I have been admitted as a Freshman | Admissions & Student Outreach

Your Intent to Enroll and the $150 Enrollment Deposit must be submitted by the given deadline:

Spring admission: December 15

Fall admission: May 15

Failure to submit the intent to enroll and enrollment deposit by the deadline will result in cancellation of your offer of admission.

You can submit your Intent to Enroll and pay the Deposit on MyCSUSM. Once you have logged in, select "Student Center," then select "Accept" or "Decline" for your fall application. If you select "Accept," you are required to complete all the steps to accept the offer of admission. Enable pop-ups on your web browser to proceed with making your payment online.

The $150 Enrollment Deposit is non-refundable and will apply toward your first term tuition. The Enrollment Deposit will be waived only for students who qualified for a fee-waiver at the time of application.

Your CSUSM campus email

Your campus email account (also referred to as your cougars email) will be created in April, once you have accepted your offer of admission.

Apply for Financial Aid and Scholarships

To be considered for financial aid, you must submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and include the Cal State San Marcos school code, 030113. You should also create your Cal Grant Application as soon as possible.

Updates regarding your financial aid application will be sent to your email and visible on your To Do list in MyCSUSM.

Additional information, including how to apply for scholarships, is available on the Financial Aid and Scholarships website.

Apply for Student Housing

Living on-campus is required for first-time freshmen from outside of Cal State San Marcos’ local service area (local service area is defined by the high school you are graduating from). Information about student housing, how to apply, and the live-on requirement, is available on the Housing website.

Please Note: Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, the Live-on Requirement has been temporarily lifted for Fall 2021. Please contact housing@csusm.edu with any questions or concerns.

Math & English Placement Exams (if applicable)

The Early Start Program serves CSU admitted freshmen who have not demonstrated proficiency in English/Written Communication and/or Math/Quantitative Reasoning as determined by the CSU Systemwide Placement Standards using multiple measures.

You can find more information about this program, including the multiple measures, requirements and timeline for enrollment on the Readiness and Success Services website.

Sign-up for Orientation

Spring admission: Orientation sessions will be held in January. Once you submit your Intent to Enroll, pay the Enrollment Deposit, you will be able to reserve an orientation date on MyCSUSM. More information about orientation reservations will be emailed to you.

Fall admission: Orientation sessions are conducted between June and August. Once you submit your Intent to Enroll, pay the Enrollment Deposit and apply for Housing (or acquire an approval for exemption), you will be able to reserve an orientation date on MyCSUSM. More information about orientation reservations will be emailed to you.

Submit Final Transcripts

A final official transcript showing completion of all requirements for admission with verification of graduation must be submitted to the Office of Admissions and received no later than 5:00 p.m. on the day of the deadline.

Spring admission: January 15

Fall admission: July 15

Failure to submit by the deadline will result in cancellation of your offer of admission.

High school transcripts: If your high school offers electronic delivery of official transcripts, this is preferred. If this is not available, please see the instructions below for having your transcripts mailed to CSUSM.

College transcripts: If you attended a college and need to submit final transcripts, CSUSM requires electronic transcripts from the colleges/universities listed on the Send Transcripts page. Electronic transcripts can be provided through external or third party vendors (Credential Solutions, eTranscriptCA, National Student Clearinghouse, Parchment, etc.). When ordering your transcript, please choose California State University San Marcos as the intended recipient from the school name dropdown. If California State University San Marcos is not listed, please use transcripts@csusm.edu as the recipient email address.

Mailing Transcripts: For schools that do not supply electronic transcripts and must be sent by mail, please ensure the transcript is in an envelope sealed by your school and addressed to:

Office of Admissions
California State University San Marcos
333 S. Twin Oaks Valley Road
San Marcos, CA. 92096-0001

Fees & Tuition

You can find a current listing of fees, tuition, payment plans, and payment deadlines on the Student Financial Services website. You can make your payment on MyCSUSM.

Visit SFS Tuition/Fees for more information. It is your responsibility to check the payment deadlines for each term you attend CSUSM.

Immunization Requirements

Refer to the list of immunization requirements on the Student Health & Counseling Services website. Proof must be submitted to Student Health Services before you can enroll in classes.

Additional information, including how to submit proof, can be found on the Student Health and Counseling Services website.

Contact Information:

Student Health & Counseling Services
333 S. Twin Oaks Valley Rd
San Marcos, CA 92096-0001
Phone: (760) 750-4915
Fax: (760) 750-3181
Email: shcs@csusm.edu

Connect with the Office of Academic Advising

Visit the New Student Information page to learn when you’ll be able to connect with Academic Advisors, enrollment information and more!

Disability Support Services (if applicable)

All students with disabilities requiring reasonable accommodations are required to provide appropriate and recent documentation to the Office of Disability Support Services. Reasonable accommodations will be provided based on a case-by-case analysis of each student’s disability and their functional limitations. For information, contact DSS by calling (760) 750-4905 or send an email to dss@csusm.edu.

Purchase your Parking Permit (if you plan to park a vehicle on campus)

Purchase your parking permit online before your first day to avoid any parking citations. Parking is enforced 24/7, even on the first day of classes.