San Jose State University Acceptance Rate & Tuition (2026)
San Jose State University is a public research university in San Jose, California, enrolling about 27,601 students. Admission is moderately selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 84.61% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $78,988 among students who received federal aid.
Key Facts
- 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $8,410
- 2024 Average Net Price: $13,760 After Financial Aid
- 2024 Acceptance Rate: 84.61% Moderate Selectivity
- 2024 Enrolled Students: 27,601 82.1% Full-Time
- 2024 Graduation Rate: 69.22%
- Carnegie Classification: Master's Colleges and Universities: Medium Programs
- First-Generation Students: 49.0%
- Tuition trend: In-state tuition increase of 1.2% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Net price trend: Average net price decrease of 4.4% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Full-Time Faculty: 43.7%
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 30,873
- Applicants (IPEDS): 35,780
- Room & Board: $20,971 annual estimate
San Jose State University: what the data shows
Common questions about San Jose State University, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.
Where is San Jose State University?
San Jose State University is located in San Jose, CA (ZIP 95192-0186).
NCES locale classification: City.
Is San Jose State University public or private?
San Jose State University is a Public institution.
How much does San Jose State University cost?
Published tuition: $8,410 in-state, $21,010 out-of-state.
Average net price after aid: $13,760.
| Family income band | Avg. net price |
|---|---|
| Family income $0–$30,000 | $9,730 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $10,114 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $12,099 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $15,102 |
| $110,001+ | $22,862 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $33,640.
How hard is it to get into San Jose State University?
Admission rate: 84.61%.
Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.
How big is San Jose State University?
Total enrollment: 27,601 students.
Undergraduate enrollment: 30,873 students.
Graduate enrollment: 9,653 students.
About 82% enroll full-time in our extract.
What is the graduation rate at San Jose State University?
150%-time completion rate: 69.22%.
First-year retention: 86.8%.
What do graduates of San Jose State University earn?
Median earnings: $62,448 six years after entry; $78,988 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).
How much debt do students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers: $15,000.
35.24% of students receive Pell grants.
What is San Jose State University known for?
Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:
- Business Administration and Management, General (1,694 completions)
- Library and Information Science (764 completions)
- Computer Software Engineering (475 completions)
- Psychology, General (455 completions)
- Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness, General (281 completions)
- Computer Science (274 completions)
- Social Work (243 completions)
- Criminal Justice/Safety Studies (227 completions)
- Biology/Biological Sciences, General (222 completions)
- Electrical and Electronics Engineering (220 completions)
See ROI & Programs for more.
Is San Jose State University a good school?
We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show admission rate 84.61%; completion rate 69.22%; median earnings $78,988 at 10 years; net price $13,760. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.
Tuition & Cost
Tuition Costs
$8,410
2024 Undergraduate Tuition
In 2024, the cost of tuition at San Jose State University was $8,410.
Tuition comparison with similar institutions.
Average Net Price
$13,760
2024 Value
In 2024 San Jose State University had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $13,760.
Average net price comparison with similar institutions.
Total Cost of Attendance
$55,040 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost
$13,760 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)
$33,640 4-Year In-State Tuition
$84,040 4-Year Out-of-State Tuition
$20,971 Room & Board (annual, on-campus estimate)
$1,062 Books & Supplies (annual estimate)
$30,443 Estimated Annual Sticker (tuition + room/board + books)
$121,772 Estimated 4-Year Sticker (before aid)
4-year total cost breakdown for San Jose State University.
Financial Aid by Income Level
35.24% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
19.52% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
0.00%
3-year cohort default rate (College Scorecard)
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at San Jose State University 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 State University 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 | $7,343 | $18,503 | $13,794 |
| 2014 | $7,323 | $18,483 | $12,862 |
| 2015 | $7,378 | $18,538 | $13,183 |
| 2016 | $7,418 | $18,578 | $14,376 |
| 2017 | $7,721 | $19,601 | $14,627 |
| 2018 | $7,796 | $19,676 | $15,270 |
| 2019 | $7,852 | $19,732 | $14,928 |
| 2020 | $7,852 | $19,732 | $16,542 |
| 2021 | $7,852 | $19,732 | $13,874 |
| 2022 | $7,899 | $19,779 | $14,370 |
| 2023 | $7,992 | $19,872 | $13,741 |
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.
Acceptance Rate & Admissions
Acceptance Rate
84.61% Acceptance Rate
35,780 Total Applicants
28,708 Students Admitted
4,520 First-Time Students Enrolled
15.74% Yield (enrolled ÷ admitted)
This institution has a moderate acceptance rate, accepting most qualified applicants.
