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San Jose State University

San Jose State University is a public campus in San Jose proper — federal locale codes class it as urban.

What could it cost?

Start with net price after grants, then read the published costs. Each chart names its academic year and the students it covers.

Net price by family income

key chart

Average annual cost after grants for each family-income band. These group averages are not personal price quotes.

IPEDS Income brackets, 2022–23

family-income band

$9,743

family income
under $30k

$9,863

$30–48k

$12,948

$48–75k

$17,047

$75–110k

$23,401

over $110k

Average net price

$13,7602023–24Skip to data table

Average annual attendance cost after grants for the reported student group. Your own aid offer and costs may differ.

Average net price at San Jose State University rose from $10,826 (2008) to $13,760 (2023).

Average net price — data
Year	Net price
2008	$10,826
2009	$12,047
2010	$14,092
2011	$17,002
2012	$13,794
2013	$12,862
2014	$13,183
2015	$14,376
2016	$14,627
2017	$15,270
2018	$14,928
2019	$16,542
2020	$13,874
2021	$14,370
2022	$13,741
2023	$13,760

IPEDS 16 federal reports, 2008–2023

Total cost of attendance

$26,5932024–25Skip to data table

Estimated annual attendance budget before grants, including tuition, fees, housing, food and books. Not every expense is billed by the school.

Total cost at San Jose State University rose from $17,843 (2009) to $26,593 (2024).

Total cost of attendance — data
Year	Cost
2009	$17,843
2010	$19,478
2011	$21,586
2012	$23,671
2013	$21,160
2014	$21,112
2015	$22,046
2016	$22,780
2017	$23,030
2018	$24,514
2019	$24,649
2020	$25,747
2021	$24,198
2022	$24,114
2023	$25,695
2024	$26,593

IPEDS Academic-year cost 2009–2024

Tuition (in-state vs out-of-state)

Skip to data table

Published tuition and fees before grants. Housing, food, books and other attendance costs are separate.

In-stateOut-of-state

Tuition — data
Year	In-state	Out-of-state
2000	$1,861	$9,241
2001	$1,909	$9,289
2002	$1,915	$10,375
2003	$2,563	$11,023
2004	$2,958	$13,128
2005	$3,292	$13,462
2006	$3,296	$13,466
2007	$3,632	$13,802
2008	$3,992	$14,162
2013	$7,343	$18,503
2014	$7,323	$18,483
2015	$7,378	$18,538
2016	$7,418	$18,578
2017	$7,721	$19,601
2018	$7,796	$19,676
2019	$7,852	$19,732
2020	$7,852	$19,732
2021	$7,852	$19,732
2022	$7,899	$19,779
2023	$7,992	$19,872

IPEDS Published price 2000–01 to 2023–24 (not adjusted for inflation)

Cost, size & completion summary

Cost, size & completion

San Jose State University reports tuition of $8,410 for in-state students and $21,010 for out-of-state students. Check San Jose State University’s residency rules, attendance budget and aid offer. Scorecard snapshot: 2026-06-10; historical charts show their own years.

San Jose State University is a big school: 27,601 undergraduates at last count.

69.2% of first-time, full-time bachelor's entrants completed at San Jose State University within six years (2026-06-10 release). This measure excludes other student groups.

Do students finish — and what comes after?

Graduation, debt and earnings cover different groups. Read each chart's entering class or fiscal period; they are not one group's journey.

Six-year graduation rate

key chart

69.2%entered Fall 2018Skip to data table

The share of first-time, full-time bachelor's entrants who completed at this institution within six years. Other students are not included.

The six-year graduation rate at San Jose State University rose from 34.2% (entered 1991) to 69.2% (entered 2018).

A six-year rate can only describe a class that entered six or more years ago — by definition the last point on the line is that old.

