Quad

San Jose State University

San Jose, CAQuad's selectivityAccessible
Known forAdmits women at a higher rateBig campusFirst-gen friendlyHigh earners
WebsiteAdmissionsApplyVisitFinancial aid

Admissions · Fall 2024

8 in 10 applicants admitted

San Jose State admits about 8 in 10 applicants (85%). That puts it in the "Accessible" tier, more selective than 35% of the 1,547 colleges that report admissions.

85%

85%

acceptance rateQuad's selectivityAccessible

Applied

37,132

Admitted

31,419

Yield

15%

of admits enroll

Applications +25% since fall 2014 · admit rate 60% → 85%Over time

Getting in, in detail: funnel, what they look at, your scores

Students

Who's on campus

A large campus of 27,601 undergrads, where 35% receive Pell Grants, a typical share compared to other colleges.

27.6K

undergrads · larger than 97% of colleges

Diversity index

0.72

Pell Grant

35%

about the median

First generation

49%

above the median

Large cityNCAA D-I FBS · Mountain West ConferenceROTCStudy abroadUndergrad research
Less diverse · index 0.76 → 0.72 since fall 2014Over time

Students and campus life in detail

Academics

Majors and faculty

The most popular major is Business Administration and Management, General (25% of graduates). 25 students for every faculty member, more than at 97% of colleges. 44% of faculty are full-time. Spends $9,020 a year on instruction per student.

25 to 1

students per faculty member · more than at 97% of colleges

Most popular major

Business Administration and Management, General

25% of 2024–25 graduates

Full-time faculty

44%

of faculty

Instruction spending

$9K

per student a year

All majors with search, earnings by major, and faculty

Cost & aid · 2023–24

What it costs

In 2023–24, the average first-year paid an estimated $24,978 in total (tuition, housing, food, books and other costs, after grants), about the national median. The 63% who received grants paid $13,892 on average; the other 37% paid the full sticker price of $32,310 in-state / $44,190 out-of-state.

24%

$25K

average total cost per year, all first-years, after grants (est.) · about the national median

$0$110K$400K+
Full price, in-state
$32,310 a year
tuition, housing, food, books, and other costs
Need-based aid
Published data end at $110K
use the college's net price calculator for higher incomes
Aid generosity

Limited

grants cover 24% of full price

Federal loans

20%

of undergrads · national median 45%

Your price

Net price calculator

the college's own

Financial aid

Financial aid office Veterans' benefits
Cost steady · +2% after inflation since 2013–14Over time

Prices, who gets aid, and borrowing in detail

Outcomes

What it pays

Former students earn a median $78,988 ten years after enrolling, more than at 91% of colleges; 78% graduate within six years. Four years of net price is about 1.3 years of that salary.

78%

78%

graduate within six years · national median 59%

Median earnings

$79K

10 years after entry

Median debt

$15K

≈ $159/month for 10 years

Retention

87%

come back for year two

Graduation rate 52% → 69% since the class that entered fall 2008Over time

Earnings, finishing, 8-year outcomes, by group

Over time · since 2013–14

How it's changed

Since 2013–14, the full price rose 3% after inflation, and what the average first-year paid moved with it. Applications rose 25% since fall 2014, and the acceptance rate went from 60% to 85%.

  • Cost

    Steady

    +2% after inflation

  • Applications

    Growing

    +25%

  • Selectivity

    Less selective

    admit rate 60% → 85%

  • Diversity

    Less diverse

    index 0.76 → 0.72

Every series, year by year

Keep exploring

Schools like this one

Towson University

82% admit · SAT 1093 · 16.1K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar sizeAlso public
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The University of Arizona Global Campus

20.2K undergrads

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University of Alabama at Birmingham

88% admit · SAT 1330 · 11.6K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar sizeAlso public
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University of North Carolina at Charlotte

78% admit · SAT 1245 · 25.8K undergrads

Similar sizeAlso public
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Sources for this overviewEvery dataset and year behind the numbers on this profile; tap any ⓘ for one number's source

Sources for this profile

  1. 1
    IPEDS directory (Institutional Characteristics: HD)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  2. 2
    College Scorecard

    U.S. Department of Education · most recent release; Entered fall 2023; Fall 2024; 2023–24; Fall 2023 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  3. 3
    IPEDS Admissions survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  4. 4
    IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  5. 5
    IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  6. 6
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part D)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  7. 7
    IPEDS Completions survey (degrees awarded by field)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2024–25 graduates · retrieved 2026-10-12

  8. 8
    College Scorecard Field of Study data

    U.S. Department of Education · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12

  9. 9
    IPEDS Finance survey, derived per-student figures

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  10. 10
    IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  11. 11
    Common Data Set

    Each college (voluntary, standardized template) · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12

  12. 12
    IPEDS Graduation Rates survey (Pell Grant and subsidized loan recipients)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Entered fall 2018 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  13. 13
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part C, residence of first-time students)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  14. 14
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part A, enrollment by level)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  15. 15
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (distance education)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  16. 16
    IPEDS Salaries survey (SAL, instructional staff, all ranks)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  17. 17
    IPEDS Outcome Measures survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Students entering fall 2016 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  18. 18
    San Jose State University (2026)

    San Jose State University · 2026 · retrieved 2026-10-04

IPEDS unit ID 122755 · Data retrieved 2026-10-12. Tap any ⓘ to see where that number came from and what year it describes. National ranks and medians include every 4-year college that reports the measure. How we source and calculate everything