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San Jose State University

San Jose, California · Public · 4-year · City

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At a glance

Average net price
$13,760What students typically pay per year after grants and scholarships.
Acceptance rate
85%
Graduation rate
67%Share of students who finish within 150% of the normal time.
Undergraduates
27,601
In-state tuition
$8,410Published price before aid.
Out-of-state tuition
$21,010
SAT midpoint
Not reported
Median earnings, 10 yrs
$78,988Median earnings of former students ten years after they first enrolled.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Data year: 2022-23 academic year. Updated September 2026. Figures are averages across all students and will differ from what any individual pays.

How it compares to similar colleges

Each rating covers one measure against public 4-year colleges nationally. Five stars means the top fifth on that measure. There is no overall score, because which of these matters is your call.

Affordability

$13,760

Better than 57% of public 4-year colleges (565 compared).

Completion

67%

Better than 79% of public 4-year colleges (566 compared).

Earnings

$78,988

Better than 94% of public 4-year colleges (590 compared).

Debt at graduation

$15,000

Better than 87% of public 4-year colleges (588 compared).

What these ratings are based on
Affordability
Based on average net price: what students receiving federal aid actually paid, after grants and scholarships. Your own cost depends on your family's finances.
Completion
Based on the share of first-time, full-time students who graduate within 150% of normal time. It excludes transfer and part-time students, which understates colleges serving many of them.
Earnings
Based on median earnings ten years after students first enrolled. It reflects the subjects a college teaches and the region it sits in as much as its teaching.
Debt at graduation
Based on median federal loan debt among students who completed. Private and parent loans are not included, so real totals are often higher.
Why there is no rating for selectivity
A lower acceptance rate is selectivity, not quality. Awarding stars for it would be us inventing a value judgement and hiding it behind a number.

What it actually costs

Published cost

$26,593

The sticker price: tuition, fees, housing, food and books for one academic year, before any aid.

Average net price

$13,760

What students receiving federal aid actually paid on average, after grants and scholarships. This is the more useful number, though your own figure depends on your family’s finances.

Use this college’s official net price calculator

Outcomes

Graduation, retention, debt and earnings for San Jose State University
Graduation rateWithin 150% of normal time67%
Retention rateFirst-year students who return87%
Median debt at graduationFederal loans only, students who completed$15,000
Median earnings, 10 years after entryFormer students, working and not enrolled$78,988

What graduates of each major earn

Median earnings one year after finishing, for people who took that subject here. This is the figure a college-wide median hides: the spread between subjects at one college is usually far wider than the spread between colleges.

Bachelor’s programs at San Jose State University by graduate earnings
MajorEarnings, 1 yrDegrees awarded
Business Administration, Management and OperationsNot reported1,657
Psychology, GeneralNot reported486
Communication and Media StudiesNot reported276
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/FitnessNot reported260
Computer EngineeringNot reported251
Computer ScienceNot reported244
Design and Applied ArtsNot reported222
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingNot reported217
Public HealthNot reported209
Fine and Studio ArtsNot reported207
Criminal Justice and CorrectionsNot reported203
Biology, GeneralNot reported185
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and MethodsNot reported184
SociologyNot reported177
Mechanical EngineeringNot reported158
Civil EngineeringNot reported127
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications EngineeringNot reported108
Engineering Technologies/Technicians, GeneralNot reported101
EconomicsNot reported99
English Language and Literature, GeneralNot reported87
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied CommunicationNot reported78
Nutrition SciencesNot reported77
Applied MathematicsNot reported72
Political Science and GovernmentNot reported69
Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space EngineeringNot reported68
Biomedical/Medical EngineeringNot reported68
Natural Resources Conservation and ResearchNot reported65
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and HumanitiesNot reported62
ChemistryNot reported61
HistoryNot reported55
Social WorkNot reported54
Radio, Television, and Digital CommunicationNot reported52
Air TransportationNot reported52
Communication Disorders Sciences and ServicesNot reported50
MusicNot reported43
Parks, Recreation, and Leisure StudiesNot reported42
Behavioral SciencesNot reported42
Industrial EngineeringNot reported39
Hospitality Administration/ManagementNot reported37
Security Science and TechnologyNot reported36
JournalismNot reported34
Chemical EngineeringNot reported27
DanceNot reported23
AnthropologyNot reported22
MathematicsNot reported20
PhysicsNot reported17
Drama/Theatre Arts and StagecraftNot reported16
PhilosophyNot reported16
Social Sciences, GeneralNot reported16
Romance Languages, Literatures, and LinguisticsNot reported16
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group StudiesNot reported12
East Asian Languages, Literatures, and LinguisticsNot reported12
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and ServicesNot reported10
Industrial Production Technologies/TechniciansNot reported10
International/Globalization StudiesNot reported9
Engineering-Related FieldsNot reported8
Materials EngineeringNot reported7
Information Science/StudiesNot reported7
Atmospheric Sciences and MeteorologyNot reported7
Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population BiologyNot reported6
Geography and CartographyNot reported5
Visual and Performing Arts, GeneralNot reported4
Geological and Earth Sciences/GeosciencesNot reported4
Human Resources Management and ServicesNot reported3
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, OtherNot reported2
Engineering, GeneralNot reported1
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related ServicesNot reportedNot reported
International and Comparative EducationNot reportedNot reported
Natural SciencesNot reportedNot reported
Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition ServicesNot reportedNot reported
Psychology, OtherNot reportedNot reported
Zoology/Animal BiologyNot reportedNot reported
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, GeneralNot reportedNot reported
Germanic Languages, Literatures, and LinguisticsNot reportedNot reported
Microbiological Sciences and ImmunologyNot reportedNot reported
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic ProfessionsNot reportedNot reported
Accounting and Related ServicesNot reportedNot reported
Entrepreneurial and Small Business OperationsNot reportedNot reported
Finance and Financial Management ServicesNot reportedNot reported
MarketingNot reportedNot reported
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing StudiesNot reportedNot reported
Management Information Systems and ServicesNot reportedNot reported
Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, OtherNot reportedNot reported
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment ProfessionsNot reportedNot reported
International Relations and National Security StudiesNot reportedNot reported
Religion/Religious StudiesNot reportedNot reported

All 86 bachelor’s programs this college reported.

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