San Jose State University (SJSU) vs California State University-Northridge (CSUN)
San Jose State University (SJSU) and California State University-Northridge (CSUN) are two esteemed public universities in California, each offering a unique educational experience. SJSU, located in the heart of Silicon Valley, boasts a higher acceptance rate (54%) compared to CSUN's 48%. Both universities offer a diverse range of undergraduate and graduate programs, with popular majors including Business, Engineering, and Psychology. While SJSU has a slightly larger student body, CSUN's student population is more diverse, with a higher percentage of Hispanic and Asian students. In terms of graduation rates, SJSU has a slight edge over CSUN, with a 6-year graduation rate of 63% compared to CSUN's 60%. To help you make an informed decision about your higher education journey, we've compiled a comprehensive comparison table below, highlighting key differences between these two institutions. Explore the table to discover which university aligns best with your academic aspirations
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![]() California State University-Northridge |
![]() San Jose State University |
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Overview |
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Location | Northridge, California | San Jose, California |
Campus setting | City: Large | City: Large |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Public | Public |
Calendar system | Semester | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 82.0% | 89.0% |
![]() |
No | No |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 88.1% | 84.4% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$70
Graduate:
$70
|
Undergraduate:
$70
Graduate:
$70
|
SAT range | N/A | N/A |
ACT range | N/A | N/A |
Students submitting SAT score | ||
Students submitting ACT score | ||
Total number of applicants | 23,656 | 30,441 |
Total number of admissions given out | 20,842 | 25,682 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 4,716 | 4,222 |
Yield rate | 22.6% | 16.4% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Required | Required |
Recommendation letters | Not required | Not required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Not required | Not required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price |
In state:
$31,857
Out of state:
$43,737
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In state:
$31,435
Out of state:
$43,315
|
Average net price | $8,708 | $14,603 |
Tuition |
In state:
$5,742
Out of state:
$17,622
|
In state:
$5,742
Out of state:
$17,622
|
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$7,316
Meal plan:
$4,506
|
Room/dormitory:
$9,062
Meal plan:
$5,880
|
Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
82.0%
Average amount $10,882 |
66.0%
Average amount $9,184 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
14.0%
Average amount $4,779 |
16.0%
Average amount $4,861 |
Students taking out private loans |
1.0%
Average amount $12,360 |
1.0%
Average amount $15,326 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
34,496
Men 45.0% Women 55.0% |
28,288
Men 51.1% Women 48.9% |
Graduate students |
5,612
Men 33.0% Women 67.0% |
8,845
Men 36.5% Women 63.5% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Moderate
|
Moderate
|
Out-of-state students | 1.7% | 1.4% |
International students | 6.0% | 9.1% |
Campus local/setting | City: Large | City: Large |
Dormitory capacity | 4,029 | 4,261 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | California Washington Hawaii Nevada Texas | California Washington Hawaii Oregon Arizona |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
|
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Students to faculty ratio | 26:1 | 24:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission | Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 54.2% | 68.8% |
Dropout rate | 33.7% | 23.4% |
Transferred out | 5.6% | 3.5% |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Master's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
Taxation (Master's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Construction Engineering Technologies (Bachelor's Degrees)
Engineering-Related Fields (Master's Degrees)
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Bachelor's Degrees)
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Educational Administration and Supervision (Master's Degrees)
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Computer Engineering (Master's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Educational Administration and Supervision (Master's Degrees)
Civil Engineering (Master's Degrees)
Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
City/Urban, Community and Regional Planning (Master's Degrees)
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