San Jose City College is a public institution offering associate degrees based in San Jose, California. It enrolls 7,105 students (a large student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorWestern Association of Schools and Colleges Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (2-Year). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Fair
53/100
UCD Score · 2-Year
Outcomes35
Value37
Affordability22
Selectivity—
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
As a two-year college, San Jose City College generally admits all qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
Open
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending San Jose City College isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $16,959 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$16,959
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
21%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
1%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$1,366
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$11,922
Room & Board (off-campus)
$22,658
Books & Supplies
$2,727
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$6,930
Total Cost of Attendance
$26,081
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$16,430
$30,001 – $48,000
$15,652
$48,001 – $75,000
$18,524
$75,001 – $110,000
$22,207
Over $110,000
$20,198
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$1,75010%percentile
$3,25025%percentile
$11,31375%percentile
$19,00090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $5,500
—
No Pell $5,500
—
Dependent students $4,500
—
Independent students $5,833
—
Female students $4,750
—
Male students $6,750
—
What this means:
21% of students receive Pell grants. Most cost is borne by families above Pell thresholds. Verify your individual aid offer before deciding.
Graduation Rate & Retention
11% of full-time students who enrolled at San Jose City College graduate within six years, and 64% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
11%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
64%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Lower than typical completion. Worth asking the school how they support students who fall behind.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered San Jose City College earn a median of $46,215 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$46,215
Earning > $25K
68%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$34,900
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$42,300
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $7,400, about 17% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
What this means:
Moderate return on investment. Every dollar of net annual cost is matched by ~$2.7 of median earnings 10 years out. Compare carefully against your funding plan.
Who Studies Here
San Jose City College is home to 7,105 students, a large student community. Some distinctive traits: 58% are first-generation college students, 76% study part-time.
Total Enrolled
7,105
Part-Time
76%
First-Generation
58%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
Hispanic 50.9%3,617
Asian 21.6%1,537
White 14.6%1,035
Black 4.6%330
Other 4.4%315
International 1.8%127
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at San Jose City College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large CitySan Jose, California
Housing
Commuter campusNo on-campus housing
Adult Learners
39%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI)
What You Can Study
San Jose City College offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
55 distinct programs across
26 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at San Jose City College is 23:1, high (larger classes are common).
Student : Faculty
23:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$6,978
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Avg Faculty Salary
$147,031
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
150 instructional faculty across 1 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Instructors
150
100%
$147,031
Pros & Cons of San Jose City College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how San Jose City College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Open admissions
First-gen-friendly student body
Flexible part-time enrollment options
CONS
Larger class sizes than typical
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
First-year retention is below typical
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
Mostly part-time student body, less full-time campus feel
Best for:
Based on the data, San Jose City College is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; working adults or students needing part-time study options.
Frequently Asked Questions about San Jose City College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about San Jose City College.
Is San Jose City College hard to get into?
San Jose City College has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted.
What is the acceptance rate at San Jose City College?
San Jose City College has an acceptance rate of 0%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does San Jose City College cost?
The average net price after aid at San Jose City College is $16,959 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is San Jose City College worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $46,215 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $16,959 per year. That's roughly 2.7x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is San Jose City College known for?
San Jose City College is best known for its programs in Liberal Arts, Liberal Arts, Biological and Physical Sciences. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do San Jose City College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering San Jose City College are $46,215, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is San Jose City College accredited?
Yes. San Jose City College is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges.
How many students attend San Jose City College?
San Jose City College enrolls 7,105 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at San Jose City College?
San Jose City College graduates 11% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is San Jose City College a public or private college?
San Jose City College is a Public institution.
Where is San Jose City College located?
San Jose City College is located in San Jose, California.
What programs does San Jose City College offer?
San Jose City College offers 55 distinct programs. The most popular include Liberal Arts, Liberal Arts, Biological and Physical Sciences.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at San Jose City College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at San Jose City College is 23:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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