San Jose City College
San Jose, CA 95128-2798
About San Jose City College
San Jose City College is a public certificate and vocational school in San Jose, California, serving roughly 7,105 students. Programs focus on certificates and workforce credentials that prepare students for skilled trades and technical careers. Typical net price after grant aid is about $16,959 for students who receive it, compared with published tuition near $1,366. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $46,215 among students who received federal aid.
Key findings
- San Jose City College charges about 0.2× the national public median tuition ($1,366).
- Versus the California median, sticker tuition is about 0.2×.
- Completion within 150% of normal time is 34.10%.
- Median earnings 10 years after entry are $46,215.
Research findings
Finding
Modeled return on investment at San Jose City College is strong.
Estimated ROI reaches about 581% using Scorecard cost and 10-year earnings fields in this extract.
Interpretation: On this institution-wide model, typical graduate earnings over a decade substantially exceed estimated net education cost.
Limitation: ROI is institution-wide and not program-specific; individual outcomes vary by major, aid package, and labor market.
Cost benchmarks
| Benchmark | Median Tuition | Median Net Price | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose City College | $1,366 | $16,959 | 1 |
| Public (national median) | $5,512 | — | 1,688 |
| California (state median) | $8,093 | $8,343 | 287 |
| Urban (City) (locale median) | $15,200 | $20,053 | 1,346 |
| United States (national median) | $11,900 | $17,156 | — |
Compares this campus to school-type, state, and locale medians plus a U.S. national median (College Scorecard–derived). Locale groups campuses by NCES locale type; state tuition is the median published tuition among campuses in that state.
How expensive is San Jose City College really?
Key findings
- San Jose City College charges about 0.2× the national public median tuition ($1,366).
- Versus the California median, sticker tuition is about 0.2×.
San Jose City College tuition
Published undergraduate tuition $1,366
Finding San Jose City College charges about 0.2× the national public median tuition.
Evidence Published tuition is $1,366. That is about 0.2× the national public median ($5,512). Versus the California median ($8,093), sticker tuition is about 0.2×. Versus the U.S. median ($11,900), sticker is about 0.1×.
Method Sticker tuition compared with Scorecard-derived medians by ownership, state, locale, and national rollups when available.
Interpretation Published tuition measures sticker price relative to public and geographic peers; it does not equal what undergraduates typically pay after aid.
Limitation Sticker comparisons omit room, board, and institutional aid; average net price and income-band net prices are the stronger signals of typical family cost.
Evidence: published tuition at San Jose City College versus school-type, state, locale, and U.S. medians.
Evidence: average net price at San Jose City College versus state, locale, and U.S. medians.
What undergraduates typically pay
Finding Average net price at San Jose City College is $16,959.
Evidence College Scorecard average net price is $16,959 (cost of attendance minus average grant aid for aided undergraduates). That is about $8,616 above the California median net price. Versus urban (city) campuses, net price runs $3,094 below the locale median.
Method Average net price from College Scorecard; compared with state, locale, and U.S. medians from EDsmart aggregates.
Interpretation Average net price is a stronger institutional cost signal than published tuition because it incorporates grant aid.
Limitation The campus average masks large differences by household income; income-band net prices can diverge sharply from the overall average.
Key takeaway At San Jose City College, average net price exceeds published tuition alone because net price uses a fuller cost-of-attendance base.
San Jose City College: research record
Canonical EDsmart Data findings for San Jose City College—costs, outcomes, admissions, and programs—with evidence and methodology notes.
Research findings
Interpretation
The combination of completion and 10-year earnings is a multidimensional outcomes signal; it does not measure educational quality by itself.
Financial profile
In-state tuition
$1,366
Out-of-state tuition
$11,922
Avg. net price
$16,959
Net price by family income
| Income bracket | Avg. annual net price |
|---|---|
| $0–$30,000 | $16,430 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $15,652 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $18,524 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $22,207 |
| $110,001+ | $20,198 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $5,464. See cost investigation.
Student outcomes
Share of first-year students returning the following fall.
