Cal State East Bay vs. San Jose State

Comparable Facts

Compare California State University East Bay in Hayward, 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 Cal State East Bay based on total student enrollment (37,661 students vs. 12,326 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California State University East Bay is located in Hayward, CA (Midsize City setting); San Jose State University is in San Jose, CA (Large City setting).
• California State University East Bay 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 East Bay 22:1; San Jose State University 25:1.

Cal State East Bay vs. San Jose State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cal State East Bay 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 East Bay than San Jose State ($9,850 vs. $13,892).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California State University East Bay are 15% lower than at San Jose State University ($17,831 vs. $20,971).
• San Jose State University is 10.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cal State East Bay (about $827 more per year; $8,410.00 vs. $7,583.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 4.1% higher at San Jose State than at California State University East Bay (about $827 more per year; $21,010.00 vs. $20,183.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at California State University East Bay than at San Jose State University (79% vs. 63%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by California State University East Bay students is 0.1% larger than aid received by San Jose State University students ($12,369 vs. $12,353).

Cal State East Bay vs. San Jose State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cal State East Bay 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 Cal State East Bay.

• 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: Cal State East Bay - Test-free; San Jose State - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Cal State East Bay Oct 1, 2026; San Jose State Dec 15, 2026.
• Accepted freshman San Jose State students have a 0.15 point higher average high school GPA (3.35) than students at Cal State East Bay (3.2).
• Cal State East Bay has a higher acceptance rate (97.4%) than San Jose State (84.6%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 6.9% at Cal State East Bay vs. 14.7% at San Jose State.

Cal State East Bay vs. San Jose State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cal State East Bay 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 East Bay's (43%).
• Graduates from San Jose State University earn a median of about $4,600 more per year than Cal State East Bay graduates about ten years after starting college ($59,900 vs. $55,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, San Jose State University graduates have a $1,332 lower median loan debt than Cal State East Bay graduates ($15,000 vs. $16,332).
• Among borrowers, San Jose State graduates have an estimated $13 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Cal State East Bay graduates ($155 vs. $168).
• More San Jose State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cal State East Bay students, three years after graduation. (73% vs. 61%)

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.