Acceptance rate compared to national average.
Test Scores
Test score data is not available for this institution.
Average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students.
Academic Requirements
GPA requirements are not published by this institution. Contact the admissions office for specific academic requirements.
Estimated GPA and test score ranges.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
San Jose State University reported total enrollment of about 27,601 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 52% male and 48% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes Asian (38.8%), Hispanic or Latino (32.5%), and White (12.3%). About 35.24% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 49.0% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
82.1% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at San Jose State University in 2024 is 27,601 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 30,873 students. Graduate enrollment is about 9,653 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
86.8%
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
The largest enrollment share in our College Scorecard extract is Asian at 38.8%.
Shares are for total enrollment (undergraduate and graduate combined when reported).
College Scorecard student demographics.
Graduates & Outcomes
Time to Complete
37.01% 100% Completion Time
69.22% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 37.01% of students graduating from San Jose State University completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Business Administration and Management, General: 56% male / 44% female
- Library and Information Science: 16% male / 84% female
- Computer Software Engineering: 71% male / 29% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Combined IPEDS award counts across reported programs; largest group: Asian.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
ROI & Programs
Financial value and program information for San Jose State University.
Return on Investment
$15,000 Median Student Debt
$78,988 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)
18.99% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio
1335.10% Return on Investment
1.9 years Estimated Payback Period
Financial value analysis for San Jose State University.
Top Programs by Completions
10 largest programs by IPEDS completions (of 119 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
1. Business Administration and Management, General: 1,694 completions
2. Library and Information Science: 764 completions
3. Computer Software Engineering: 475 completions
4. Psychology, General: 455 completions
5. Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness, General: 281 completions
6. Computer Science: 274 completions
7. Social Work: 243 completions
8. Criminal Justice/Safety Studies: 227 completions
9. Biology/Biological Sciences, General: 222 completions
Most popular programs at San Jose State University.
Employment Outcomes
Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.
Earnings outcomes for San Jose State University graduates.
Operations
Instructional staffing and expenditure indicators for San Jose State University from College Scorecard (not a full IPEDS finance statement).
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 43.7%
- Average faculty salary (Scorecard): $12,896
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $9,020
Endowment and detailed non-instructional staff counts require IPEDS Finance/HR surveys and are not in this extract.
Scorecard instructional metrics where reported.
About
San Jose State University is a public institution located in San Jose, CA, classified as Master's Colleges and Universities: Medium Programs. In the latest IPEDS completions in our extract, the largest programs by awards were Business Administration and Management, General, Library and Information Science, Computer Software Engineering. Enrollment is approximately 27,601 students. Student body composition includes Asian (38.8%), Hispanic or Latino (32.5%), White (12.3%). The admission rate is 84.61%. The 150%-time completion rate is 69.22%. Approximately 35.24% of students receive Pell Grants. About 49.0% of students are first-generation college students.
Institution Type
Public
Carnegie Classification: Master's Colleges and Universities: Medium Programs
Location
San Jose, CA 95192-0186
Region: Far West
Insights and Analysis
Diverse Program Offerings: With over 119 distinct degree programs, San Jose State University provides students with a wide range of academic options. This diversity allows students to explore various fields and find programs that align with their interests and career goals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is San Jose State University located?
San Jose State University is located in San Jose, CA.
What is San Jose State University's acceptance rate?
The acceptance rate at San Jose State University is 84.6% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 35,780 applicants and 28,708 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.
How much does San Jose State University cost?
Reported tuition is $8,410 and average net price is $13,760 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $20,971 annually.
What is the student body demographics at San Jose State University?
San Jose State University reports undergraduate enrollment of about 30,873 students, Asian (38.8%), Hispanic or Latino (32.5%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend San Jose State University?
About 49.0% of students at San Jose State University are first-generation college students.
What do graduates of San Jose State University earn?
Median earnings are $62,448 six years after entry and $78,988 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at San Jose State University?
The 150%-time completion rate is 69.2% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do San Jose State University students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $15,000.
Is San Jose State University public or private?
San Jose State University is a public institution located in San Jose, CA.
Is San Jose State University an HBCU?
No. San Jose State University is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is San Jose State University a tribal college?
No. San Jose State University is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Is San Jose State University a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI)?
By the common federal eligibility proxy used here (≥25% Hispanic enrollment in College Scorecard), yes—San Jose State University reports 32.5% 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 costs
- California colleges by ROI
- San Jose, California city profile
- Far West regional profile
- 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 for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, which provides comprehensive information on institutions of higher education in the United States.
All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Graduation rates and completion times are calculated according to federal standards.