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San Jose State University

Public Graduate Strong 82/100

San Jose State University

See admissions data, costs, student outcomes, and academic programs, all verified from official US government sources.

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San Jose, California

About San Jose State University

San Jose State University is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in San Jose, California. It enrolls 27,601 students (a very large student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.

Official website: sjsu.edu

Acceptance: 84.6%
Graduation: 36.4%
Net Price: $13,760
Median Earnings (10yr): $78,988
Enrollment: 27,601
Student : Faculty: 18:1

Accreditor Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission

Academic Calendar Semester

How It Measures Up

US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.

Strong

82/100

UCD Score · 4-Year Selective

Outcomes 78

Value 94

Affordability 68

Selectivity 33

Admissions & Acceptance Rate

With an acceptance rate of 84.6%, San Jose State University is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.

Acceptance Rate

84.6%

Easy

SAT Range (25th–75th)

—

Not reported

ACT Range (25th–75th)

—

Not reported

Test Policy Test Optional Applicants choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores.

5-Year Admission Trend

Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether San Jose State University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.

Becoming less selective ↑ 16.7 pts since 2019

Cost & Financial Aid

The real cost of attending San Jose State University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $13,760 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.

Average Net Price

$13,760

Per year, after typical aid

Receive Pell Grants

35%

Need-based federal aid

Receive Federal Loans

20%

Borrowing to attend

Full Cost Breakdown

Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.

Tuition & Fees (in-state): $8,410
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state): $21,010
Room & Board (on-campus): $20,971
Room & Board (off-campus): $22,086
Books & Supplies: $1,062
Other Expenses (on-campus): $4,446
Other Expenses (off-campus): $3,930
Total Cost of Attendance: $26,593

Application fee: $70 (one-time, due at submission)

Net Price by Family Income

Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.

Under $30,000

$9,730
$30,001 – $48,000

$10,114
$48,001 – $75,000

$12,099
$75,001 – $110,000

$15,102
Over $110,000

$22,862

Debt at Graduation

Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.

$3,500

10% percentile

$5,500

25% percentile

$15,000

Median percentile

$22,996

75% percentile

$31,000

90% percentile

Median Debt by Student Type

Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.

GroupDebtvs Median

Pell recipients $12,000 ↓ $3,000

No Pell $12,500 ↓ $2,500

Dependent students $11,250 ↓ $3,750

Independent students $13,891 ↓ $1,109

Female students $12,000 ↓ $3,000

Male students $12,500 ↓ $2,500

Worth knowing: Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $12,000, close to what completers borrow ($15,000) but without the degree to show for it.

Graduation Rate & Retention

36% of full-time students who enrolled at San Jose State University graduate within six years, and 87% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

6-Year Graduation Rate

36%

Of students who graduate within six years

First-Year Retention

87%

Returning for their second year

What this means: Lower than typical completion. Worth asking the school how they support students who fall behind.

After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes

According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered San Jose State University earn a median of $78,988 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.

Median Earnings (10 yrs)

$78,988

Earning > $25K

86%

10 yrs after entry

Earnings Growth After Graduation

Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.

Earnings by Demographic

Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.

By Gender

Female graduates

$59,000

Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.

Male graduates

$69,200

Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.

By Family Income at Entry

Family income (lowest third)

$62,100

Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (middle third)

$64,200

Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (highest third)

$67,800

Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.

The gender gap: Male graduates earn $10,200, about 15% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.

Loan Repayment Progression

Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.

Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑ 10.5 pts across 6 years

What this signals: Excellent. 88% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.

Who Studies Here

San Jose State University is home to 27,601 students, a sprawling student community. Some distinctive traits: 49% are first-generation college students.

Total Enrolled

27,601

Part-Time

18%

First-Generation

49%

Race & Ethnicity Breakdown

Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.

GroupShareStudents

Asian 38.8% 10,709

Hispanic 32.5% 8,970

White 12.4% 3,409

Other 5.9% 1,631

International 3.6% 1,005

Black 3.5% 974

Student Life & Campus Culture

Where students live, learn, and connect at San Jose State University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.

