Menlo vs. San Jose State

Comparable Facts

Compare Menlo College in Atherton, 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 Menlo based on total student enrollment (37,661 students vs. 810 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Menlo College is located in Atherton, CA (Large Suburban setting); San Jose State University is in San Jose, CA (Large City setting).
• Menlo College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. San Jose State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Menlo College 14:1; San Jose State University 25:1.

Menlo vs. San Jose State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Menlo 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 Menlo ($13,892 vs. $32,563).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Menlo College are 13% lower than at San Jose State University ($18,236 vs. $20,971).
• Menlo College is 537.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than San Jose State (about $45,220 more per year; $53,630.00 vs. $8,410.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 155.3% higher at Menlo than at San Jose State University (about $32,620 more per year; $53,630.00 vs. $21,010.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Menlo College than at San Jose State University (100% vs. 63%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Menlo College students is 217.1% larger than aid received by San Jose State University students ($39,174 vs. $12,353).

Menlo vs. San Jose State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Menlo 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 Menlo.

• 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: Menlo - Test-free; San Jose State - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Menlo Apr 1, 2027; San Jose State Dec 15, 2026.
• Accepted freshman San Jose State students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.35) than students at Menlo (3.3).
• San Jose State has a higher acceptance rate (84.6%) than Menlo (68.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 5.3% at Menlo vs. 14.7% at San Jose State.

Menlo vs. San Jose State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Menlo 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 Menlo College's (34%).
• Graduates from San Jose State University earn a median of about $6,000 more per year than Menlo graduates about ten years after starting college ($59,900 vs. $53,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, San Jose State University graduates have a $6,062 lower median loan debt than Menlo graduates ($15,000 vs. $21,062).
• Among borrowers, San Jose State graduates have an estimated $62 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Menlo graduates ($155 vs. $217).
• More San Jose State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Menlo students, three years after graduation. (73% vs. 55%)

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.