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San Jose State University

Name: Campus Tour
Start: 2026-04-17T14:00:00
Location: San Jose State University

San Jose, California 95192-0186

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Campus Vibe

Large campusUrbanSports culture

Strong graduate outcomes — known for business

San Jose State University is a public institution in San Jose with particular strength in business and engineering.

A large campus of 26.8K undergraduates with a 18:1 student-faculty ratio. The urban location puts students at the center of city life.

65% of students graduate within four years, and graduates earn a median of $78,988 a decade after enrollment. Net price after aid averages $13,741.

Established

1857

Motto

"Powering Silicon Valley"

Mascot

Sammy Spartan

Type

Public research university

Conference

Mountain West Conference (MWC)

Division

Division I

Campus Visits

114 upcoming visits · Next: Mon, Apr 13 · Campus Tour

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80%Acceptance

—SAT Avg

26,757Students

18:1Student:Faculty

65%Grad Rate

$78,988Earnings 10yr

$13,741Net Price

News & Alerts

program2026-03-15

San Jose State University Launches New Data Science Minor

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tuition2026-02-28

Tuition Increase Announced for 2026-27

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Admissions

Acceptance Rate80.2%

Admissions Intel

Acceptance Rate

80.2%

Trend

Yield Rate

35.0%

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Cost & Financial Aid

Sticker Price

Tuition (in-state)$7,992

Tuition (out-of-state)$19,872

Room & Board$19,866

Books & Supplies$938

Total Cost of Attendance$25,695

Average Net Price$13,741

Median Debt at Graduation$15,000

Monthly Payment (10yr)$159

Net Price by Family Income

$0–30K$9,743

$30–48K$9,863

$48–75K$12,948

$75–110K$17,047

$110K+$23,401

Financial Intel

Avg Net Price

$13,741

Tuition Trend

Graduate w/ Zero Debt

7900.0%

Avg Tuition Increase

3.2%/yr

Median Debt at Grad

$12,000

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Campus Safety

Total Incidents (2024)

202

Peer Average

240

3-Year Trend

Emergency System

24/7 campus police department, blue-light phone network, emergency mass notification system

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Programs (176)

Student Life

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Student Body

Undergrads

26,757

Gender Split

48% / 52%

Women / Men

First Generation

49%

Pell Grant Recipients

35%

Race & Ethnicity

White 13%

Black 3%

Hispanic 32%

Asian 39%

Two+ 5%

Int'l 4%

Outcomes

4-Year Graduation Rate64.6%

Freshman Retention86.4%

Median Earnings After Graduation

6 Years$62,448

8 Years$70,420

10 Years$78,988

10-Year Earnings by Gender

Women

$59,000

Men

$69,200

Rankings

U.S. News

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Forbes

#87

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Washington Monthly

#30

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More About This School

Varsity Sports — Spartans

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Rankings

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History & Fun Facts

•Minns to be the principal for the nascent institution The normal school began operations in 1857 and became known as the Minns Evening Normal School.
•On May 2, 1862, the California State Senate elected to fund a state normal school and to appoint a board of trustees.
•The California State Normal School was then opened on July 21, 1862.
•Because of these issues, the Normal School moved sites six times while in San Francisco, citing noise complaints, sanitary concerns, and lack of access to proper facilities and materials.
•The school moved to San Jose in 1871 and was given Washington Square Park at S.

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Source: Wikipedia

Location & Lifestyle

Cost of Living

163Very High

Estimated from CA state average + large city premium

Climate (School Year)

Snowfall: 5"Sunny days: 250Rainy days: 75

Nearest Cities

San Franciscopop. 870K

42 mi(73 min)

Los Angelespop. 3.9M

305 mi(529 min)

San Diegopop. 1.4M

416 mi(721 min)