Six-year graduation rate — data
Year	Graduated within 6 yrs
1991 cohort	34.2%
1992 cohort	38.5%
1993 cohort	36.8%
1994 cohort	34.1%
1995 cohort	36.7%
1996 cohort	36%
1997 cohort	39.4%
1998 cohort	38.1%
1999 cohort	40.9%
2000 cohort	41.4%
2001 cohort	42%
2002 cohort	41.4%
2003 cohort	46.4%
2004 cohort	48%
2005 cohort	46.4%
2006 cohort	46.9%
2007 cohort	48.1%
2008 cohort	51.6%
2009 cohort	56.8%
2010 cohort	62.1%
2011 cohort	56.8%
2012 cohort	64.9%
2013 cohort	63.8%
2014 cohort	65.6%
2015 cohort	68.8%
2016 cohort	68.4%
2017 cohort	64.6%
2018 cohort	69.2%

IPEDS Entering cohorts 1991–2018

Median debt at exit (completers vs non-completers)

Historical student groups

key chart

Skip to data table

Median federal student loan debt when students left school, shown separately for those who completed and those who did not.

CompletedLeft without degree

Each point combines two years. Neighboring points share one year, so changes should be read with that overlap in mind.

These two-year windows closed before today's students borrowed — they describe past cohorts, not the current price of a degree.

Median debt at exit — data
Year	Completed	Left without degree
Left school in fiscal years 1997 and 1998 (FY1997/98)	$9,305	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 1998 and 1999 (FY1998/99)	$8,266	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 1999 and 2000 (FY1999/00)	$8,125	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2000 and 2001 (FY2000/01)	—	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2001 and 2002 (FY2001/02)	—	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2006 and 2007 (FY2006/07)	$7,809	$5,718
Left school in fiscal years 2007 and 2008 (FY2007/08)	$9,723	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2008 and 2009 (FY2008/09)	$10,175	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2009 and 2010 (FY2009/10)	$12,300	$8,142
Left school in fiscal years 2010 and 2011 (FY2010/11)	$13,455	$9,000
Left school in fiscal years 2011 and 2012 (FY2011/12)	$14,266	$7,500
Left school in fiscal years 2012 and 2013 (FY2012/13)	$15,000	$7,500
Left school in fiscal years 2013 and 2014 (FY2013/14)	$15,000	$8,250
Left school in fiscal years 2014 and 2015 (FY2014/15)	$15,448	$8,250
Left school in fiscal years 2015 and 2016 (FY2015/16)	$15,000	$8,450
Left school in fiscal years 2016 and 2017 (FY2016/17)	$15,000	$9,500
Left school in fiscal years 2017 and 2018 (FY2017/18)	$15,721	$11,250
Left school in fiscal years 2018 and 2019 (FY2018/19)	$15,526	$12,000
Left school in fiscal years 2019 and 2020 (FY2019/20)	$15,513	$11,908
Left school in fiscal years 2020 and 2021 (FY2020/21)	$15,000	$12,000

NSLDS GRAD_DEBT_MDN / WDRAW_DEBT_MDN, merged FY periods · via College Scorecard

Earnings after entry

Historical student groups

Median annual earnings after entering college, for federally aided students who were working and not enrolled when measured.

Entered: academic years 2013–14 or 2014–15

$62,448

6 years after entry

Entered: academic years 2011–12 or 2012–13

$70,420

8 years after entry

Entered: academic years 2009–10 or 2010–11

$78,988

10 years after entry

Each figure covers a different group of students who entered college in the stated years. Earnings were measured in the same two years; these are not one group followed over time.

Measured in 2020–21, adjusted for inflation to 2022 dollars. Each figure pools two entering academic years.

Treasury Pooled entering cohorts · Scorecard 2020–21 historical file

What does the admissions record show?

Rates and score ranges describe a past admissions cycle. Submitted scores are not cutoffs or a prediction of admission.

Admissions snapshot & test policies

San Jose State University admitted 31,419 of 37,132 applicants in Fall 2024. The 84.6% rate describes that application pool.

84.6%

acceptance rate · Fall 2024 admissions cycle

rate trend $7,992 in-state tuition · 2023–24 27,601 undergraduates · Fall 2024

Tests not considered · Fall 2024

Not sure where you stand? Estimate your GPA →

Admissions

In the Fall 2024 cycle, San Jose State University received 37,132 applications and admitted 31,419 (84.6%), with 4,604 enrolling.

