USD vs. San Jose State

Comparable Facts

Compare University of San Diego in San Diego, 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 USD based on total student enrollment (37,661 students vs. 9,714 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of San Diego is located in San Diego, CA (Large City setting); San Jose State University is in San Jose, CA (Large City setting).
• University of San Diego is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. San Jose State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of San Diego 13:1; San Jose State University 25:1.

USD vs. San Jose State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, USD 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 San Jose State University than USD ($13,892 vs. $37,918).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of San Diego are 5% lower than at San Jose State University ($19,918 vs. $20,971).
• University of San Diego is 607.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than San Jose State (about $51,076 more per year; $59,486.00 vs. $8,410.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 183.1% higher at USD than at San Jose State University (about $38,476 more per year; $59,486.00 vs. $21,010.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of San Diego than at San Jose State University (84% vs. 63%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of San Diego students is 231.6% larger than aid received by San Jose State University students ($40,965 vs. $12,353).

USD vs. San Jose State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, USD 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 USD.

• 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: USD - Test-free; San Jose State - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: USD Dec 15, 2026; San Jose State Dec 15, 2026.
• Accepted freshman USD students have a 0.6 point higher average high school GPA (3.95) than students at San Jose State (3.35).
• San Jose State has a higher acceptance rate (84.6%) than USD (52.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.4% at USD vs. 14.7% at San Jose State.

USD vs. San Jose State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for USD 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).

• University of San Diego's six-year graduation rate (75%) is higher than San Jose State University's (46%).
• Graduates from University of San Diego earn a median of about $10,300 more per year than San Jose State graduates about ten years after starting college ($70,200 vs. $59,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, San Jose State University graduates have a $7,904 lower median loan debt than USD graduates ($15,000 vs. $22,904).
• Among borrowers, San Jose State graduates have an estimated $81 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than USD graduates ($155 vs. $236).
• More USD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former San Jose State students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 73%)

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.