San Jose, California Colleges: Costs & Earnings (2026 stats)
TL;DR
Colleges in San Jose, California: median public in-state tuition $4,888 (-11.3% vs national median) median 10-year earnings $65,002 (+19.5% vs U.S.) employment-outcome proxy 87.7% working & not enrolled at 8 years median graduate debt $11,118 (-16.2% vs U.S.) 48,232 students enrolled statewide.
Key Facts
- Institutions in this profile: 17 campuses
- Total college enrollment: 48,232 students
- Median public in-state tuition: $4,888 (-11.3% vs U.S.)
- Median earnings 10 years after entry: $65,002 (+19.5% vs U.S.)
- Working & not enrolled (8-yr cohort proxy): 87.7% (-0.3 pp vs U.S.)
- Median net price: $22,812 (+128.8% vs U.S.)
- Median student debt at graduation: $11,118 (-16.2% vs U.S. $13,271); regional median $11,537
- Average completion rate (institutions in state): 63.9%
- Median first-year retention (full-time, 4-yr): 77.8%
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Overview
Colleges and universities in San Jose serve students across California with associate, bachelor's, and graduate pathways. 17 reporting campuses in this city profile, with about 48,232 students enrolled in federal data, and median in-state tuition near $4,888. Tables below compare costs, completion, earnings, and standout institutions against San Jose, California and U.S. medians from the College Scorecard.
San Jose vs California & national benchmarks
Medians aggregate institution-level College Scorecard fields unless noted. Enrollment is total undergraduate headcount summed across reporting campuses.
| Geography | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion rate | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose, California | $4,888 | $22,812 | $11,118 | 63.9% | 48,232 |
| California (state median) | $1,350 | $8,343 | $11,537 | 59.0% | 2,134,322 |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,969 | $13,271 | 50.3% | 14,468,221 |
Earnings & employment outcomes: San Jose, California vs benchmarks
Scorecard does not publish formal job-placement rates. We use the share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled (working ÷ working + not working) as a federal employment-outcome proxy. 2-yr and 3-yr default rates are federal cohort default shares (0–1 scale). We show 2-yr default as the primary benchmark; 3-yr default appears only when enough campuses report non-suppressed values (otherwise —). 3-yr repayment progress is the share of completers making progress on loans after 3 years. Sample: bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200. Medians pool campus-level values.
| Geography | Median earnings (10 yr) | Working & not enrolled (8 yr) | Retention (FT yr 1) | 2-yr default | 3-yr default | 3-yr repayment progress | Debt ÷ earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose, California | $65,002 | 87.7% | 77.8% | 6.3% | — | 70.3% | 0.40 |
| California (state median) | $65,668 | 90.0% | 83.8% | 3.7% | — | 74.1% | 0.28 |
| United States | $54,384 | 88.0% | 76.4% | 5.0% | — | 73.7% | 0.41 |
Other cities in California (3+ campuses)
Other cities in the same state with at least three reporting campuses.
| City | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion | Enrollment | Earnings (10 yr) | Working (8 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose, California | $4,888 | $22,812 | $11,118 | 63.9% | 48,232 | $65,002 | 87.7% |
| Los Angeles | $16,900 | $21,711 | $18,375 | 71.7% | 120,534 | $74,165 | 87.7% |
| San Diego | $13,284 | $23,205 | $13,000 | 69.2% | 95,661 | $66,228 | 89.4% |
| Sacramento | $1,288 | $20,520 | $10,674 | 50.8% | 94,048 | $64,876 | 91.3% |
| Long Beach | $4,453 | $14,158 | $11,812 | 68.9% | 60,761 | $64,403 | 91.1% |
| Fullerton | $5,420 | $6,555 | $13,750 | 70.2% | 56,299 | $56,324 | 89.2% |
| Fresno | $7,350 | $20,190 | $10,976 | 53.5% | 54,532 | $60,070 | 91.2% |
| Riverside | $15,606 | $21,765 | $11,098 | 60.8% | 53,903 | $61,824 | 90.9% |
| Pasadena | $31,530 | $25,065 | $13,194 | 37.4% | 49,021 | $62,222 | 84.6% |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,969 | $13,271 | 50.3% | 14,468,221 | $54,384 | 88.0% |
Top college in San Jose, California by graduation rate (150% time)
Ranked by 150% time completion rate (4-year bachelor's-predominant institutions, enrollment ≥ 500). Higher rate = more students finishing within 150% of normal time.
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Rank 1, Graduation Rate, 69.2%, San Jose State University
San Jose State University
Top college in San Jose, California by employment outcome (8 yrs after entry, working & not enrolled)
Ranked by share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled — a federal outcome proxy, not a verified job-placement rate. Enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Employment Outcome, 92.0%, San Jose State University
San Jose State University
Most selective college in San Jose, California (lowest admission rate)
Ranked by lowest admission rate (most selective first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500 and a reported admission rate.
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Rank 1, Admission Rate, 84.6%, San Jose State University
San Jose State University
Top college in San Jose, California by entry-level earnings (1 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings one year after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; reflects completers in reported CIP programs, not all entrants.