San Jose State University did not consider scores in the Fall 2024 admissions cycle. No score range is displayed for San Jose State University under that historical policy.

Check current requirements with admissions.

Acceptance rate

84.6%Fall 2024Skip to data table

The share of applicants offered a spot — lower means more selective; read it alongside the score ranges below.

Acceptance rate — data
Year	Acceptance rate
Fall 2001	71.8%
Fall 2002	72.6%
Fall 2003	71.9%
Fall 2004	51.9%
Fall 2005	65.8%
Fall 2006	65%
Fall 2007	64.3%
Fall 2008	64.3%
Fall 2009	66.2%
Fall 2010	74.4%
Fall 2011	56.6%
Fall 2012	75.1%
Fall 2013	63.5%
Fall 2014	59.9%
Fall 2015	55.2%
Fall 2016	53.4%
Fall 2017	66.9%
Fall 2018	54.7%
Fall 2019	63.6%
Fall 2020	67.4%
Fall 2021	84.4%
Fall 2022	76.7%
Fall 2023	80.2%
Fall 2024	84.6%

IPEDS Fall cycles 2001–2024

SAT range (section sums, 25th–75th)

1010–1240Fall 2020 · submittersSkip to data table

Sums of the reading/writing and math percentiles among enrolled submitters — not percentiles of total SAT scores or admission cutoffs.

SAT range (section sums) — data
Year	25th	75th
Fall 2001	860	1130
Fall 2002	860	1110
Fall 2003	860	1100
Fall 2004	870	1110
Fall 2005	890	1130
Fall 2006	870	1100
Fall 2007	880	1110
Fall 2008	880	1110
Fall 2009	880	1120
Fall 2010	900	1120
Fall 2011	910	1150
Fall 2012	890	1120
Fall 2013	910	1150
Fall 2014	920	1160
Fall 2015	920	1180
Fall 2016	920	1150
Fall 2017	1000	1210
Fall 2018	1030	1260
Fall 2019	1020	1260
Fall 2020	1010	1240

IPEDS Fall 2001–2020, submitters only

ACT middle 50%

19–26Fall 2020 · submittersSkip to data table

The middle half of enrolled ACT submitters, using published composite-score percentiles — not admission cutoffs.

ACT middle 50% — data
Year	25th	75th
Fall 2005	17	23
Fall 2006	17	23
Fall 2007	18	23
Fall 2008	18	23
Fall 2009	18	24
Fall 2010	18	24
Fall 2011	19	25
Fall 2012	18	24
Fall 2013	19	25
Fall 2014	19	25
Fall 2015	20	26
Fall 2016	20	25
Fall 2017	19	26
Fall 2018	19	26
Fall 2019	18	27
Fall 2020	19	26

IPEDS Fall 2005–2020, submitters only

What is the campus like?

Enrollment counts a campus population; retention follows first-years returning. Their dates and populations are shown separately.

Undergraduate enrollment

27,601Fall 2024Skip to data table

Reported undergraduate enrollment. This count does not measure class size or teaching access.

Undergraduate enrollment at San Jose State University rose from 22,782 (Fall 2002) to 27,601 (Fall 2024).

Undergraduate enrollment — data
Year	Undergraduates
Fall 2002	22,782
Fall 2003	21,396
Fall 2004	21,663
Fall 2005	22,733
Fall 2006	22,482
Fall 2007	24,180
Fall 2008	24,985
Fall 2009	24,035
Fall 2010	22,841
Fall 2011	24,608
Fall 2012	25,046
Fall 2013	25,723
Fall 2014	26,528
Fall 2015	26,670
Fall 2016	26,253
Fall 2017	27,591
Fall 2018	27,125
Fall 2019	27,723
Fall 2020	27,614
Fall 2021	28,190
Fall 2022	26,735
Fall 2023	26,757
Fall 2024	27,601

IPEDS Fall headcounts 2002–2024

First-year retention (full-time)

87%Fall 2023 cohortSkip to data table

The share of the reported first-time student group who returned the following year. This rate does not explain why others left.

