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San Jose , CA
San Jose State University (SJSU) is a public university located in downtown San Jose, California. Established in 1857, SJSU is the oldest public institution of higher education on the West Coast. The university offers more than 145 areas of study through its eight colleges, which include business, engineering, health and human sciences, and social sciences. With a strong focus on innovation and entrepreneurship, SJSU provides students with numerous opportunities for experiential learning, industry partnerships, and research collaborations.
SJSU is known for its diverse student body and welcoming campus community. With a total enrollment of over 36,000 students, it offers a vibrant multicultural environment where students from various backgrounds can thrive. The university is also renowned for its leading programs in fields such as engineering, computer science, business, and journalism. Additionally, students have access to state-of-the-art facilities, including research centers, laboratories, and the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Library, which is the largest library in the region.
Apart from its strong academic reputation, SJSU also offers a wide range of extracurricular activities and organizations, enabling students to develop leadership skills, engage in community service, and pursue their interests outside the classroom. The university's location in the heart of Silicon Valley provides students with excellent internship and job opportunities in the thriving tech industry. With its commitment to providing a comprehensive education, fostering innovation, and preparing students for successful careers, San Jose State University continues to be a top choice for students seeking a dynamic and well-rounded higher education experience.
Located in San Jose, CA and set in an urban environment, San Jose State University is a public four-year college. This school uses a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 84%. The freshman retention rate at San Jose State University is 86.79% and the six-year graduation rate is 69%.
The freshmen application deadline for this school is November 30. For transfer students, the application deadline is December 2.
Here are some latest data on important things to consider about San Jose State University.
Quick Facts
28,008
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
26:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
69%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
In order to increase your chances of getting admitted, you need to know as much as possible about the institution's criteria for admission. What are the admission requirements for San Jose State University?
In 2025, the school accepted 31,419 new students.
Test Scores
16% of the first-year students submitted SAT composite scores between 1,400 and 1,600, 32% between 1,200 and 1,399, 38% between 1,000 and 1,199, and 13% between 800 and 999. The percent of first-year students who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 27, 53 between 24-29, 13 in the range between 18-23, and 7 between 12-17.
The latest reported average GPA of the enrolled students was 3.53. Accordingly, you'll probably need an above-average GPA in order to be granted acceptance.
Deadlines
Be sure to apply to this school by November 30. If you are thinking about applying as a transfer student, note that the application deadline is December 2.
Retention Rate
The freshman retention rate is defined as the percentage of first-year students who return for their sophomore year at a college or university. Why is that information important? Because it tells you if the majority of freshmen enjoyed their first year at a school enough to come back.
The freshman retention rate for San Jose State University was 86.79% in 2025, a clear indication of the excellence and value of the educational experience at this school.
The graduation rate is another indicator to take into account. It provides valuable insight into the percentage of students who complete their studies within a designated timeframe. The six-year completion rate at this institution is 69%, which is considered an above-average graduation rate.
Student Body
It is never easy to figure out which school is the perfect fit for you. You can have a better understanding of the school's culture and way of life by finding out more about the student body.
Main Student Body
In 2025, the school had an enrollment of 37,661 students.
That year, the institution had an out-of-state student body percentage of 1. There was a total of 28,008 undergrad students, including 1,395 international students. 3,351 students were accepted as transfer students.
Student Population Gender Ratio
With a coeducational student body, the school had 13,609 male and 13,978 female full-time students in 2025.
Student Population Diversity
Higer Education is committed to expanding the diversity of its student body and improving students' sense of inclusion and belonging. Diversity promotes critical thinking, challenges preconceived notions, and encourages intellectual growth, so it helps students develop empathy and a broader understanding of the world. Discover more about the many ethnic communities that go to this school.
This school had 10,686 Asian students and 975 Afro-American students in 2025. 8,696 undergrads at this school identified as Hispanic/Latino and 1,484 as multirace. The school also had 128 students who declared as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, and 19 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 1,208 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
Financial planning for school is one of the most important things to consider before you apply. Here are some details you should know about the cost of attendance for San Jose State University.
Tuition and Fees
Here are some numbers that can help you better understand the estimated tuition price for this university.
If you are an area resident, your tuition was $5,742. For out-of-state students, tuition fees amounted to $17,622. If you are an international student at San Jose State University, you should know that the 2025 tuition was $17,622, as well. Full-time students in 2025 were obliged to pay additional fees in the amount of $2,250.
| Category | Tuition | Fees | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Out-of-State | $17,622 | $2,250 | $19,872 |
| In-State | $5,742 | $2,250 | $7,992 |
Books and Supplies
The estimated price of books and supplies for a college or university should also be taken into consideration as another significant expense. The cost of books and supplies for full-time students of this school is estimated at about $938.
Boarding
Before you apply to a college or university, you should, among other things, think about the price of a dorm room and cafeteria meals. What do schools typically charge for accommodation and meals?
In 2025, the price of room and board at San Jose State University was $16,725 per academic year. The cost of a dorm room only at this school in 2025 added up to $10,236 for one academic year.
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $ 5,742 |
| Room and Board | $ 16,725 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 938 |
| Total Expense | $ 23,405 |
Financial Aid
Getting some financial aid in forms of grants, loans, scholarships or work-study programs can be very important for completing your studies. If you want to find out more about need-based and non-need-based aid at San Jose State University, here are some recent data you should consider.
The most recent records show that 2,426 freshmen received some sort of financial help. The average amount of financial aid given to students was $15,813.
Need-based
Need-based financial aid is exactly what it sounds like — it’s awarded based on the determined financial need.
12,060 students were awarded some form of need-based financial aid. Need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid at San Jose State University is available to international students. The overall number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need was 12,585. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution came to $63,737,408, and state $96,844,296.
$3,323
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Non-need-based financial aid is any type of financial aid provided to a student who does not meet the criteria for need-based aid. The most popular forms of non-need-based financial aid for students are loans and grants, like Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the Teacher Education Access for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant.
Institutional non-need-based scholarships or grants were given to 10,830 students overall (including freshmen) at San Jose State University in 2025. 2,315 full-time freshmen were awarded institutional non-need-based scholarship or grant aid. The total amount of non-need-based institutional scholarships/grants was $642,356. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers.
Majors
Faculty
26:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
Knowing more about a school's faculty can help you gauge the caliber of the education it can provide to you.
In 2025, this ratio at San Jose State University was 26:1. That means that there were 26 times more students than teachers at this school. According to the most recent information, there are 1,874 teachers at this school. Out of that number, there were 863 male and 1,000 female faculty members. The fact that female faculty members outnumber the male ones at this school is telling of the importance gender equality has at San Jose State University.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
Knowing what to expect out of campus life at a college or university can set you up for success. Check out some info about students' life at San Jose State University.
Its campus is 154 acres in size.
Student Organizations
Involvement in student organizations can make your educational experience more dynamic and gratifying.
This number includes sororities and fraternities. Students who like music can join the San Jose State University band or chorus. For students with a talent for acting, there is a drama club. Interested in media and communication? San Jose State University publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
FAQ
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San Jose State University is located in San Jose, CA.
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San Jose State University offers need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid to international students.
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According to the latest information, the acceptance rate for San Jose State University is 84%.
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The most recent reported freshman retention rate for San Jose State University is 86.79%.
Contact Information
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved. Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
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Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
