Founded in 1989 in the rolling foothills of Northern San Diego County, California State University, San Marcos (CSUSM, Cal State San Marcos, or the Cougars) is a forward-thinking, innovative public university serving more than 16,500 students across a picturesque 304-acre modern suburban campus. Organized into four distinguished academic colleges—the College of Business Administration (CoBA), the College of Humanities, Arts, Behavioral and Social Sciences (CHABSS), the College of Education, Health and Human Services (CEHHS), and the College of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (CSTEM)—CSUSM is celebrated for pioneering programs in nursing, biotechnology, cybersecurity, business analytics, speech-language pathology, and education. Officially recognized as a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) and Carnegie Community Engaged university, CSUSM bridges academic excellence with regional industry partnerships across the Highway 78 Innovational Corridor, preparing leaders through experiential research, community service, and competitive NCAA Division II athletics in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA).