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San Jose State University

Public

San Jose, CA

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Located in San Jose, CA, San Jose State University is a public very large school with roughly 27,601 undergraduates. It's not highly selective, admitting a majority of applicants, admitting about 85% of applicants. On-campus housing isn't required, so many students live off campus. About 20% of students borrow federal loans here.

Admissions

Admit rate85%
SAT rangeNot reported
ACT rangeNot reported
Undergrads27,601
Yield (admits who enroll)15%
Next deadlineSingle filing period

Cost & outcomes

Cost of attendance$26,593
4-year grad rate67%
Median earnings, 10yr out$78,988

From the US Dept of Education College Scorecard, most recent year reported. Not every school reports every field.

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How San Jose State University weighs your application

From San Jose State University's own Common Data Set, 2024-25, Section C7 -- not a generic admissions checklist. What is a Common Data Set?

Academic factors
Rigor of secondary school recordNot considered
Class rankNot considered
Academic GPAVery important
Standardized test scoresNot considered
Application essayNot considered
RecommendationsNot considered
Nonacademic factors
InterviewNot considered
Extracurricular activitiesNot considered
Talent/abilityNot considered
Character/personal qualitiesNot considered
First generationConsidered
Alumni relation (legacy)Not considered
Geographical residenceImportant
State residencyImportant
Religious affiliationNot considered
Volunteer workNot considered
Work experienceNot considered
Level of interest (demonstrated interest)Not considered
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Paying it back

Undergrads taking federal loans20%
Loan balance still growing, 3yrs out74%

"Still growing" means a borrower's payments aren't yet covering interest 3 years into repayment -- not a default rate. A high number here can mean real repayment difficulty, or just a lot of grads who deferred for graduate school, so read it alongside the school's typical outcomes above.

Campus life

On-campus housingYes
Required to live on campusNo
Dormitory capacity4,261
Typical room charge$9,476
Typical board charge$6,180

Room and board are shown separately from the cost of attendance above -- that total already includes them alongside tuition and fees, this just breaks out the living-cost portion.

What matters in your application

GPARequired
Class rankNot considered
RecommendationsNot considered

From this school's own reporting to the US Dept of Education on what it formally requires, considers, or doesn't use when reviewing applications.

Frequently asked questions

What does San Jose State University look for in applicants?

Per San Jose State University's own Common Data Set (Section C7), it rates academic GPA as "very important" in admissions decisions -- its own stated top factors, not a generic guess.

What is San Jose State University's acceptance rate?

San Jose State University in San Jose, CA admits approximately 85% of applicants, based on the US Dept of Education's most recently reported figures.

How much does San Jose State University cost?

San Jose State University's total cost of attendance is reported at $26,593 per year, including tuition, fees, and room and board.

Does San Jose State University require students to live on campus?

No -- San Jose State University doesn't require students to live in on-campus housing.

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