Mission College vs. San Jose State

Comparable Facts

Compare Mission College in Santa Clara, 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 Mission College based on total student enrollment (37,661 students vs. 6,909 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Mission College is located in Santa Clara, CA (Rural Fringe setting); San Jose State University is in San Jose, CA (Large City setting).
• Mission College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. San Jose State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Mission College 26:1; San Jose State University 25:1.

Mission College vs. San Jose State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Mission College 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 Mission College than San Jose State ($7,646 vs. $13,892).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at San Jose State University are 40.7% lower than at Mission College ($20,971 vs. $35,361).
• San Jose State University is 484.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Mission College (about $6,972 more per year; $8,410.00 vs. $1,438.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 68.1% higher at San Jose State than at Mission College (about $8,510 more per year; $21,010.00 vs. $12,500.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Mission College than at San Jose State University (78% vs. 63%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by San Jose State University students is 156.3% larger than aid received by Mission College students ($12,353 vs. $4,820).

Mission College vs. San Jose State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Mission College 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 Mission College.

• Mission College reports an open admissions policy.
• 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: Mission College - Open admission; San Jose State - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: San Jose State Dec 15, 2026.

Mission College vs. San Jose State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Mission College 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).

• Graduates from San Jose State University earn a median of about $17,900 more per year than Mission College graduates about ten years after starting college ($59,900 vs. $42,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More San Jose State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Mission College students, three years after graduation. (73% vs. 49%)

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.