by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many San Jose State first-year students return for their second year, and how many go on to graduate? Retention and graduation rates help you understand how students progress at San Jose State. First year retention shows who comes back, and graduation rates show who finishes and how long it takes.
Freshmen retention rate refers to the percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year.
With 87% students making it past their freshmen year, San Jose State has freshmen retention rates above the national average.
Nationwide, the average first to second year retention rate is 70.57%.
When looking at just colleges and universities in California, the average is 73.07%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| San Jose State | 87% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| California | 73.07% |
There were approximately 5653 students in the class of 2023. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 57% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 77% of the students had graduated and after eight years 79% of this class completed their degree.
Any student who completes their bachelor's degree within six years is considered to have graduated on time, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. This makes the offical San Jose State graduation rate 77%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 4180 | 57% |
| Six Years | 5653 | 77% |
| Eight Years | 140 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 1555 | 21% |
The non-completers rate is anyone who is not still enrolled at the institution after eight years. Both transfer students and drop-outs could be included in this group.
Approximately 1555 students or 21% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 1555 students who did not complete their degree?
29 are still enrolled.
941 transferred to another institution.
San Jose State lost contact with the remaining 566 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 29 | 1.9% |
| Transferred | 941 | 60.5% |
| Dropped Out | 566 | 36.4% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 50% |
| Asian | 75% |
| Black / African-American | 44% |
| Hawaiian | 70% |
| Hispanic | 55% |
| International | 71% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 66% |
| Unknown | 58% |
| White | 63% |
First-time, full-time students under the age of 25 are much more likely to graduate in four years. Some schools cater to mostly traditional students while others cater to 'non-traditional' students. So called 'non-traditional' students include part-time students or those who may be returning after an absense. It is common for part-time and/or adult students to take longer to graduate.
Traditional Students:
First-time, full-time students under the age of 25.
Non-Traditional Students:
Any student that is not first-time, full-time, and under the age of 25.
A meaningful share of students at San Jose State are considered 'non-traditional students' who are not first-time, full-time, and under 25.
Examining the graduation rates of the specific cohorts shown below may be more revealing than looking at the overall graduaton rates.
First-time / full-time students at San Jose State University represent 42.09% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the San Jose State graduation rate was 68%, and by the eight year mark, 72% of the cohort had completed their degree.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for this group is 37.92% after four years, 46.43% after six years, and 47.82% after eight years.
| Completions | San Jose State | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 28% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 68% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 72% | 47.82% |
870 first-time / full-time students or 28% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
29 are still enrolled.
605 transferred to another institution.
San Jose State lost contact with the remaining 236 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 29 | 3.33% |
| Transferred | 605 | 69.54% |
| Dropped Out | 236 | 27.13% |
First-time / part-time students at San Jose State University represent 2.03% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the San Jose State graduation rate was 50%, and by the eight year mark, 53% of the cohort had completed their degree.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for this group is 14.37% after four years, 21.59% after six years, and 23.72% after eight years.
| Completions | San Jose State | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 17% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 50% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 53% | 23.72% |
70 first-time / part-time students or 47% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
3 are still enrolled.
50 transferred to another institution.
San Jose State lost contact with the remaining 17 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 3 | 4.29% |
| Transferred | 50 | 71.43% |
| Dropped Out | 17 | 24.29% |
Returning / full-time students at San Jose State University represent 42.30% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the San Jose State graduation rate was 87%, and by the eight year mark, 88% of the cohort had completed their degree.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for this group is 53.83% after six years, and 55.07% after eight years.
| Completions | San Jose State | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 87% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 88% | 55.07% |
384 non first-time / part-time students or 12% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
8 are still enrolled.
188 transferred to another institution.
San Jose State lost contact with the remaining 188 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 8 | 2.08% |
| Transferred | 188 | 48.96% |
| Dropped Out | 188 | 48.96% |
Returning / part-time students at San Jose State University represent 13.58% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the San Jose State graduation rate was 76%, and by the eight year mark, 77% of the cohort had completed their degree.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for this group is 30.46% after four years, 36.03% after six years, and 37.80% after eight years.
| Completions | San Jose State | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 67% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 76% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 77% | 37.80% |
231 non first-time / part-time students or 23% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
8 are still enrolled.
98 transferred to another institution.
San Jose State lost contact with the remaining 125 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 8 | 3.46% |
| Transferred | 98 | 42.42% |
| Dropped Out | 125 | 54.11% |
