CSUDH vs. San Jose State

Comparable Facts

Compare California State University Dominguez Hills in Carson, CA with San Jose State University in San Jose, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

San Jose State University is larger than CSUDH based on total student enrollment (37,661 students vs. 15,182 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California State University Dominguez Hills is located in Carson, CA (Small City setting); San Jose State University is in San Jose, CA (Large City setting).
• California State University Dominguez Hills is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. San Jose State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California State University Dominguez Hills 21:1; San Jose State University 25:1.

CSUDH vs. San Jose State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CSUDH or San Jose State? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at California State University Dominguez Hills than San Jose State ($9,175 vs. $13,892).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California State University Dominguez Hills are 12% lower than at San Jose State University ($18,444 vs. $20,971).
• San Jose State University is 12.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than CSUDH (about $961 more per year; $8,410.00 vs. $7,449.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 4.8% higher at San Jose State than at California State University Dominguez Hills (about $961 more per year; $21,010.00 vs. $20,049.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at California State University Dominguez Hills than at San Jose State University (93% vs. 63%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by California State University Dominguez Hills students is 12.9% larger than aid received by San Jose State University students ($13,951 vs. $12,353).

CSUDH vs. San Jose State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CSUDH or San Jose State? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between San Jose State and CSUDH.

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsSan Jose State University 1010/1240.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsSan Jose State University 19/26.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CSUDH - Test-free; San Jose State - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: CSUDH Dec 4, 2026; San Jose State Dec 15, 2026.
• Accepted freshman San Jose State students have a 0.19 point higher average high school GPA (3.35) than students at CSUDH (3.16).
• CSUDH has a higher acceptance rate (93.3%) than San Jose State (84.6%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.3% at CSUDH vs. 14.7% at San Jose State.

CSUDH vs. San Jose State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CSUDH and San Jose State? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• San Jose State University's six-year graduation rate (46%) is higher than California State University Dominguez Hills's (24%).
• Graduates from San Jose State University earn a median of about $13,100 more per year than CSUDH graduates about ten years after starting college ($59,900 vs. $46,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, California State University Dominguez Hills graduates have a $1,038 lower median loan debt than San Jose State graduates ($13,962 vs. $15,000).
• Among borrowers, CSUDH graduates have an estimated $11 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than San Jose State graduates ($144 vs. $155).
• More San Jose State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CSUDH students, three years after graduation. (73% vs. 52%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.