San Jose City College
- Graduation Rate
- 33% D
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $46,215 C+
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $16,959 C
- Close to the national average
- Enrollment
- 7,105
Bottom line: A C overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 16.2× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $16.2 over 20 years.
Every $1 spent returns $16.2 over 20 years. Net gain: $1,029,674.
What The Data Says
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A C overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Graduation of 33% — 42% below the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $16.2 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why San Jose City College Matters
San Jose City College is a public community college in San Jose, CA and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public Community College
- Carnegie Class
- Associate's College
- Enrollment
- 7,105
- Setting
- Urban
- Designations
- HSI
- Primary Strengths
- Humanities, Business & Marketing, Health Professions, Culinary & Personal Services
Why students choose San Jose City College
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
This school does not report a competitive admit rate — most qualified applicants are admitted.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $16,959 a year after grants and scholarships — 1% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $46,215 ten years after enrolling — 13% above the typical college.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Strong cross-class social capital — an economic-connectedness score of 1.45 (Opportunity Insights).
See mobility →Overview
San Jose City College enrolls 7,105 students, placing it as a significant option for those pursuing community college education in California. With a focus on practical programs such as Health Professions, Business & Marketing, and Culinary Services, students can target industries with immediate job opportunities.
Data from Chetty and Opportunity Insights indicates that the economic mobility outcomes are not fully reported for San Jose City College. However, students can expect to earn an average of $46,215 after ten years of graduation, reflecting the potential for upward mobility given the right support and resources. The graduation rate sits at 33%, indicating that while some students thrive, others may need additional assistance to complete their degrees.
The net price of attending San Jose City College is $16,959, making it a relatively affordable choice for many. With 21% of students receiving Pell Grants, the college serves a diverse population, though financial aid options should be considered seriously. Students who thrive here often seek practical skills and hands-on experience that lead directly to employment in their chosen fields.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective San Jose City College is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into San Jose City College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in San Jose, California, San Jose City College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 33%.
- Retention Rate
- 65%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 39%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $16,356
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 23:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.67
- First-Gen Students
- 58%
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend San Jose City College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at San Jose City College is $11,922, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $16,959. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $16,430 after need-based grants.
- In-State Tuition
- $1,366
- Out-of-State
- $11,922
- Avg Net Price
- $16,959
- Pell Grant Rate
- 21%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 1%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $16,430
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $15,652
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $18,524
- Family Income $110K+
- $20,198
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at San Jose City College — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is San Jose City College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of San Jose City College earn a median of $46,215, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $39,993
- 8 Years
- $42,651
- 10 Years
- $46,215
- Earning > $25K
- 44%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (71)
- 13%
- 100% (71)
- 13%
- 100% (71)
- 13%
- 100% (71)
- 13%
How San Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
College ROI Calculator
Is San Jose City College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, San Jose City College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $16,959/year ($67,836 total). Graduates earn $46,215 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,097,510 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,029,674 (16.2× your investment).. With a 33% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $67,836
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,097,510
- Net Return
- $1,029,674
- ROI Multiple
- 16.2×
- Cost Per Year
- $16,959
- Graduation Rate
- 33%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Top Programs
The fields San Jose City College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Humanities 31%
- Business & Marketing 11%
- Health Professions 9% $35,255 early-career
- Culinary & Personal Services 7%
- Computer Science & IT 5%
- Social Sciences 3%
- Construction Trades 3%
- Psychology 3%
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for San Jose City College's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
- B-Software Developer$132,270 · 25% growthVulnerable 40
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into San Jose City College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in San Jose, California, San Jose City College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 33%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend San Jose City College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at San Jose City College is $11,922, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $16,959. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $16,430 after need-based grants.
Is San Jose City College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of San Jose City College earn a median of $46,215, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
How Connected Is San Jose City College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at San Jose City College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.45, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 3% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to San Jose City College.
- Coastline Community CollegeFountain Valley, CA · Close peer30% grad $44,483 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Cabrillo CollegeAptos, CA · Close peer38% grad $44,114 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Anne Arundel Community CollegeArnold, MD · Close peer28% grad $46,219 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Montgomery County Community CollegeBlue Bell, PA · Close peer26% grad $46,108 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Laney CollegeOakland, CA · Close peer34% grad $37,282 earnWhy: similar grad rate · similar size · similar net price
- Los Angeles Harbor CollegeWilmington, CA · Close peer36% grad $41,133 earnWhy: similar grad rate · similar size · same state
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is San Jose City College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at San Jose City College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.45, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 3% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note