Back to Colleges
San Jose State University
San Jose, CA 26,757 Undergrads 75.9% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$25,695
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$13,741
After Aid
Median Earnings
$78,988
10yr Post-Entry
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$13,741
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$78,988
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate75.9%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients36.0%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time81.3%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS80.0%
Admissions Profile
Acceptance
80.2%
SAT Avg
-
SAT Reading
25th: --75th: -
SAT Math
25th: --75th: -
ACT Composite
25th: --75th: -
ROI Sensitivity Analysis
This analysis tests three cost scenarios (Scholarship, Average Net Price, Full Sticker Price) to show how college costs impact your long-term return compared to the average student and a high school graduate.
Lifetime Value Added (NPV)
Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$659k
+$263k
+$175k
Median Cost$14k/yr
+$610k
+$213k
+$125k
Full Cost$26k/yr
+$567k
+$170k
+$82k
ROI Efficiency Metrics
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
29
∞
Median Cost$14k/yr
34
253%
Full Cost$26k/yr
39
89%
Analysis Assumptions:
- Starting Salary: Estimated from the 10-year median earnings (assuming 2% annual growth from graduation).
- Comparisons: "Vs Median Peer" compares to the median student nationwide in a similar level program. "Vs HS Grad" compares to a median high school graduate.
- Break-Even: The age at which the college investment net income exceeds the median high school graduate's lifetime earnings.
- NPV: Net Present Value of all future earnings minus costs and taxes, discounted at 7.8%.
Social Impact ROINew
Measures the societal return on a donor's investment. Calculated as the incremental pre-tax lifetime earnings vs. HS grad, divided by the tax-adjusted donation cost.
Donor Return264%
Gov. Pell Grant ROINew
Measures the government's return on Pell Grants via increased tax revenue. Calculated as the portion of incremental lifetime taxes (discounted at 5.4%) attributed to the Pell Grant investment.
Taxpayer Return25%
Important Note: Your ROI with any major will depend on the cost you pay to attend the program, and your starting salary. Both vary significantly across institutions. We encourage you to explore the ROI of a specific program variant by selecting the Program title of the credential level you are interested in. You will then have a more detailed return analysis for programs at specific institutions. We also encourage you to use the ROI calculator with your specific estimates of cost and salary.
Program ROI Analysis
Bachelor's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
BachCIP: 5203
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$96,679
Lifetime Value Added
+$269k
Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering
BachCIP: 1402
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$101,217
Lifetime Value Added
+$303k
Air Transportation
BachCIP: 4901
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$80,195
Lifetime Value Added
+$146k
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology
BachCIP: 2602
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$91,433
Lifetime Value Added
+$230k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$79,095
Lifetime Value Added
+$138k
Biomedical/Medical Engineering
BachCIP: 1405
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$53,358
Lifetime Value Added
-$35k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$82,407
Lifetime Value Added
+$162k
Chemical Engineering
BachCIP: 1407
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$115,218
Lifetime Value Added
+$408k
Civil Engineering
BachCIP: 1408
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$106,415
Lifetime Value Added
+$342k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$67,114
Lifetime Value Added
+$48k
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
BachCIP: 5102
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$81,021
Lifetime Value Added
+$152k
Computer Engineering
BachCIP: 1409
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$143,080
Lifetime Value Added
+$613k
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$160,714
Lifetime Value Added
+$743k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
BachCIP: 4301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$71,738
Lifetime Value Added
+$83k
Design and Applied Arts
BachCIP: 5004
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$93,917
Lifetime Value Added
+$249k
Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services
BachCIP: 5131
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$68,367
Lifetime Value Added
+$57k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$38,289
Lifetime Value Added
-$167k
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering
BachCIP: 1410
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$119,589
Lifetime Value Added
+$440k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$57,604
Lifetime Value Added
-$27k
Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations
BachCIP: 5207
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$39,369
Lifetime Value Added
-$157k
Finance and Financial Management Services
BachCIP: 5208
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$98,041
Lifetime Value Added
+$279k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$56,424
Lifetime Value Added
-$36k
Health and Medical Administrative Services
BachCIP: 5107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$68,119
Lifetime Value Added
+$55k
Health and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$69,505
Lifetime Value Added
+$66k
Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other
BachCIP: 5199
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$68,244
Lifetime Value Added
+$56k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$67,404
Lifetime Value Added
