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Hays county courthouse historic district 2013Photo: Larry D. Moore · CC BY 4.0
Colleges in and near San Marcos

San Marcos is a college town: 31 of every 100 residents are students

Texas State University (35,577 students on campus) is inside the city. Across Texas, 6 of every 100 residents are enrolled in college.

College town31% of residents are studentsTexas State University

From the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard, June 2026; IPEDS fall 2023 enrollment) and the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, 2020–24. Straight-line distances from the center of San Marcos. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
1
35,577 students on campus
Nearest college
1.1 mi
Texas State
Residents in college
31%
Above TX (6%)
Nearest community college
32.4 mi
Northeast Lakeview College · $3,412 tuition
Nearest public university
1.1 mi
Texas State · $11,450 in-state
Students on campus in San Marcos
35,577
next to 77,830 residents

What stands out about college in San Marcos

Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.

A college town31 of every 100 San Marcos residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Texas.A university in San MarcosTexas State University has 35,577 students on campus in San Marcos, 55% of whom graduate within six years.In-state price at Texas StateLiving in Texas, Texas State University charges $11,450 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $22,930. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.A community college 32.4 miles awayNortheast Lakeview College in Universal City: tuition and fees $3,412 a year for Texas residents.
Town & gown

What it’s like to live in San Marcos

How much the colleges shape the town, from the Census Bureau’s survey of residents.

31 of every 100 San Marcos residents are in college (TX: 6).

35,577students on campus at Texas State University, next to 77,830 residents (dorm students count as residents)
16,188college students live in San Marcos households rather than dorms
25.5median age · TX 35.6
54%of residents are women · TX 50% (±1.3 points)
69%of homes rented · TX 37%
$1,322median rent · 6% below the state
San MarcosSan Marcos, TX
Cost of living$1,322/mo median rentB−SafetyCrime reported to the FBIC−HealthCDC estimatesBJobs & incomeIncome, jobs, getting aroundC+HandbookTrash day, parking, who to call

How students change San Marcos’ other numbers

Read the town’s other grades with this in mind. How TownRatings handles college towns →

Jobs & income C+

Students who live off campus count in the Census poverty figures: 26.9% of San Marcos residents are below the poverty line, 16.5% when college students are left out (that estimate could be off by 4 points either way). 56% of the students themselves are below the line. In college towns, the Jobs & income grade uses the rate without students and leaves unemployment out.

Cost of living B−

The Cost grade leaves out the share of renters paying 30% or more of income on rent wherever students are a quarter of residents or more (31% here): it would mostly measure student incomes.

Health B

CDC’s estimates follow each place’s age mix, and San Marcos’ median age is 25.5 (Texas 35.6), so the adult figures describe a young population.

Safety C−

Crime is counted per resident, and students who live here count as residents. A college with its own police department reports its incidents under that department, not the city.

Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of San Marcos

It is public. Every other college is more than 15 miles from San Marcos.

5 mi10 mi15 miTexas StateSan Marcos
University or collegeCommunity college
Texas State UniversityUniversity or college · Public · 35,577 on campus · In San Marcos89%admitted$17knet price55%graduate$57kearnings

Degree-granting colleges with 100 or more students on campus (fall 2023 enrollment, minus students who study only online). Admitted: share of applicants offered a place. Net price: the average a year after grants, for students on federal aid. Graduate: within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting.

What it costs

What would your family pay?

The average a year after grants, for families on federal aid, at the colleges within 15 miles. Pick your family’s income.

Family income

Starts at $48–75k, where San Marcos’ median household income ($51,281) falls.

Texas State UniversityIn San Marcos · sticker $28,073$13,804a year

The average a year after grants and scholarships, for first-time, full-time students on federal aid, from the College Scorecard. Your own price depends on your aid package; every college has a net price calculator. For community colleges the net price counts housing and food at full cost, so tuition is shown beside it. “—”: not reported for that income.

Outcomes

Do students finish, and does it pay?

Each dot is a college within 15 miles of San Marcos: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.

$0$20k$40k$60k$80k0%25%50%75%100%Graduate →Texas State
Texas State University55% graduate$57k earnings$21k typical debt

Graduation: first-time, full-time students within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 years (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting, for students who got federal aid.

Majors

What students study in San Marcos

Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field at Texas State University, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.

Business 16%Communication 10%Visual & performing arts 8%Psychology 8%Health professions 8%Parks & recreation 6%Everything else 44%

Biggest programs

Psychology, General508 graduates a year
$51k4 yrs out
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness423 graduates a year
$56k4 yrs out
Business Administration, Management and Operations391 graduates a year
$67k4 yrs out
Criminal Justice and Corrections344 graduates a year
$52k4 yrs out
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication318 graduates a year
$59k4 yrs out
Marketing308 graduates a year
$72k4 yrs out
Computer Science226 graduates a year
$104k4 yrs out
Finance and Financial Management Services225 graduates a year
$75k4 yrs out

College Scorecard: degree shares (PCIP; each college’s six largest fields are kept, the rest count as everything else) and the field-of-study file, median earnings 4 years after graduating.

Questions about college in San Marcos

Is San Marcos a college town?

Yes. 31 of every 100 San Marcos residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), against 6 across Texas. Texas State University has 35,577 students on campus, next to 77,830 residents.

What colleges are in San Marcos?

Texas State University is inside the city. Northeast Lakeview College is 32.4 miles away in Universal City.

Why is San Marcos’ poverty rate so high?

Students who live off campus count in the Census figures. 26.9% of residents are below the poverty line; leaving college students out, 16.5% are (ACS 2020–24, give or take 4 points).

What is the closest community college to San Marcos, and what does it cost?

Northeast Lakeview College in Universal City, 32.4 miles away. Tuition and fees are $3,412 a year for Texas residents; the federal net price, $5,029, counts housing and food at full cost.

How hard is it to get into Texas State University?

Texas State University admitted 89% of applicants in the Scorecard’s latest year; the middle half of admitted students scored 980–1,200 on the SAT.

Neighbors talk college

Students, parents, alumni and the neighbors next door.

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Colleges: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS (Scorecard 06/10/2026 · IPEDS 2024 · fall 2023 enrollment). “On campus” is fall enrollment minus students who study only online. Distances are straight-line from the center of San Marcos. Residents in college, age, rent and poverty (including poverty without college students, table B14006): U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–24. Colleges are described, not graded; the College town label marks towns where 15% or more of residents are enrolled. How TownRatings describes colleges →