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Summary
San Jose State University is a public institution that was founded in 1857. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 24,804, its setting is urban, and the campus size is 154 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. San Jose State University's ranking in the 2013 edition of Best Colleges is Regional Universities (West), 38. Its in-state tuition and fees are $8,884 (2012-13); out-of-state tuition and fees are $17,812 (2012-13).
Students who attend San Jose State University, or SJSU, are situated in the scenic California Bay Area and booming Silicon Valley. The campus is located in downtown San Jose, and there are a variety of on-campus housing options, including student apartments and suites. Freshmen are not guaranteed university housing, though there is usually enough room for all who apply. There are more than 350 student organizations to check out at SJSU, as well as a Greek system that prides itself on its diversity. Students can also get involved by joining or cheering on the school’s Spartans athletics squads, which compete in the NCAA Division I Western Athletic Conference. The San Jose State football team competed in the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision.
For graduate students, the school offers programs through the Lucas Graduate School of Business, among other schools. The university also operates unique research centers that study the lives and works of Nobel Prize-winning author John Steinbeck and legendary composer Beethoven. About three fourths of SJSU alumni stay in the Bay Area after graduation. Some of the school’s most notable graduates include musician Stevie Nicks and author Amy Tan. More than a dozen Olympic medalists have also graduated from SJSU, including runner Lee Evans and boxer Chuck Adkins.
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San Jose State University sits at the center of one of the most influential and innovative regions in the world; Silicon Valley. Eighty percent of the engineers and a large number of the scientists and business professionals who drive this vital engine of the global economy developed their talents at San Jose State. Graduates of its renowned animation/illustration program create new visual experiences that are transforming the entertainment industry. San Jose State has the only meteorology and climate science program in the California State University system, a program that is engaged in research on wildfires and is changing the way sustainability is taught to children. San Jose State's biomedical engineering program continues to fuel the burgeoning biomedical device industry in the Bay Area. And Spartan Film Studios gives students the opportunity to write, direct and produce award-winning feature films before they have a diploma in hand. With 134 bachelor's and master's degrees in 110 degree fields, the university is also home to strong programs in business, engineering, education, art, music, journalism, healthcare and social work that nurture the broader community. San Jose State students, and faculty and staff members embrace the notion that education is the gateway to opportunity. The cultivation of intellectual curiosity is a high priority on campus, as the skills and mindsets that students develop now will prepare them for industries and careers that do not even exist yet. San Jose State welcomes and supports a diverse student body and is proud of its distinction as a national leader in graduating minority students. It encourages and offers resources to thousands of students who are the first in their families to go to college. San Jose State offers opportunity to student athletes as well, as its 16 men's and women's teams, coaches and staff compete at the pinnacle of collegiate athletics: NCAA Division I. With more than 380 active student clubs and organizations, students can also share their interests with like-minded peers in areas ranging from ballroom dancing to urban planning. Student life is further enriched by access to unique educational resources. More than 13 million people have visited the award-winning Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library, a joint project of the city of San Jose and the university, which was a first of its kind when it opened in 2003. The campus hosts the only research facility in North America solely devoted to the life of Beethoven, with the largest collection of materials about this great composer outside of Germany. San Jose State also houses a premier center of study on the life of Nobel Prize-winning author John Steinbeck, with more than 40,000 items in its collection. Outside of campus, students have easy access to abundant recreational activities, given San Jose State's convenient geographic location between San Francisco and the beautiful Monterey coast. Find out more at http://www.sjsu.edu. |
General Information
| School type | public, coed college |
| Year founded | 1857 |
| Religious affiliation | N/A |
| Academic calendar | semester |
| Setting | urban |
| 2011 Endowment | $74,976,965 |
Applying
When applying to San Jose State University, it's important to note the application deadline is November 30. Scores for either the ACT or SAT test are due November 30. The application fee at San Jose State University is $55. It is selective, with an acceptance rate of 75.1 percent.
For more information about the tests, essays, interviews, and admissions process, visit the Applying to College knowledge center.
| Selectivity | selective |
| Fall 2011 acceptance rate | 75.1% |
| Application deadline | November 30 |
| SAT/ACT scores must be received by | November 30 |
Academic Life
The student-faculty ratio at San Jose State University is 26:1, and the school has 24.8 percent of its classes with fewer than 20 students. The most popular majors at San Jose State University include: Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services; Health Professions and Related Programs; Visual and Performing Arts; Engineering; and Psychology. The average freshman retention rate, an indicator of student satisfaction, is 83.2 percent.
Student Life
San Jose State University has a total undergraduate enrollment of 24,804, with a gender distribution of 49.5 percent male students and 50.5 percent female students. At this school, 14.0 percent of the students live in college-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing and 86.0 percent of students live off campus. San Jose State University is part of the NCAA I athletic conference.
| Total enrollment | 30,236 |
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| Collegiate athletic association | NCAA I |
Campus Info & Services
San Jose State University offers a number of student services including nonremedial tutoring, women's center, placement service, day care, health service, and health insurance. San Jose State University also offers campus safety and security services like 24-hour foot and vehicle patrols, late night transport/escort service, 24-hour emergency telephones, lighted pathways/sidewalks, student patrols, and controlled dormitory access (key, security card, etc). Of the students at San Jose State University, 47 percent have cars on campus. Alcohol is permitted for students of legal age at San Jose State University.
| Students who have cars on campus | 47% |
| Health insurance offered | Yes |
| Students required to own/lease a computer | No |
More About Campus Info & Services
Paying for School
At San Jose State University, 60.7 percent of full-time undergraduates receive some kind of need-based financial aid and the average need-based scholarship or grant award is $8,387.
Paying for college doesn't have to be difficult or devastating. Go to the Paying for College knowledge center to get advice on raising cash and reducing costs.
| In-state tuition and fees | $8,884 (2012-13) |
| Out-of-state tuition and fees | $17,812 (2012-13) |
| Room and board | $11,730 (2012-13) |
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* Overview details based on 2011 data
