CSU San Marcos are [[Mount San Jacinto College]] in Riverside County and [[Mira Costa College]] and [[Palomar College]] in San Diego County.<ref>[http://www.csusm.edu/admissions/documents/Fall%202012%20Admissions%20Flyer%20CA%20TRANSFER%200911_Revised.pdf CSU San Marcos Transfer Admissions 2011] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150103024244/http://www.csusm.edu/admissions/documents/Fall%202012%20Admissions%20Flyer%20CA%20TRANSFER%200911_Revised.pdf |date=January 3, 2015 }}.</ref> About 50 percent of transfer students are from North San Diego County, 2 percent from San Diego County elsewhere; and 48 percent from Riverside County.<ref name="Stats">[http://www.csusm.edu/communications/documents/cougar_stats2011_web.pdf Cougar Stats: 2011]. California State University, San Marcos.</ref>

This CSU is still considered somewhat of a "small school"—especially in comparison to other San Diego County institutions such as San Diego State University and University of California, San Diego.<ref name="firststudents">[http://libdev2.csusm.edu/archives/founding/content/first-students First Students] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20121210093315/http://libdev2.csusm.edu/archives/founding/content/first-students |date=December 10, 2012 }}. California State University, San Marcos Library.</ref> Looking to expand, the campus master plan envisions the university growing to an enrollment of 25,000.<ref name="firststudents" />

== Student life ==
There are over 100 recognized student organizations on campus.<ref>[http://www.csusm.edu/sll/studentorgs/ Student Organizations],  California State University, San Marcos.</ref> The [[student newspaper]] is called '' The Cougar Chronicle''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.csusmpride.com/ |title=The Cougar Chronicle |website=Csusmpride.com |access-date=August 6, 2013}}</ref>

=== Greek life ===
CSUSM recognizes several fraternities and sororities, each belonging to one of three different governing councils. Social fraternities belong to the Inter-fraternity Council (IFC), while social sororities belong to the Panhellenic Council (PHC).<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.csusm.edu/sll/greek/councils/index.html|title=Councils |website=csusm.edu|language=en|access-date=August 6, 2018}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="1" |Fraternities (IFC)<ref name=":0" />
! colspan="1" |Sororities (PHC)<ref name=":0" />
|-
| style="vertical-align:top;" |
*[[Alpha Sigma Phi]]
*[[Kappa Sigma]]
*[[Sigma Alpha Epsilon]]
*[[Sigma Chi]]

| style="vertical-align:top;" |
*[[Alpha Chi Omega]]
*[[Alpha Omicron Pi]]
*[[Alpha Xi Delta]]
*[[Delta Zeta]]
*[[Gamma Phi Beta]]
|}
Additionally, cultural-interest fraternities and sororities belong to the Multicultural Greek Council (MGC).
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="1" |Fraternities (MGC)<ref name=":0" />
! colspan="1" |Sororities (MGC)<ref name=":0" />
|-
| style="vertical-align:top;" |
*[[Alpha Psi Rho]]
*[[Nu Alpha Kappa]]
*[[Omega Psi Phi]]
| style="vertical-align:top;" |
*[[alpha Kappa Delta Phi]]
*[[Alpha Pi Sigma]]
*[[Sigma Gamma Rho]]
|}

=== University Student Union ===
[[File:USUCSUSM.jpg|thumb|Student Union]]
The University Student Union (USU) consists of various student groups, cultural centers, a gender equity center, an LGBTQ+ center, an extended food court, a convenience store (called "Crash's Market"), two game rooms, a ballroom, an outdoor amphitheater, and a commuter lounge which includes a shower and lockers. In the food court are a [[Panda Express]], Kalamata, [[Qdoba]], and Hilltop Bistro.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Locations {{!}} CSUSM Dining Services |url=https://www.csusm.edu/dining/locations/index.html |access-date=2024-12-27 |website=csusm.edu}}</ref> The USU offers many spaces for students to gather between classes with seating, electronic charging ports, and restrooms. The indoor windows showcase panoramic views of the San Marcos valley.

=== University District (North City) and housing ===
[[File:UniveristyDistrict.jpg|thumb|University District with the new housing construction and the Extended Learning building in the background]]
North City, an urban district of San Marcos, intended to directly serve the entire North County San Diego community, is just across from the university's main campus. Several other buildings, including student and market apartment complexes with ground-level restaurants, small businesses, residential complexes, a medical center, and a hotel are all in the district.

The university has three housing options: the University Village Apartments (UVA), the Quad, and North Commons, which is exclusively for freshmen. The first two are apartment-style dorms with fitness centers, pools, game rooms, common areas, and more, and North Commons is traditional, more dorm-style housing. The Quad is directly east of the university's Extended Learning Building (ELB) which is directly linked to campus with a second-level pedestrian bridge. The university also plans to expand housing with a new building to replace what is currently UVA Parking Lot. The proposed building will add 600 beds and a second dining hall. The university has committed some of these beds to be available to house the low-income students.