+$50k
Hospitality Administration/Management
BachCIP: 5209
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$67,022
Lifetime Value Added
+$47k
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services
BachCIP: 1907
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$56,174
Lifetime Value Added
-$38k
Human Resources Management and Services
BachCIP: 5210
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$108,084
Lifetime Value Added
+$355k
Industrial Engineering
BachCIP: 1435
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$61,020
Lifetime Value Added
+$30k
Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians
BachCIP: 1506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$62,489
Lifetime Value Added
+$42k
International Business
BachCIP: 5211
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$71,177
Lifetime Value Added
+$78k
Journalism
BachCIP: 0904
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$69,181
Lifetime Value Added
+$63k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
BachCIP: 2401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$55,764
Lifetime Value Added
-$41k
Management Information Systems and Services
BachCIP: 5212
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$104,129
Lifetime Value Added
+$325k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$89,379
Lifetime Value Added
+$215k
Mechanical Engineering
BachCIP: 1419
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$112,360
Lifetime Value Added
+$386k
Microbiological Sciences and Immunology
BachCIP: 2605
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$44,835
Lifetime Value Added
-$108k
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
BachCIP: 0301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$83,305
Lifetime Value Added
+$169k
Parks, Recreation and Leisure Studies
BachCIP: 3101
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$73,198
Lifetime Value Added
+$93k
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$70,202
Lifetime Value Added
+$71k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$65,246
Lifetime Value Added
+$33k
Psychology, Other
BachCIP: 4299
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$63,794
Lifetime Value Added
+$22k
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication
BachCIP: 0909
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$75,904
Lifetime Value Added
+$114k
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication
BachCIP: 0907
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$45,848
Lifetime Value Added
-$123k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$155,843
Lifetime Value Added
+$708k
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies
BachCIP: 2313
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$30,173
Lifetime Value Added
-$240k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$64,522
Lifetime Value Added
+$28k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$73,771
Lifetime Value Added
+$98k
Master's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
MastCIP: 5203
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$68,778
Lifetime Value Added
+$182k
Biomedical/Medical Engineering
MastCIP: 1405
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$84,653
Lifetime Value Added
+$327k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$151,760
Lifetime Value Added
+$855k
City/Urban, Community and Regional Planning
MastCIP: 0403
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$91,624
Lifetime Value Added
+$342k
Civil Engineering
MastCIP: 1408
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$114,115
Lifetime Value Added
+$535k
Communication and Media Studies
MastCIP: 0901
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$66,077
Lifetime Value Added
+$157k
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
MastCIP: 5102
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$99,007
Lifetime Value Added
+$406k
Computer Engineering
MastCIP: 1409
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$125,015
Lifetime Value Added
+$693k
Educational Administration and Supervision
MastCIP: 1304
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$111,358
Lifetime Value Added
+$511k
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering
MastCIP: 1410
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$116,237
Lifetime Value Added
+$553k
Health and Physical Education/Fitness
MastCIP: 3105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$49,058
Lifetime Value Added
-$6k
History
MastCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$45,808
Lifetime Value Added
-$38k
Library Science and Administration
MastCIP: 2501
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$65,724
Lifetime Value Added
+$119k
Public Health
MastCIP: 5122
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$76,170
Lifetime Value Added
+$209k
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions
MastCIP: 5123
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$89,920
Lifetime Value Added
+$328k
Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$102,199
Lifetime Value Added
+$433k
Student Counseling and Personnel Services
MastCIP: 1311
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$82,798
Lifetime Value Added
+$266k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
MastCIP: 1312
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$81,942
Lifetime Value Added
+$259k
Note: Lifetime Value Added is the Net Present Value (NPV) of estimated career earnings relative to a median high school graduate, accounting for this institution's average cost and taxes. Computed over a career to retirement age.
For graduate programs (Master's, Doctoral, etc.), the calculation assumes a starting age of 22 (after undergraduate completion) and does not include the sunk costs of prior degrees. It represents the value added of the graduate degree decision moving forward. These Lifetime Value Added results should not be compared with those Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors starting at age 18.