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UCLA San Francisco State California State Polytechnic University-Pomona Cal State Long Beach Stanford Sacramento State UC Riverside UCSC Cal State Fullerton NYU Pomona Loyola Marymount| San Jose State University | University of Southern California | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
San Jose State | USC | ||
| Location | San Jose, CA | Los Angeles, CA | ||
| Setting | Large City | Large City | ||
| Enrollment | 36,062 | 47,147 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #571 | #36 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | sjsu.edu | usc.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
San Jose State | USC | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $5,742 | $66,640 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $17,622 | $66,640 | ||
| Room & Board | $19,866 | $19,198 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $13,833 | $41,496 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $11,311 | $43,208 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 61% | 68% |
Admission |
San Jose State | USC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 35,780 | 80,808 | ||
| Admitted | 28,708 | 8,094 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 80.2% | 10% | ||
| Enrolled % | 15.7% | 44.9% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.35 | 3.83 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Moderate | Elite | ||
| Applicant Competition | Very High | |||
| ACT Range | 19/26 | 32/35 | ||
| SAT Range | 1010/1240 | 1440/1550 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Dec 15, 2025 |
Academics |
San Jose State | USC | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 18:1 | 9:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
San Jose State | USC | ||
| Graduation Rate | 46% | 90% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $59,900 | $85,500 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 73% | 81% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $15,000 | $22,375 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $155 | $231 |
Diversity |
San Jose State | USC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 9% | 25% | ||
| % Women | 15% | 30% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very High | Very High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 19% | 40% | ||
| % Black | 3% | 4% | ||
| % Hispanic | 26% | 14% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 5% | 5% | ||
| % International | 6% | 13% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 4% | 1% |
Students |
San Jose State | USC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 96% | 43% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 1% | 38% | ||
Campus |
San Jose State | USC | ||
| 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
- University of Southern California is larger than than San Jose State based on total student enrollment (47,147 students vs. 36,062 students)
San Jose State vs. USC Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, San Jose State or USC?
- University of Southern California is 1,060.6% more expensive to attend than San Jose State for in-state tuition ($66,640.00 vs. $5,742.00)
- Out of state tuition is 278.2% higher at USC than San Jose State University ($66,640.00 vs. $17,622.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at San Jose State University than USC ($13,833 vs. $41,496)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Southern California are 3.5% lower than costs at San Jose State University ($19,198 vs. $19,866)
- More students receive financial grant aid at University of Southern California than San Jose State University (68% vs. 61%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by University of Southern California students is 282% larger than aid received San Jose State University ($43,208 vs. $11,311)
San Jose State vs. USC Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, San Jose State or USC? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between USC or San Jose State .
- The average SAT score at University of Southern California (1391) is 336 points higher than at San Jose State (1055)
- Incoming USC students have a 9 point higher average ACT score (32) than students at San Jose State (23)
- Accepted freshman USC students have a 0.48 point higher average high school GPA (3.83) than students at San Jose State (3.35)
- San Jose State has a higher acceptance rate (80.2%) than USC (10%)
San Jose State vs. USC Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, San Jose State or USC? 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 USC and San Jose State.
- The graduation rate at USC is higher than San Jose State University (90% vs. 46%)
- Graduates from University of Southern California earn on average $25,600 more per year than San Jose State graduates after ten years. ($85,500 vs. $59,900)
- San Jose State University students graduate with a $7,375 lower median federal student loan debt than USC graduates. ($15,000 vs. $22,375)
- San Jose State graduates are paying $76 less per month on federal student loans than USC graduates. ($155 vs. $231)
- More USC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former San Jose State students, three years after graduation. (81% vs. 73%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/