Setting

Large City San Jose, California

Housing

Partly residential 4,261 beds available

Adult Learners

15% of students are 25 or older

Athletics

NCAA athletic-conference member

Academic Calendar

Semester scheduling structure

Designation

Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI)

What You Can Study

San Jose State University offers an extensive catalog of programs: 147 distinct programs across 27 majors. Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings. Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.

14 Programs

Business

Business Administration $68K ($48K–$94K)
Business Administration $68K ($48K–$94K)
Management Sciences $86K ($62K–$115K)

20 Programs

Engineering

Computer Engineering $109K ($86K–$145K)
Computer Engineering $109K ($86K–$145K)
Mechanical Engineering $92K ($78K–$109K)

2 Programs

Library Science

Library Science and Administration $37K ($23K–$52K)
Library Science and Administration $37K ($23K–$52K)

8 Programs

Health

Nursing $89K ($68K–$114K)
Public Health $59K ($42K–$79K)
Rehabilitation $56K ($40K–$74K)

8 Programs

Visual & Performing Arts

Design $51K ($33K–$71K)
Fine Arts $41K ($26K–$57K)
Music $43K ($26K–$59K)

5 Programs

Communication

Communication & Media $56K ($40K–$76K)
Public Relations $64K ($46K–$84K)
Radio, Television & Digital Media $50K ($34K–$70K)

View all majors View all programs

Faculty & Resources

The student-to-faculty ratio at San Jose State University is 18:1, on the higher side.

Student : Faculty

18:1

Students per instructional faculty member

Instruction / Student

$9,301

Annual instructional spending per enrolled student

Endowment

$183M

Solid financial position

Avg Faculty Salary

$104,746

9-month equivalent across all ranks

Faculty by Rank

866 instructional faculty across 5 ranks. The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.

Rank	Faculty Count	Share	Avg Salary
Full Professors	265	31%	$126,516
Associate Professors	192	22%	$110,519
Assistant Professors	231	27%	$96,133
Lecturers	176	20%	$76,220
No Rank	2	0%	$171,324

Pros & Cons of San Jose State University

A quick at-a-glance summary of how San Jose State University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.

PROS

Below-average net price
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Wide variety of programs and student life
Strong first-year retention
Above-average post-graduation earnings
First-gen-friendly student body

CONS

Class sizes are on the higher side
Large institutional setting can feel impersonal
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years

Best for: Based on the data, San Jose State University is a fit for students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; students prioritizing post-graduation earnings; students who want a large campus with breadth and variety.

Frequently Asked Questions about San Jose State University

Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about San Jose State University.

Is San Jose State University hard to get into?

San Jose State University has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 84.6%.

What is the acceptance rate at San Jose State University?

San Jose State University has an acceptance rate of 84.6%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.

How much does San Jose State University cost?

The average net price after aid at San Jose State University is $13,760 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.

Is San Jose State University worth it?

Strong return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $78,988 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $13,760 per year. That's roughly 5.7x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.

What is San Jose State University known for?

San Jose State University is best known for its programs in Business Administration, Library Science and Administration, Computer Engineering. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

What do San Jose State University graduates earn?

Median earnings 10 years after entering San Jose State University are $78,988, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.

Is San Jose State University accredited?

Yes. San Jose State University is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission.

How many students attend San Jose State University?

San Jose State University enrolls 27,601 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.

What is the graduation rate at San Jose State University?

San Jose State University graduates 36% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

Is San Jose State University a public or private college?

San Jose State University is a Public institution.

Where is San Jose State University located?

San Jose State University is located in San Jose, California.

What programs does San Jose State University offer?

San Jose State University offers 147 distinct programs. The most popular include Business Administration, Library Science and Administration, Computer Engineering.

What is the student-to-faculty ratio at San Jose State University?

The student-to-faculty ratio at San Jose State University is 18:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.