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Rank 1, Entry-Level Earnings, $37,693, University of Silicon Valley
University of Silicon Valley
Top college in San Jose, California by early-career earnings (4 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings four years after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; program cohort, not institution-wide median.
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Rank 1, Early-Career Earnings, $67,659, University of Silicon Valley
University of Silicon Valley
Top college in San Jose, California by mid-career earnings (6 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings six years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Mid-Career Earnings, $62,448, San Jose State University
San Jose State University
Top college in San Jose, California by 8-year earnings (8 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings eight years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 8-Yr Earnings, $70,420, San Jose State University
San Jose State University
Top college in San Jose, California by long-term earnings (10 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings ten years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr Earnings, $78,988, San Jose State University
San Jose State University
Top 2 colleges in San Jose, California by 10-year ROI
Ranked by 10-year return on investment (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200 and a computed ROI in the EDsmart dataset.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr ROI, $284,194, San Jose State University
San Jose State University
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Rank 2, 10-Yr ROI, $84,572, University of Silicon Valley
University of Silicon Valley
Top 2 most affordable colleges in San Jose, California (net price)
Ranked by lowest average net price (most affordable first). Uses overall net price, or mid-income bracket net price for public schools when available. Enrollment ≥ 300.
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Rank 1, Net Price, $13,760, San Jose State University
San Jose State University
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Rank 2, Net Price, $27,815, University of Silicon Valley
University of Silicon Valley
Top college in San Jose, California by first-year retention (full-time)
Ranked by first-year, full-time retention rate (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, First-Year Retention, 86.8%, San Jose State University
San Jose State University
In-state tuition: San Jose, California vs benchmarks
Sticker price
San Jose, California median in-state tuition is $4,888, -11.3% vs the U.S. median.
Student debt: San Jose, California vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in San Jose, California is $11,118 (-16.2% vs U.S. median $13,271). Regional median: $11,537.
Median earnings (10 years out): San Jose, California vs benchmarks
Payoff
Median earnings 10 years after entry for bachelor's-predominant campuses in San Jose, California center around $65,002 (+19.5% vs U.S.).
Median institution-level 10-year earnings. Source: College Scorecard.
Employment outcome proxy: San Jose, California vs benchmarks
Working & not enrolled
The share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled—our Scorecard employment proxy—is 87.7% at the median San Jose, California campus (-0.3 pp vs U.S.).
Percent of 8-year cohort working and not enrolled (not a formal placement rate).
Analysis & insights
EDsmart Data aggregates institution-level College Scorecard data for this profile. Highlights below compare local medians to U.S. and regional benchmarks.
Costs & borrowing
San Jose, California median public in-state tuition is $4,888, about -11.3% vs the national median. Versus the Far West region, tuition is +48.8%.
Median graduate debt is $11,118 (-16.2% below the U.S. median of $13,271). Low sticker prices do not always mean low borrowing—living costs, time-to-degree, and aid mix matter.
Earnings, employment & retention
Among bachelor's-predominant campuses with ≥200 students, median 10-year earnings in San Jose, California are $65,002, about +19.5% vs the U.S. campus median ($54,384).
The median campus reports 87.7% of its 8-year cohort as working and not enrolled—our closest federal proxy to a placement rate. The U.S. campus median is 88.0% (-0.3 pp). Formal job-placement statistics are not published in Scorecard; treat this as a comparative outcome indicator, not a hire guarantee.
First-year, full-time retention at the median campus is 77.8% vs a U.S. median of 76.4%—a leading indicator for completion and time-to-degree.
Loan repayment indicators at the median campus: 2-yr default 6.3% (U.S. 5.0%); 3-yr repayment progress 70.3% (U.S. 73.7%). 3-yr default is omitted when most campuses report suppressed zeros.
Top employment-outcome campuses in this extract include San Jose State University (92.0%)—useful anchors for local reporting on where graduates are most often working rather than still enrolled.
Completion & workforce context
Average institution-level completion rate across all sectors in San Jose, California is 63.9% (national institution average about 50.3%).
Frequently Asked Questions
How many colleges are in San Jose?
This city profile covers 17 campuses in San Jose, California with College Scorecard cost or outcomes data.
How much does college cost in San Jose?
Median in-state tuition in San Jose is $4,888 and median net price is $22,812. For California overall, medians are $1,350 and $8,343; U.S. medians are $5,512 and $9,969.
What do graduates earn in San Jose?
Median 10-year earnings for campuses in San Jose is $65,002 vs $65,668 for California and $54,384 nationally.
What is student debt like for San Jose colleges?
Median completer debt in San Jose is $11,118 vs $11,537 for California and $13,271 nationally.
What are the best colleges in San Jose?
Top campuses on this page include San Jose State University (graduation) and San Jose State University (10-yr earnings). See Top 10 lists for admission, affordability, and employment metrics.
Are there HBCUs, Hispanic-serving, tribal, or religious colleges in San Jose?
Among 17 campuses in San Jose, California, 10 campuses with at least 25% Hispanic enrollment in College Scorecard demographics—a common Hispanic-serving institution (HSI) eligibility proxy; examples include CET-San Jose, University of Silicon Valley, and Evergreen Valley College.
Sources & related
- California college profile
- All college profiles
- National benchmarks
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
- Download: JSON