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Getting There

Nearest Airports

SJC San Jose3 mi

SFO San Francisco34 mi

SMF Sacramento95 mi

Distance to Cities

Boston, MA2678 mi · ~77h 22m drive

New York, NY2549 mi · ~73h 38m drive

Hartford, CT2604 mi · ~75h 14m drive

Providence, RI2667 mi · ~77h 3m drive

Albany, NY2539 mi · ~73h 21m drive

Syracuse, NY2415 mi · ~69h 46m drive

Rochester, NY2341 mi · ~67h 38m drive

Buffalo, NY2279 mi · ~65h 50m drive

Philadelphia, PA2499 mi · ~72h 12m drive

Pittsburgh, PA2242 mi · ~64h 46m drive

Harrisburg, PA2405 mi · ~69h 29m drive

Newark, NJ2540 mi · ~73h 23m drive

Washington, DC2415 mi · ~69h 46m drive

Baltimore, MD2432 mi · ~70h 15m drive

Atlanta, GA2109 mi · ~60h 56m drive

Charlotte, NC2272 mi · ~65h 38m drive

Raleigh, NC2381 mi · ~68h 47m drive

Miami, FL2558 mi · ~73h 54m drive

Orlando, FL2406 mi · ~69h 30m drive

Tampa, FL2365 mi · ~68h 19m drive

Nashville, TN1934 mi · ~55h 52m drive

New Orleans, LA1890 mi · ~54h 36m drive

Richmond, VA2415 mi · ~69h 46m drive

Chicago, IL1838 mi · ~53h 6m drive

Detroit, MI2071 mi · ~59h 50m drive

Minneapolis, MN1570 mi · ~45h 21m drive

St. Louis, MO1719 mi · ~49h 40m drive

Kansas City, MO1481 mi · ~42h 47m drive

Indianapolis, IN1925 mi · ~55h 37m drive

Columbus, OH2089 mi · ~60h 21m drive

Cleveland, OH2145 mi · ~61h 58m drive

Milwaukee, WI1823 mi · ~52h 40m drive

Dallas, TX1449 mi · ~41h 52m drive

Houston, TX1607 mi · ~46h 25m drive

Austin, TX1464 mi · ~42h 18m drive

San Antonio, TX1451 mi · ~41h 55m drive

Los Angeles, CA305 mi · ~8h 49m drive

San Francisco, CA42 mi · ~1h 13m drive

San Diego, CA416 mi · ~12h 1m drive

Seattle, WA710 mi · ~20h 31m drive

Portland, OR567 mi · ~16h 23m drive

Denver, CO926 mi · ~26h 45m drive

Phoenix, AZ614 mi · ~17h 44m drive

Salt Lake City, UT585 mi · ~16h 54m drive

Honolulu, HI2414 mi · ~69h 44m drive

Mid-Atlantic / Central (moderate winters, warm summers)

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Visit Planning

Suggested Itinerary

9:00 AMArrive & park

Visitor parking lot

Free parking with visitor pass

9:30 AMCheck in at Admissions

Admissions Office

10:00 AMInformation session

Welcome Center

45 minutes

11:00 AMCampus tour

Starts at Welcome Center

75 minutes, student-led

12:30 PMLunch

Main Dining Hall

Visitor meal passes available

1:30 PMDepartment visit

Academic buildings

Schedule with department directly

2:30 PMExplore campus independently

Library, student center, residence halls

Nearby Hotels

Mid-Range

Budget

Airport Transit

San Jose (SJC)3 miles

Rental car

5 min$40-60/day

Shuttle/rideshare

6 min$4-6

San Francisco (SFO)34 miles

Rental car

51 min$40-60/day

Shuttle/rideshare

68 min$41-68

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Schools Like This

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Deadline Calendar

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San Jose State University Application Checklist

0/9 items complete

Common Application or Coalition Application

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Official High School Transcript

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School Report + Counselor Recommendation

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Two Teacher Recommendations

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SAT or ACT Scores (test-optional)Optional

Check current test policy

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San Jose State University Supplemental EssaysNon-standard

1-3 supplemental essays required

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CSS Profile / FAFSA

Required for financial aid consideration

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Arts Portfolio (if applicable)Non-standardOptional

Required for arts programs

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Interview (recommended)Optional

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Decision Notifications

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SAT Range	Avg Award	Note
1400-1600	$25,000	Academic merit scholarship
1200-1399	$15,000	Dean's scholarship
1000-1199	$8,000	Achievement award