Cal State Fullerton vs. San Jose State

Should I go to California State University Fullerton or San Jose State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Cal State Fullerton or San Jose State is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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California State University Fullerton vs. San Jose State University comparison
California State University Fullerton San Jose State University College 3 College 4
California State University Fullerton San Jose State University
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Overview

Cal State Fullerton San Jose State
Location Fullerton, CA San Jose, CA
Setting Midsize City Large City
Enrollment 40,386 35,751
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #699 #558
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website fullerton.edu sjsu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Cal State Fullerton San Jose State
Tuition (In State) $5,742 $5,742
Tuition (Out of State) $17,622 $17,622
Room & Board $16,702 $18,568
Avg Net Price $7,925 $14,219
Avg Grant Aid $9,194 $9,210
% Receiving Grant Aid 74% 59%

Admission

Cal State Fullerton San Jose State
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 48,748 34,002
Admitted 32,527 26,083
Acceptance Rate 66.7% 76.7%
Enrolled % 16.2% 15.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.77 3.35
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Very Easy Average
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 18/23 19/26
SAT Range 1000/1180 1010/1240
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Nov 30, 2024 Dec 15, 2024

Academics

Cal State Fullerton San Jose State
Student to Faculty Ratio 24:1 22:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (25%)
  • Communication (14%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)
  • Health Professions (7%)
  • Psychology (6%)
  • Business (30%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • Health Professions (8%)
  • Social Sciences (7%)
  • Engineering (7%)

Outcomes

Cal State Fullerton San Jose State
Graduation Rate 50% 46%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $49,000 $59,900
Making Student Loan Payments 69% 73%
Median Student Loan Debt $15,000 $15,000
Median Loan Payment $155 $155

Diversity

Cal State Fullerton San Jose State
% Men 42% 48%
% Women 58% 52%
Racial Diversity Very High Very High
HBCU No No
% White 22% 19%
% Black 2% 3%
% Hispanic 40% 26%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 5%
% International 6% 6%
% Unknown Race 4% 4%

Students

Cal State Fullerton San Jose State
% In-State 99% 96%
% Out-of-State 1% 1%

Campus

Cal State Fullerton San Jose State
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility Yes Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • California State University Fullerton is larger than than San Jose State based on total student enrollment (40,386 students vs. 35,751 students)

Cal State Fullerton vs. San Jose State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cal State Fullerton or San Jose State?

  • California State University Fullerton and San Jose State cost the same to attend based on in-state tuition ($5,742.00 vs. $5,742.00)
  • Out of state tuition is the same at Cal State Fullerton as San Jose State University ($17,622.00 vs. $17,622.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at California State University Fullerton than San Jose State ($7,925 vs. $14,219)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California State University Fullerton are 11.2% lower than costs at San Jose State University ($16,702 vs. $18,568)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at California State University Fullerton than San Jose State University (74% vs. 59%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by San Jose State University students is 0.2% larger than aid received California State University Fullerton ($9,210 vs. $9,194)

Cal State Fullerton vs. San Jose State Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cal State Fullerton or San Jose State? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between San Jose State or Cal State Fullerton .

  • The average SAT score at San Jose State University (1055) is 31 points higher than at Cal State Fullerton (1024)
  • Incoming San Jose State students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at Cal State Fullerton (22)
  • Accepted freshman Cal State Fullerton students have a 0.42 point higher average high school GPA (3.77) than students at San Jose State (3.35)
  • San Jose State has a higher acceptance rate (76.7%) than Cal State Fullerton (66.7%)

Cal State Fullerton vs. San Jose State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Cal State Fullerton or San Jose State? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between San Jose State and Cal State Fullerton.

  • The graduation rate at Cal State Fullerton is higher than San Jose State University (50% vs. 46%)
  • Graduates from San Jose State University earn on average $10,900 more per year than Cal State Fullerton graduates after ten years. ($59,900 vs. $49,000)
  • San Jose State University and Cal State Fullerton graduates both have the same median student loan debt upon graduation ($15,000 vs. $15,000)
  • San Jose State University and Cal State Fullerton graduates both have a median monthly student loan payment upon graduation ($155 vs. $155)
  • More San Jose State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cal State Fullerton students, three years after graduation. (73% vs. 69%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/