First-year retention at San Jose State University has held near 87% from Fall 2003 to Fall 2023.

First-year retention — data
Year	Retention
Fall 2003 cohort	82%
Fall 2004 cohort	82%
Fall 2005 cohort	80%
Fall 2006 cohort	80%
Fall 2007 cohort	80%
Fall 2008 cohort	81%
Fall 2009 cohort	85%
Fall 2010 cohort	87%
Fall 2011 cohort	83%
Fall 2012 cohort	88%
Fall 2013 cohort	87%
Fall 2014 cohort	86%
Fall 2015 cohort	87%
Fall 2016 cohort	87%
Fall 2017 cohort	83%
Fall 2018 cohort	87%
Fall 2019 cohort	86%
Fall 2020 cohort	89%
Fall 2021 cohort	85%
Fall 2022 cohort	86%
Fall 2023 cohort	87%

IPEDS Full-time cohorts 2003–2023

More about San Jose State University

35.2% of San Jose State University's undergraduates carry Pell grants — the standard federal marker of lower-income enrollment. Carnegie classes San Jose State University as a primarily nonresidential campus — most of its 27,601 undergraduates live off campus, and 86.8% of the reported first-time, full-time student group returned for a second year.

San Jose State University reported not considering test scores in Fall 2024, when its admission rate was 84.6%. Review San Jose State University's current requirements before applying; use the GPA calculator for your semester numbers.

Why some charts are marked “key chart”

key chart

Start with three useful questions: what costs were reported for families in your income band, how many first-time full-time students finished, and what federal debt borrowers held when leaving.

How San Jose State University compares

State and national medians cover active bachelor-primary institutions, mixing public and private schools. Tuition uses in-state rates at public schools. These are broad reference points, not a ranking of similar schools or your likely bill.

Scorecard dates identify the release snapshot, not a shared measurement year. Earnings describe federally aided students who were working and not enrolled ten years after entry; cohorts and populations differ from the admissions and tuition figures.

Acceptance rate

Fall 2024 admissions cycle · IPEDS

San Jose State University84.6%

California median74.4%

National median76.8%

Tuition (in-state)

Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot · published tuition before aid

San Jose State University$8,410

California median$23,000

National median$19,591

Median earnings (10 yr)

Ten years after entry · Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot

San Jose State University's snapshot: calendar years and dollar basis unverified.

San Jose State University$78,988

California median$64,778

National median$53,781

View comparison data & dates

San Jose State University, California and national reference values
Metric & basis	San Jose State University	California median	National median
Acceptance rateFall 2024 admissions cycle · IPEDS	84.6%	74.4%	76.8%
Tuition (in-state)Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot · published tuition before aid	$8,410	$23,000	$19,591
Median earnings (10 yr)Ten years after entry · Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot	$78,988	$64,778	$53,781

Frequently asked questions

What test-score data does San Jose State University report?

San Jose State University did not consider scores in Fall 2024: 84.6% admitted. Check current requirements.

What is San Jose State University's acceptance rate?

84.6% in the Fall 2024 cycle — 31,419 admitted from 37,132 applicants.

How much does San Jose State University cost?

In-state tuition is $8,410; out-of-state students pay $21,010. Fees, housing and aid move the real total in both directions.

What earnings data does San Jose State University report?

Median earnings ten years after entry: $78,988. Source and date limits.

Similar colleges in California

University of San Francisco — 61.7% admitted
Vanguard University of Southern California — 62.4% admitted
University of Redlands — 82.7% admitted
Southern California Institute of Architecture — 76.6% admitted

Run your own numbers

Data: IPEDS ADM2024 (Fall 2024 admissions, provisional) · IPEDS HD2024/IC2024 directory · College Scorecard 2026-06-10 release (institution and field-of-study files; earnings from Treasury records). Retrieved 2026-09-01. Chart dates follow this institution's available observations; the release date is not an academic year or an earnings year. Some records end earlier than others. Read the date and population definitions.