=== Transportation ===
The [[Sprinter (rail service)|Sprinter]] hybrid rail service provides service to a station on the northeast corner of the campus. It was intentionally constructed near the University Village Apartments. It connects the campus to other cities of north San Diego County, including [[Oceanside, California|Oceanside]], [[Vista, California|Vista]] and [[Escondido, California|Escondido]].

== Athletics ==
{{Main|Cal State San Marcos Cougars}}

The Cal State–San Marcos (CSUSM) athletic teams are called the Cougars, and their official colors are bright/royal blue and white. The university is a member of the [[NCAA Division II|Division II]] level of the [[National Collegiate Athletic Association]] (NCAA), primarily competing in the [[California Collegiate Athletic Association]] (CCAA) since the 2015–16 academic year. The Cougars previously competed as an [[NAIA independent schools|NAIA Independent]] within the Association of Independent Institutions (AII) of the [[National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics]] (NAIA) from 1998 to 1999 (when the school joined the NAIA) to 2014–15.

CSUSM competes in 15 intercollegiate varsity sports: Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, golf, soccer and track & field (indoor and outdoor); while women's sports include basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, track & field (indoor and outdoor) and volleyball. Former sports included cheerleading and dance.

The universty's athletic teams are represented by Crash the Cougar. Crash began formally representing CSUSM during its inaugural season as a full NCAA member in 2017.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=A New Era of Crash |url=https://news.csusm.edu/a-new-era-of-crash/ |access-date=2025-11-08 |website=A New Era of Crash |language=en-us}}</ref>

=== Accomplishments ===

* CSUSM won its first-ever CCAA Robert J. Hiegert Commissioner's Cup in 2022–23, which is given annually to the CCAA member institution with the highest aggregate ranking in eight of the CCAA's 13 championship sports.<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 1, 2023 |title=Cal State San Marcos wins the 2022–23 Robert J. Hiegert Commissioner's Cup |url=https://goccaa.org/news/2023/6/8/general-cal-state-san-marcos-wins-the-2022-23-robert-j-hiegert-commissioners-cup.aspx |access-date=June 10, 2023 |website=goccaa.org |language=en}}</ref>
* The CSUSM softball team made its first NCAA Division II World Series appearance in 2023 after winning its first NCAA Division II West Regional Championship. The Cougars won the 2022 CCAA Regular-Season Championship and hosted both the NCAA West Regional and NCAA Super Regional as the region’s top seed.<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 24, 2023 |title=CSUSM Makes NCAA Division II World Series Debut |url=https://csusmcougars.com/news/2023/5/23/softball-csusm-makes-ncaa-division-ii-world-series-debut |access-date=June 10, 2023 |website=Cal State San Marcos Athletics |language=en}}</ref>
* The CSUSM women's golf team returned to the NCAA Division II Women’s Golf Championships in 2023 after winning its fourth consecutive CCAA Championship and a third-place finish at the West Regional.<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 18, 2023 |title=No. 8/9 CSUSM Places Ninth at NCAA Division II Nationals |url=https://csusmcougars.com/news/2023/5/18/womens-golf-no-8-9-csusm-places-ninth-at-ncaa-division-ii-nationals.aspx |access-date=June 10, 2023 |website=Cal State San Marcos Athletics |language=en}}</ref>
* The CSUSM men's golf team won their first CCAA Championship in 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 19, 2023 |title=No. 17/12 CSUSM Wins Program's First CCAA Championship |url=https://csusmcougars.com/news/2023/4/19/mens-golf-no-17-12-csusm-wins-programs-first-ccaa-championship.aspx |access-date=June 10, 2023 |website=Cal State San Marcos Athletics |language=en}}</ref>
* The CSUSM women's basketball team won its first CCAA Tournament Championship in 2022–23 and advanced all the way to the championship game of the NCAA West Regional. The Cougars previously won the CCAA Regular-Season Championship in 2021–22 and were the league’s Regular-Season Co-Champion in 2019–20.<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 4, 2023 |title=Cal State San Marcos topples the top seed to win program's first CCAA Tournament Championship |url=https://goccaa.org/news/2023/3/5/womens-basketball-cal-state-san-marcos-topples-the-top-seed-to-win-programs-first-ccaa-tournament-championship.aspx |access-date=June 10, 2023 |website=goccaa.org |language=en}}</ref>
* The CSUSM men's basketball team made its second consecutive trip to the NCAA West Regional in 2022–23. In 2021–22, CSUSM won its first CCAA Tournament Championship and made its first-ever West Regional appearance as the region’s top seed.<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 8, 2023 |title=CSUSM Ready for Second NCAA West Regional |url=https://csusmcougars.com/news/2023/3/8/mens-basketball-csusm-ready-for-second-ncaa-west-regional.aspx |access-date=June 10, 2023 |website=Cal State San Marcos Athletics |language=en}}</ref>

== Branding and Identity ==

=== University Name ===
California State University San Marcos is one of two CSU campuses to omit the comma used in the system's standard naming convention.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Campus Names {{!}} CSU |url=https://www.calstate.edu/csu-system/csu-branding-standards/editorial-style-guide/Pages/campus-names.aspx |access-date=2025-11-08 |website=www.calstate.edu |language=en-US}}</ref>