Graduation rate and 10-year earnings are in the hero strip above; see Graduates for more.
What San Jose City College is known for
Top program completions
- Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies296
- Cosmetology/Cosmetologist, General102
- Medical/Clinical Assistant69
- Business Administration and Management, General64
- Biological and Physical Sciences62
See earnings & programs for more.
Is San Jose City College a good school?
Data-framed fit—not a prestige rating.
San Jose City College is a good school for those looking for strong completion alongside solid mid-career earnings.
EDsmart Data does not assign an opinion score; this framing summarizes the strongest Scorecard signals for this campus.
More from the data
Location, control, enrollment, and aid context for San Jose City College.
Campus
Location
San Jose, CA
City / state
- ZIP
- 95128-2798
- NCES locale
- City
Compared with Urban (City) campuses nationally, net price is 15% below the median for Urban (City) campuses ($20,053 median).
Control
Institution type
Public
Control
- Region
- Far West
- Carnegie
- Associate's Colleges: Mixed Transfer/Vocational & Technical-Mixed Traditional/Nontraditional
Size
Enrollment
7,105
Total enrollment
- Undergraduate
- 13,116
- Full-time share
- 24%
Student aid
Debt & aid
- Pell grant share
- 20.61%
Total Cost, Aid & Default
Total Cost of Attendance
Tuition vs average net price after aid for San Jose City College.
Financial Aid by Income Level
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at San Jose City College was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for San Jose City College in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $1,324 | $6,946 | $9,196 |
| 2014 | $1,324 | $7,010 | $9,608 |
| 2015 | $1,338 | $7,010 | $9,326 |
| 2016 | $1,343 | $7,015 | $9,164 |
| 2017 | $1,356 | $7,852 | $10,424 |
| 2018 | $1,358 | $7,994 | $10,549 |
| 2019 | $1,362 | $9,118 | $10,330 |
| 2020 | $1,362 | $9,118 | $14,302 |
| 2021 | $1,366 | $9,486 | $14,194 |
| 2022 | $1,366 | $9,486 | $17,076 |
| 2023 | $1,366 | $9,486 | $16,658 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
How difficult is it to get in?
Acceptance Rate
Acceptance rate data is not available for this institution.
Admissions funnel data is not available for this institution.
Test Scores
Test score data is not available for this institution.
Score distribution is not available for this institution.
Academic Requirements
GPA requirements are not published by this institution. Contact the admissions office for specific academic requirements.
Estimated GPA range is not available for this institution.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
San Jose City College reported total enrollment of about 7,105 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 46% male and 54% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes Hispanic or Latino (50.9%), Asian (21.6%), and White (14.6%). About 20.61% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 58.1% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
24.5% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at San Jose City College in 2024 is 7,105 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 13,116 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
65.1%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
Largest share of total enrollment in our College Scorecard extract.
College Scorecard student demographics (total enrollment shares).
Do students complete their programs?
Time to Complete
10.98% 100% Completion Time
34.10% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 10.98% of students graduating from San Jose City College completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies: 32% male / 68% female
- Cosmetology/Cosmetologist, General: 4% male / 96% female
- Medical/Clinical Assistant: 7% male / 93% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Largest group by summed IPEDS award counts across reported programs.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
San Jose City College graduates earn a median of $46,215 ten years after entry
Finding Earnings, debt, and program mix define the financial profile of San Jose City College.
Evidence Median earnings 10 years after entry: $46,215. Average net price used in cost models: $16,959.
Method College Scorecard median earnings (10-year), median debt, and EDsmart ROI / payback models using campus net price.
Interpretation Institution-wide ROI and debt ratios summarize campus averages; program choice still drives individual outcomes.
Limitation Salary reflects median earnings ten years after entry; ROI is not program-specific.
Key takeaway San Jose City College graduates report median earnings of $46,215 ten years after entry—an institution-wide outcomes signal, not a program guarantee.
Return on Investment
Debt and 4-year net cost vs. cumulative 10-year median earnings for San Jose City College.
