San José State University College Portrait
San José State UniversitySan Jose, CA 95192
(408) 924-1000
San José State University
San Jos State University is a major, comprehensive public university located in the center of San Jos and in the heart of Silicon Valley. SJSU is the oldest state university in California. Its distinctive character has been forged by its long history, by its location, and by its vision - a blend of the old and the new, of the traditional and the innovative. Among its most prized traditions is an uncompromising commitment to offer access to higher education to all persons who meet the criteria for admission, yielding a stimulating mix of age groups, cultures, and economic backgrounds for teaching, learning, and research. SJSU takes pride in and is firmly committed to teaching and learning, with a faculty that is active in scholarship, research, technological innovation, community service, and the arts.
Living in the San José State Community
Located in the heart of Silicon Valley, the world’s high-tech capital, San José State University is an exceptional place to pursue undergraduate or graduate study. From its beautiful, tree-lined campus in downtown San José, the university sends more business, engineering, education and computer science graduates into Silicon Valley than any other school. Serving a student body of more than 34,000, San José State offers degrees in more than 134 programs and concentrations. Students benefit from the excitement of studying at a large, urban university—a true crossroads of cultures—in the nation’s 10th largest city. Yet they enjoy the personal attention of faculty within the smaller setting of the university’s seven colleges. Founded in 1857, SJSU is the oldest public institution of higher education on the West Coast. Today the university is recognized for its award-winning faculty, high-achieving students, cutting-edge programs and innovative collaborations with the community and the corporate world.
The Big Picture: How many students were on campus in Fall 2010?
More Information
| Total Students | 29,076 | |
|---|---|---|
Undergraduate Snapshot
| Total Undergraduate Students | 23,021 | |
|---|---|---|
| Gender | ||
| Women | 11,827 | 51% |
| Men | 11,194 | 49% |
| Race/Ethnicity | ||
| American Indian / Alaskan Native | 62 | <1% |
| Asian | 7,432 | 32% |
| African American / Black | 960 | 4% |
| Hispanic | 5,236 | 23% |
| Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander | 158 | 1% |
| White | 5,957 | 26% |
| Two or More Races | 802 | 3% |
| International | 977 | 4% |
| Race/Ethnicity Not Reported | 1,437 | 6% |
| Where do SJSU undergraduates call home? | |
|---|---|
| California | 96% |
| Other US States & Territories | 1% |
| Other Countries | 3% |
| Residency Unknown | <1% |
| How old are SJSU undergraduates? | |
| Average Age | 23 |
| Percent of Undergraduates Age 25 or Older | 22% |
New Student Applications (Fall 2010)
New Freshmen High School Background and Test Scores
Test(s) Required for Admission: SAT or ACT recommended
| Test Scores of Enrolled New Freshmen | ACT | SAT |
|---|---|---|
| Composite | 19 - 25 | |
| Math | 19 - 26 | 470 - 590 |
| English | 18 - 24 | |
| Critical Reading | 440 - 560 |
50% of admitted students have test scores within the ranges listed, 25% have scores above, and 25% have scores below.
| High School Background of Enrolled New Freshmen | ||
|---|---|---|
| Percent in top 25% of High School Graduating Class | 7% | |
| Percent in top 50% of High School Graduating Class | 95% | |
| Percent of New Freshmen who submitted HS GPA | 97% | |
| Average High School GPA (4-point scale) | 3.28 | |
| Percent who submitted High School GPA | 100% | |
Sticker Price: How much does it cost on average?
Typical Undergraduate Costs for 2009-10 without Financial Aid (Full-Time, In-State Students)
Total Typical Cost of Attendance: $21,726
Out-of-State & Other Costs
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The cost to attend San José State University varies based on the individual circumstances of students and may be reduced through grants and scholarships.
How much would I pay?
Financial Aid: How much help is there to pay?
