Cal State LA vs. San Jose State

Should I go to California State University Los Angeles or San Jose State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Cal State LA 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 Los Angeles vs. San Jose State University comparison
California State University Los Angeles San Jose State University College 3 College 4
California State University Los Angeles San Jose State University
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Overview

Cal State LA San Jose State
Location Los Angeles, CA San Jose, CA
Setting Large City Large City
Enrollment 26,460 35,751
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #947 #558
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website calstatela.edu sjsu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Cal State LA San Jose State
Tuition (In State) $5,742 $5,742
Tuition (Out of State) $17,622 $17,622
Room & Board $17,998 $18,568
Avg Net Price $5,801 $14,219
Avg Grant Aid $10,907 $9,210
% Receiving Grant Aid 91% 59%

Admission

Cal State LA San Jose State
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 33,939 34,002
Admitted 29,507 26,083
Acceptance Rate 86.9% 76.7%
Enrolled % 13.2% 15.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.31 3.35
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Average
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 15/20 19/26
SAT Range 870/1060 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 Jan 19, 2025 Dec 15, 2024

Academics

Cal State LA San Jose State
Student to Faculty Ratio 22:1 22:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (22%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Social Sciences (9%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (7%)
  • Business (30%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • Health Professions (8%)
  • Social Sciences (7%)
  • Engineering (7%)

Outcomes

Cal State LA San Jose State
Graduation Rate 36% 46%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $46,900 $59,900
Making Student Loan Payments 57% 73%
Median Student Loan Debt $12,920 $15,000
Median Loan Payment $133 $155

Diversity

Cal State LA San Jose State
% Men 41% 48%
% Women 59% 52%
Racial Diversity Medium Very High
HBCU No No
% White 7% 19%
% Black 4% 3%
% Hispanic 63% 26%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 5%
% International 6% 6%
% Unknown Race 3% 4%

Students

Cal State LA San Jose State
% In-State 99% 96%
% Out-of-State 0% 1%

Campus

Cal State LA 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

  • San Jose State University is larger than than Cal State LA based on total student enrollment (35,751 students vs. 26,460 students)

Cal State LA vs. San Jose State Cost Comparison

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

  • California State University Los Angeles 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 LA 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 Los Angeles than San Jose State ($5,801 vs. $14,219)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California State University Los Angeles are 3.2% lower than costs at San Jose State University ($17,998 vs. $18,568)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at California State University Los Angeles than San Jose State University (91% vs. 59%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by California State University Los Angeles students is 18.4% larger than aid received San Jose State University ($10,907 vs. $9,210)

Cal State LA vs. San Jose State Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cal State LA 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 LA .

  • The average SAT score at San Jose State University (1055) is 181 points higher than at Cal State LA (874)
  • Incoming San Jose State students have a 5 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at Cal State LA (18)
  • Accepted freshman San Jose State students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.35) than students at Cal State LA (3.31)
  • Cal State LA has a higher acceptance rate (86.9%) than San Jose State (76.7%)

Cal State LA vs. San Jose State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Cal State LA 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 LA.

  • The graduation rate at San Jose State is higher than California State University Los Angeles (46% vs. 36%)
  • Graduates from San Jose State University earn on average $13,000 more per year than Cal State LA graduates after ten years. ($59,900 vs. $46,900)
  • California State University Los Angeles students graduate with a $2,080 lower median federal student loan debt than San Jose State graduates. ($12,920 vs. $15,000)
  • Cal State LA graduates are paying $22 less per month on federal student loans than San Jose State graduates. ($133 vs. $155)
  • More San Jose State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cal State LA students, three years after graduation. (73% vs. 57%)

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