San Jose State University
San Jose, California · Public · 84.6% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 91/100 · Exceptional Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
San Jose State University scores 91 (Exceptional Value) on the CampusROI scale - the second-highest tier - powered by a 0.799 earnings premium (one of the highest in the database), a 4.4-year payback period, and median debt of only $15,000. Located in Silicon Valley, SJSU benefits from labor market geography: graduates enter a technology and engineering ecosystem that is among the deepest in the world. Net price of $13,760 against $47,200 median 6-year earnings creates an efficient ROI equation. The 69.2% completion rate is the one drag on an otherwise exceptional profile - nearly one in three students does not graduate. In-state tuition of $8,410 makes SJSU one of the most affordable paths into high-earning tech and engineering fields in the country. Scorecard does not report program-level earnings data for SJSU (empty programs array), so the aggregate figures must do the work here. The 83.5% repayment rate and $78,988 median 10-year earnings confirm strong long-run graduate outcomes.
San Jose State University scores in the top 10% of all schools we track, with strong earnings outcomes relative to cost.
San Jose State University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $8,410/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $21,010/yr |
| Average net price | $13,760/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $55,040 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $78,988 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $47,200 |
| Median debt at graduation | $15,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $159 |
| Estimated payback period | 4.4 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 69.2% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 27,601 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $8,410/year ($21,010/year out-of-state). Here's the part that matters - almost nobody pays that. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $13,760/year, or roughly $55,040 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $9,730/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $22,862/year.
Most students borrow to get here. The median graduate leaves owing $15,000 in federal loans, which works out to about $159 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Hold that up against the $78,988 the typical graduate earns ten years out: the debt-to-earnings ratio comes to 0.32, comfortably manageable.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $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 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
The 0-30000 bracket pays $9,730 net price at SJSU. At this cost level and $47,200 median earnings, low-income students who graduate have one of the strongest ROI profiles of any public university on this site. The Bay Area's high cost of living creates financial pressure during school, but the labor market on exit is unmatched. Low-income students face the completion-rate risk (69.2%) as the primary financial hazard.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 48001-75000 bracket pays $12,099, rising to $15,102 for the 75001-110000 bracket. These are low net prices relative to the California private university market. Middle-income families can access Silicon Valley employer networks at a fraction of the cost of Stanford or UC Berkeley, with earnings outcomes that, at 10 years ($78,988 median), approach those of much more expensive institutions.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
The 110001-plus bracket pays $22,862 per year. At $13,760 average net price and a 4.4-year payback, SJSU's value case is strong even at the higher end of the income distribution. Higher-income families who can afford private universities but whose children want STEM careers in Silicon Valley should seriously consider SJSU's outcomes data before paying $60,000+ per year elsewhere.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 77.9% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 83.5% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 77.3% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 80.7% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How San Jose State University’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2023).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 84.6% |
| Enrollment | 27,601 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 35.2% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $12,896 |
SJSU admits 84.6% of applicants. Scorecard does not report test score ranges. The school is broadly accessible but programs vary in selectivity - engineering and CS tend to have higher internal competition. Location in San Jose creates employer proximity advantages not captured in Scorecard earnings data alone.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
SJSU's Scorecard peers include Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, George Mason University, University of Utah, and University of Minnesota Twin Cities. At ROI 91, SJSU edges most of this peer group. Its earnings premium of 0.799 is among the highest in the database, reflecting Silicon Valley labor market proximity. Cal Poly SLO is a strong comparison with similar engineering focus and public pricing. University of Utah (ROI 84) is a solid regional peer. SJSU's primary competitive disadvantage is its 69.2% completion rate, which is below Cal Poly SLO and U of Utah.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose State University (this school) | 91 | $13,760 | $78,988 |
| California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo | 96 | $16,665 | $90,768 |
| University of Minnesota-Twin Cities | 88 | $16,778 | $69,020 |
| George Mason University | 86 | $17,915 | $76,343 |
| University of Utah | 84 | $16,200 | $67,170 |
| California State University-Bakersfield | 75 | $5,652 | $59,009 |
Head-to-Head ROI Comparisons
See San Jose State University side by side with similar schools on ROI, cost, earnings, and debt.
Who Thrives Here
SJSU admits 84.6% of applicants - moderately accessible for a California State University campus. Scorecard does not report SAT or ACT score data for this institution. With 27,601 enrolled undergraduates, SJSU is a large urban university in the heart of Silicon Valley. Pell grant rate of 35.2% reflects significant first-generation and lower-income enrollment. SJSU is an exceptional value for students headed into engineering, computer science, and business who want proximity to Silicon Valley employers at a public school price. The 69.2% completion rate means students should enter with a realistic support plan.
The Verdict: The Investment Pays Off
If you're asking whether San Jose State University is worth it, the short answer is yes - it's one of the strongest money decisions in higher education. Four years here run about $55,040 after aid, and the typical graduate earns $78,988 ten years out. That earnings head start covers the cost in roughly 4.4 years, well ahead of most schools.
What it has going for it: a strong earnings premium over high school graduates, its 69.2% graduation rate, manageable debt relative to earnings, high loan repayment success.
On debt, you can breathe a little easier here. A median $15,000 owed against $78,988 in annual earnings is very manageable - comfortably inside the advisor rule of thumb that total debt should not exceed first-year salary.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.