After San Jose State University: graduation, pay and debt
San Jose, California · Public · 27,601 undergrads
65% of San Jose State University students finish within six years, the typical student earns $83,493 ten years after starting and graduates leave with $14,750 in federal loans at the median.
The short answers
$83.5k
median pay 10 years after starting college.
65%
finish within six years.
30%
finish in four years.
87%
of first-years come back for year two.
$14.8k
median federal debt at graduation.
74%
of borrowers were paying down their loans three years after leaving.
All the federal numbers
Finishing
Finished in four yearsIPEDS, fall 2023
30%
Finished within six yearsIPEDS, fall 2023
65%
First-years who came back for year twoCollege Scorecard, fall 2024
87%
Men who finished within six yearsIPEDS, students who started in 2017
61%
Women who finished within six yearsIPEDS, students who started in 2017
68%
Students in that six-year groupIPEDS, students who started in 2017
4,320
Earned a degree or certificate here within eight yearsIPEDS, full-time students who started in 2015
72%
Still enrolled here after eight yearsIPEDS, full-time students who started in 2015
19%
Students in that eight-year groupIPEDS, full-time students who started in 2015
3,369
Transferred to another collegeCollege Scorecard, earlier release
4.6%
Pay after college
Median pay 6 years after starting collegeCollege Scorecard
$67,528
Median pay 10 years after starting collegeCollege Scorecard, 2022-23
$83,493
Earning more than $25,000 six years after startingCollege Scorecard, earlier release
73%
Debt and paying it back
Median federal debt, students who graduatedCollege Scorecard, 2024-25
$14,750
Median federal debt, everyone who borrowed (finished or not)College Scorecard, earlier release
$12,000
Median federal debt, students with a Pell GrantCollege Scorecard, earlier release
$12,000
Median federal debt, students without a Pell GrantCollege Scorecard, earlier release
$12,500
Paying down their loans 3 years after leavingCollege Scorecard, 2024-25
74%
Paying down their loans 5 years after leavingCollege Scorecard, earlier release
77%
Paying down their loans 7 years after leavingCollege Scorecard, earlier release
81%
Where these numbers come from
- Admit rate and applicants: IPEDS, fall 2024 (checked Oct 31, 2026)
- Cost, pay and debt: College Scorecard, 2024-25 (checked Oct 31, 2026)
- Deadlines: sjsu.edu, 2026-27 (checked Nov 8, 2026)
Updated Nov 8, 2026Spot a mistake?How we get our numbers