Scholarships & Grants
- 39% of 2009-10 full-time undergraduates received need-based grants or scholarships; the average award for the year was $7,840. Scholarships and grants are financial aid that does not need to be repaid and is sometimes referred to as gift aid.
Annual Need-Based Loans
- 27% of 2009-10 full-time undergraduates received need-based work-study and/or loans (not including parent loans); the average loan for the year was $4,310. Loans need to be repaid. Typically, repayment starts once you are no longer enrolled full-time. Please refer to page 12 of the Funding Education Beyond High School guide on the US Department of Education's Federal Student Aid website for more information about Financial Need.
Percent of 2009-2010 Full-time Beginning Students Receiving Each Type of Financial Aid
NOTE: Students may receive aid from more than one source.
SJSU Classes & Instructors
| Classroom Environment | |
|---|---|
| Students per Faculty | 25 to 1 |
| Undergraduate classes with fewer than 30 students | <1% |
| Undergraduate classes with fewer than 50 students | <1% |
| Total Full-Time Instructional Faculty | 640 |
| % of Full-Time Instructional Faculty Who Are Female | 46% |
| % of Full-Time Instructional Faculty Who Are Persons of Color | 30% |
| % of Full-Time Instructional Faculty Who Have the Highest Academic Degree Offered in Their Field of Study | <1% |
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Campus-based Housing
46% of new freshmen live in campus-based housing or residence halls.
12% of all undergraduates live on campus
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Campus Safety
The safety and security of students, faculty and staff at San Jose State is the full-time responsibility of the University Police Department. A force of 32 sworn positions provides protection of the campus itself, ensures the orderly flow of traffic and enforces parking regulations. UPD officers patrol near campus, where many students live, and works with other police agencies on enforcement and investigation.
Campus Crime Statistics
Carnegie Classification of Institutional Characteristics
The Carnegie Classification's were created "to reference the great diversity of colleges and universities in the United States, and ... enable [people] to identify groups of roughly comparable institutions." For information on the Carnegie Classifications system, please visit their website: http://classifications.carnegiefoundation.org/
- Basic Type
- Master's Colleges and Universities (larger programs)
- Size and Setting
- Medium four-year, primarily nonresidential
- Enrollment Profile
- High undergraduate
- Undergraduate Profile
- Medium full-time four-year, selective, higher transfer-in
- Undergraduate Instructional Program
- Balanced arts & sciences/professions, high graduate coexistence
- Graduate Instructional Program
- Postbaccalaureate comprehensive
NOTE: Institutional classifications based on the Carnegie 2005 edition.
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Student Activities and Involvement at SJSU
Students who are actively involved in their own learning and development are more likely to be successful in college. Colleges and universities offer students a wide variety of opportunities both inside and outside the classroom to become engaged with new ideas, people, and experiences. Institutions measure the effectiveness of these opportunities in a variety of ways to better understand what types of activities and programs students find the most helpful.
Institutions participating in the VSA program measure student involvement on campus using one of four national surveys. Results from the one survey are reported for a common set of questions selected as part of VSA. Following are the selected results from the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE). The questions have been grouped together in categories that are known to contribute to student learning and development. The results reported below are based on the responses of seniors who participated in the survey.
Group Learning Experiences
- 95% percent of seniors worked with classmates on assignments outside of class.
