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, powered by a 0.799 earnings premium, 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 average 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. 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 5% of the schools we score, 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 |
| Average 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), which covers tuition and fees only. The net price counts books, supplies, and average living costs on top of tuition and fees, then subtracts grants and scholarships. For the average student here it comes to $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.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $15,000, which works out to about $159 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($47,200) and comes to 0.32, which in our view is 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. 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.
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.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 77.9% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 83.5% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 77.3% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 80.7% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How San Jose State University’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
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 ROI is 91. Its earnings premium is 0.799, reflecting Silicon Valley labor market proximity. SJSU's primary competitive disadvantage is its 69.2% completion rate.
| 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. 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.
Median debt of $15,000 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $47,200 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.32, under the 1.0 point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings. Your major matters a lot here: graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
San Jose State University: Common Questions
Is San Jose State University worth it?
In our view, yes - for most students San Jose State University pays off. It scores 91/100 on our ROI scale. You'd pay about $13,760 a year after aid ($55,040 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $78,988 ten years after enrollment, so the cost takes roughly 4.4 years to earn back.
How much does San Jose State University cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $13,760 a year, or roughly $55,040 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do San Jose State University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $78,988 ten years after enrolling, roughly $37,188 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off San Jose State University?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 4.4 years for San Jose State University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do San Jose State University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $15,000, against average earnings of $47,200 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.32. In our view that is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
What is the graduation rate at San Jose State University?
The six-year graduation rate is 69.2%, at or above the 64% national average for four-year schools (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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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.