About San Jose State University
Located in a large city, San Jose State University is a public university in San Jose, California, with about 27,600 undergraduate students. The federal student-to-faculty ratio is about 25 to 1.
Nursing programs at San Jose State University
According to federal completion records, San Jose State University awards nursing credentials at the bachelor’s degree in nursing (BSN), master’s degree in nursing (MSN), and doctoral degree in nursing (DNP) levels. A recent year’s totals include about 217 bachelor’s-level nursing graduates, about 14 master’s-level nursing graduates, and about 19 doctoral-level nursing graduates. A bachelor’s program is the traditional four-year route to RN licensure and the usual starting point for later graduate study; see our ADN vs. BSN guide if you are still deciding on a degree level. Graduate options (MSN and DNP) are aimed at licensed nurses moving into advanced practice, leadership, or teaching.
Cost and student outcomes
Published tuition and fees are about $8,800 a year for in-state students and $22,200 for out-of-state students. The average net price (what students receiving federal aid pay after grants and scholarships) is about $14,200 a year. About 39% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Students who finish the bachelor’s level and borrow leave with median federal loan debt of about $14,700. Schoolwide, about 68% of first-time, full-time students finish within 150% of normal time and 87% return for a second year.
Applying and licensure
The school admits most applicants (about 85% overall), but that does not mean a nursing seat is guaranteed. Nursing programs usually add their own steps, such as prerequisite science courses, an entrance exam, a minimum GPA, and a limited number of seats, so contact the nursing department about current requirements. Our guide on how to get into nursing school walks through the typical process. After graduation, the path to a license goes through the California Board of Registered Nursing (for RN licensure) or the Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians (for LVN licensure) and the NCLEX exam. Ask the program about its accreditation (ACEN or CCNE) and state approval, and see how it stacks up against other nursing schools in California.
Figures come from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and can change. Confirm current details with the school.