- 58% of seniors tutored or taught other students
- 17% of seniors spent at least 6 hours per week participating in co-curricular activities such as student organizations and intramural sports
Active Learning Experiences
- 84% of seniors spent at least 6 hours per week preparing for class
- 16% of seniors worked on a research project with a faculty member
- 47% of seniors participated in an internship, practicum, or field experience
- 52% of seniors participated in community service or volunteer work
- 7% of seniors participated in study abroad
- 98% of seniors made at least one class presentation last year
Institutional Commitment to Student Learning and Success
- 92% of seniors believe this institution provides support for student success
- 58% of seniors rated the quality of academic advising at this institution as good or excellent
- 61% of seniors reported that this institution provided help in coping with work, family and other non-academic responsibilities
- 94% of seniors reported working harder than they thought they could to meet an instructor's standards or expectations
Student Interaction with Campus Faculty and Staff
- 35% of seniors believed that the campus staff were helpful, considerate, or flexible
- 66% of seniors believed that faculty are available, helpful, or sympathetic
- 94% of seniors reported that faculty members provided prompt feedback on their academic performance
- 67% of seniors discussed readings or ideas with faculty members outside of class
Experiences with Diverse Groups of People and Ideas
- 60% of seniors reported that they often tried to understand someone else's point of view
- 86% of seniors reported their experience at this institution contributed to their understanding people of other racial and ethnic backgrounds
- 65% of seniors often had serious conversations with students of a different race or ethnicity
Student Satisfaction
- 77% of seniors would attend this institution if they started over again
- 79% of seniors rated their entire educational experience as good or excellent
- 76% of seniors reported that other students were friendly or supportive
Evaluation of Experiences
Survey Administration Process
Survey Information
Majors and Degrees
| Degrees awarded at San José State University in 2009-10 | |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's | 5,061 |
| Master's | 2,743 |
| Total | 7,804 |
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| Areas of Study with the largest number of bachelor's degrees awarded in 2009-10 | |
|---|---|
| BUSINESS, MANAGEMENT, MARKETING, AND RELATED SUPPORT SERVICES | 28% |
| Psychology, General | 6% |
| Fine and Studio Arts | 5% |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | 4% |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 4% |
| Links to degree programs at San José State University |
|---|
Bachelor'sMaster's |
Future Plans of 2009-10 Bachelor's Degree Recipients
Survey Administration Process
Student Success & Progress Rate
A 90% four-year success and progress rate means that 90% of students starting in Fall 2004 either graduated or are still enrolled at a higher education institution four years later.
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Counts for the Fall 2004 entering class shown in the graph above.
- 2,277 First-Time, Full-Time Students
- 1,372 Full-Time Transfer Students
Success & Progress Rate Table
Retention of Freshman Class
First-time students in Fall 2009 that returned for their second year: 85%
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Student Learning at San José State University
All colleges and universities use multiple approaches to measure student learning. Many of these are specific to particular disciplines, many are coordinated with accrediting agencies, and many are based on outcomes after students have graduated.
As part of San José State University’s commitment to graduating well educated students, assessment of student learning is integrated into all components of the curriculum. The development of student learning outcomes for courses, degree programs, and general education is overseen by committees at the department, college, and university levels. Assessment of student learning is likewise a shared responsibility at each of these levels and is overseen by the Associate Vice Presidents for Undergraduate Studies and for Graduate Studies and Research with the support of the Director of Assessment and assessment coordinators for each of the seven colleges.
Learning Assessment Examples
Pilot Project to Measure Core Learning Outcomes
Colleges and universities participating in the College Portrait measure the typical improvement in students' abilities to think, reason, and write using one of three tests. This is part of a pilot project to better understand and compare what students learn between their freshman and senior years at different colleges and universities.
2010-10 Results from the Collegiate Learning Assessment
The Collegiate Learning Assessment (CLA) measures critical thinking, analytic reasoning, problem solving, and written communication using a performance task and an analytic writing task. The scores from the tasks are reported separately below.
Test Administration Process
Test Information
Performance Task Results for First-time, Full-time Students
The increase in learning on the performance task is at or near what would be expected at an institution testing students of similar academic abilities.
Freshman Score: 1030
Senior Score: 1097
CLA score range: 400 to no maximum score.
Average EEA scores for tested students
Freshman Score: 1017
Senior Score: 968
Analytic Writing Task Results for First-time, Full-time Students
The increase in learning on the analytic writing task is above what would be expected at an institution testing students of similar academic abilities.
Freshman Score: 1095
Senior Score: 1190
CLA score range: 400 to no maximum score.
Average EEA scores for tested students
Freshman Score: 1030
Senior Score: 977