Top Programs by Completions
Largest 10 programs by IPEDS completions (47 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
IPEDS award counts for the largest programs at San Jose City College.
Employment Outcomes
Median earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after entry for San Jose City College graduates.
Institutional resources
Finding: federal finance and Scorecard instructional fields for San Jose City College—instructional staffing and expenditure. Compared with state, regional, and U.S. medians from EDsmart Data institutional financials.
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 38.9%
- California median 0.4 pp below median (39.3%)
- Far West median 6.7 pp below median (45.7%)
- U.S. median 19.0 pp below median (58.0%)
- Average faculty salary (monthly): $16,356
- California median 1.6× the median ($10,166)
- Far West median 1.7× the median ($9,635)
- U.S. median 2.1× the median ($7,615)
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $12,125
- California median 1.9× the median ($6,474)
- Far West median 1.7× the median ($7,030)
- U.S. median 1.7× the median ($7,288)
Instructional metrics from College Scorecard. Peer medians are campus-level; see the institutional financials deep dive. Detailed non-instructional staff counts are not included here.
Scorecard instructional metrics where reported.
San Jose City College at a glance
San Jose City College
San Jose City College is a public institution in San Jose, CA, classified as Associate's Colleges: Mixed Transfer/Vocational & Technical-Mixed Traditional/Nontraditional.
- Largest programs (IPEDS awards)
- Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal StudiesCosmetology/Cosmetologist, GeneralMedical/Clinical Assistant
- Largest enrollment groups
- Hispanic or Latino50.9%Asian21.6%White or Caucasian14.6%
Schools near San Jose City College
Other campuses in San Jose, CA when available, plus nearby institutions in California.
Similar schools
Peers matched by the same EDsmart outcomes grade (Grade D) within California, then by similar ownership and admissions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is San Jose City College located?
San Jose City College is located in San Jose, CA.
What is San Jose City College's tuition?
San Jose City College tuition (published undergraduate sticker price) is $1,366 in the latest College Scorecard data. Average net price after grant aid is $16,959 for undergraduates receiving Title IV aid.
How much does San Jose City College cost?
Reported tuition is $1,366 and average net price is $16,959 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $22,658 annually.
What explains San Jose City College's return on investment in EDsmart Data?
EDsmart Data models ROI using campus average net price ($16,959), completion (34.1% within 150% of normal time where reported), and median earnings ten years after entry ($46,215). High completion and strong mid-career earnings relative to net cost raise modeled ROI; the estimate is institution-wide and not program-specific. Debt-to-earnings ratios, when available, further contextualize borrowing pressure. Limitations include suppressed fields, program mix, and labor-market variation over time.
What is the student body demographics at San Jose City College?
San Jose City College reports undergraduate enrollment of about 13,116 students, Hispanic or Latino (50.9%), Asian (21.6%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend San Jose City College?
About 58.1% of students at San Jose City College are first-generation college students.
What do graduates of San Jose City College earn?
Median earnings are $39,993 six years after entry and $46,215 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at San Jose City College?
The 150%-time completion rate is 34.1% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
Is San Jose City College public or private?
San Jose City College is a public institution located in San Jose, CA.
Is San Jose City College an HBCU?
No. San Jose City College is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is San Jose City College a tribal college?
No. San Jose City College is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Is San Jose City College a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI)?
By the common federal eligibility proxy used here (≥25% Hispanic enrollment in College Scorecard), yes—San Jose City College reports 50.9% Hispanic enrollment share.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
- California college profile
- California college costs
- California colleges by ROI
- California trade schools profile
- San Jose, California city profile
- Far West regional profile
- Urban (City) college profile
- Campus-setting profiles
- All state profiles
- Regional profiles
- National benchmarks
- School directory
- All schools in California
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology & Data Scope
This profile uses institution-level fields from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, merged with IPEDS directory attributes where needed for locale, ownership, and program completions.
Benchmark rows compare this campus to NCES locale-type medians (for example Suburban) from our processed location extract. Implied U.S. medians are derived from locale-vs-national percentage fields in that extract—not a separate national Scorecard table.