=== Mascot ===
The original mascot of the campus was ''Tukwut'', which means [[Cougar|mountain lion]] in the [[Luiseño language]] of the local [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] [[Luiseño people]]. Tukwut was chosen as the mascot in 1990 by CSUSM's first class of students in order to honor the indigenous people and their land on which the university was built.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About the University - California State University San Marcos |url=https://catalog.csusm.edu/content.php?catoid=11&navoid=1981#history-of-tukwut-at-cal-state-san-marcos |access-date=2025-11-08 |website=catalog.csusm.edu}}</ref> However, the mascot was "dropped for something with more ring," and in a 2004 referendum students selected "Crash the Cougar." The dropping of the Luiseño word was criticized by a faculty member at CSU San Marcos.<ref>Brandon Cesmat, [http://www2.csusm.edu/profe/tukwut.htm CSUSM Chases off Tukwut] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090123152008/http://www2.csusm.edu/profe/tukwut.htm|date=January 23, 2009}}.</ref> The indigenous word can still be found in campus culture, and is used to describe the student life experience as "Tukwut Life."<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tukwut Life {{!}} CSUSM |url=https://www.csusm.edu/tukwutlife/ |access-date=2025-11-08 |website=www.csusm.edu}}</ref> 

Crash the Cougar is a blue mountain lion, and is intended to be [[Gender nonconformity|gender non-confirming]].<ref name=":1" /> 

=== Logo ===
The school's primary logo depicts the Academic Hall clock tower and Administrative building, as well as the hills which rise above the campus.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Academic Hall {{!}} Office of Planning Design and Construction {{!}} CSUSM |url=https://www.csusm.edu/pdc/projects_completed/academichall_complete.html |access-date=2025-11-08 |website=www.csusm.edu}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Logos and Branding Standards {{!}} University Communications {{!}} CSUSM |url=https://www.csusm.edu/communications/brand-style-guide/logo/index.html |access-date=2025-11-08 |website=www.csusm.edu}}</ref>

== Notable people ==
=== Alumni ===
* [[Mark Dice]], author, conservative political commentator, conspiracy theorist, and [[YouTuber]].
* [[Mark Hoppus]], member of rock band [[Blink-182]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-may-30-ca-42373-story.html |title=Psst . . . Blink-182 Is Growing Up |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date= May 30, 1999|access-date= November 22, 2020}}</ref>
* [[Kimberly Dark]], performance artist, writer, and sociologist
* [[Robert C. Nowakowski]], Rear Admiral in the United States Navy
* [[Shaun White]], professional snowboarder, skateboarder, and musician
* [[Mason Grimes]], professional soccer player
* [[iDubbbz]], [[YouTuber]]
* [[Tiffany van Soest]], professional [[Muay Thai]] kickboxer<ref>{{Cite web|date=September 12, 2019|title=Local kickboxer publishes book of poetry|url=https://fox5sandiego.com/sports/local-kickboxer-publishes-book-of-poetry/|access-date=October 10, 2021|website=FOX 5 San Diego|language=en-US}}</ref>
* [[Taylor Tomlinson]], comedian (non-graduate)<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.earwolf.com/episode/taylor-tomlinson/ | title=Taylor Tomlinson, episode #115 of the Three Questions with Andy Richter on Earwolf }}</ref>
* [[Savelina Fanene]], [[Professional Wrestler]]

=== Presidents ===
* [[Bill W. Stacy]] (1989–1997), who left to become chancellor of the Chattanooga campus of the [[University of Tennessee]]
* [[Alexander Gonzalez (businessman)|Alexander Gonzalez]] (1997–2003), previously the provost of the [[California State University, Fresno]] who left CSUSM to become president of the larger [[California State University, Sacramento]]
* Roy McTarnaghan (2003–2004), interim president
* [[Karen S. Haynes]] (2004–2019), former president of [[University of Houston–Victoria]], who joined CSUSM in February 2004. In February 2019 she announced her intention to retire at the end of that academic year.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/communities/north-county/sd-no-karen-haynes-20180925-story.html|title=Cal State San Marcos President Karen Haynes announces retirement|last1=Kragen|first1=Pam|last2=Warth|first2=Gary|date=September 25, 2018|work=San Diego Union Tribune|access-date=February 11, 2019}}</ref>
* [[Ellen Neufeldt]] (2019–current), formerly vice president of [[Old Dominion University]], Neufeldt became president effective July 2019.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://sdbj.com/news/2019/mar/20/cal-state-trustees-name-new-president-csu-san-marc/|title=Cal State Trustees Name New President for CSU San Marcos|last=Graves|first=Brad|date=March 20, 2019|work=San Diego Business Journal|access-date=March 22, 2019}}</ref>

== Explanatory notes ==
{{Notelist}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{ccat}}
* {{oweb}}
* [https://csusmcougars.com/ Athletics website]



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