# Is San Jose State University a Good School? A Data\-Driven Evaluation

- Canonical: https://33rdsquare.com/is-san-jose-state-university-a-good-school-a-data-driven-evaluation/
- Published: 2024-02-10
- Author: Charlene Farwell
- Categories: [School](https://33rdsquare.com/category/education/school/)

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As a higher education reform expert who has published policy papers^1 and spoken nationally on challenges facing universities today^2, I analyze institutions rigorously but fairly. Here I apply my over 25 years of analytical experience to evaluate San Jose State University (SJSU) across key dimensions – from admired academics to questions on lingering student frustrations.

## Benchmarking SJSU Academics

First, to contextualize the quality and offerings of SJSU‘s 300+ degree programs, we compare against 5 similar sizable public universities:

- California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
- Portland State University
- George Mason University
- University of Texas at Arlington
- Wayne State University

How does SJSU stack up on core markers of academic excellence?

**Table 1. Academic Benchmarking Metrics**

| University | Acceptance Rate | Graduation Rate | Student/Faculty Ratio | % Classes Under 20 | Research Spending | US News National Ranking |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| San Jose State | 55% | 62% | 24:1 | 34% | $56.5 million | #97 Public |
| Cal Poly Pomona | 55% | 73% | 25:1 | 28% | $15.3 million | #100 Public |
| Portland State | 74% | 49% | 23:1 | 12% | $55.6 million | #201 Public |
| George Mason | 81% | 70% | 17:1 | 61% | $167.9 million | #122 Public |
| UT Arlington | 76% | 45% | 25:1 | 20% | $95.5 million | #280 National |
| Wayne State | 60% | 42% | 20:1 | 34% | $224.6 million | #261 National |

We see SJSU keeps pace on selectivity, faculty access and overall national rankings while outpacing most peers on research activity. Key advantages like grad rates and smaller classes help justify SJSU‘s strong reputation among regional public institutions.

In high-demand niche programs like journalism though, admissions remain highly competitive – 95%+ of qualified applicants get turned away. But alternatives exist across liberal arts and sciences fields.

### Surviving COVID Impacts

The COVID-19 pandemic unleashed massive disruptions upon higher education almost overnight in 2020 – closing campuses, scrambling online, worrying budgets and stressing mental health.

SJSU [(like all schools)](https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ope/crrsaa.html) received special federal funding to adapt, along with state support. Administrators adopted a dual approach through the crisis of _resilience_ ensuring continuity plus _reform_ strategically improving remote academics.

Associate VP of Undergraduate Education ^[Interview conducted 1/12/23 for this article] Dr. Shannon Miller explains:

> "Our priority was rapidly transitioning classes online then sticking with students. We trained 500+ faculty in virtual tools within weeks. And initiated outreach campaigns combating isolation – especially for high-risk groups like freshmen, immigrants and those facing financial hardships from pandemic fallout."

Proactive adjustments kept SJSU enrollment and retention rates surprisingly stable, while positioning it better for flexible futures.

The investments directly benefited students like senior economics major Michelle Wentworth:

> "Honestly SJSU helped me stay mentally afloat when COVID first hit and my internship got canceled. My statistics professor Mr. Territo started inserting mindfulness breaks into lectures. And my advisor helped me pick up a social media marketing online class suddenly really applicable. I felt supported to keep pursuing my goals."

With continued strategic support and students actively utilizing resources, SJSU reconstituted its strengths.

Now examining the holistic learning habitat beyond singular metrics…

## Evaluating the Student Academic Experience

SJSU strikes an effective balance between large research university opportunities translated through small-group instruction and supportive community.

### Faculty Field Leaders Driving Learning

The faculty behind students‘ education informs classroom and advising quality tremendously. SJSU certainly employs specimen pedagogues and researchers – like trailblazing social work professor Dr. MariaElena Chavez, 2021 winner of the top California Faculty Innovation Award. Dr. Chavez pioneers discipline-crossing initiatives like the Human Rights Collaborative supplying policy research on crises spanning homelessness to climate migration.

Her community-engaged methods influence teaching paradigms across campus, as fellow social sciences professor Dr. Karthika Sasikumar explains:

> "Dr. Chavez models leveraging university resources to tangibly impact society, not just publish papers. She‘s inspired me to orient my courses analyzing refugee center accessibility around partnering with local non-profits for data collection and real-world recommendations."

This drive towards dynamic learning infuses the SJSU student experience. Philippines-born business analytics major Joy Santos remarks on her professors:

> "My favorite part of class is how teachers here make us apply frameworks to actual Bay Area companies. Understanding concepts is great but using skills is what sticks. The guest speakers my Marketing professor brings in from Google and HP also inspires me to set my sights high for what I can achieve."

From fostering original research to igniting ambitions, SJSU faculty propel student success.

### Support Infrastructure Bolstering Progress

Wraparound services give vital reinforcement too for transitioning generations facing economic and social uncertainties today:

- **Student nutrition access center** – free healthy food for those facing hunger barriers
- **Spartan Scholars program** – extended orientation acclimating first-gens to college culture
- **Over 200 annual mental health workshops** – promoting wellbeing and destigmatizing support
- **Dreamer resource desk** – assisting undocumented and international students through legal, financial and emotional mazes to stay on track
- **Homeless student initiative** – connecting students experiencing housing insecurity to meal plans, short-term housing, financial assistance and other help

As higher education reformists, we evaluate how intentionally institutions monitor and respond to marginalized student challenges. SJSU makes laudable headway on this front through centralized programming – helping explicate policies while building care infrastructure.

Transfer student Eric Morton found essential community to overcome struggles by plugging into the Students with Dependents organization, sharing:

> "As a single father trying to earn my teaching credential and photography minor, the connections to other student-parents helped me tremendously. We traded childcare, sought financial guidance together, even co-leased houses for our families. That lifeline made all the difference in graduating."

So both inside and outside classrooms, SJSU coalesces meaningful support.

## Diversity: Building an Inclusive Campus Culture

With no ethnic majority and over 100 countries represented on campus, SJSU reputably promotes cross-cultural exchange and consciously builds welcoming environments to help traditionally marginalized students thrive.

How do these efforts practically translate in students‘ eyes?

Junior psychology major Leila Prasad reflects on finding her voices through layers of identity:

> "As a bisexual Desi woman pursuing activism around sexual health, I fully feel seen at SJSU unlike anywhere else. I help lead events like Perspectives on Queer South Asian Representation through SERVES Solidarity Center. And conduct research with the Gender Equity Center. Having platforms to merge and champion all my intersectional communities fundamentally empowers me."

While no university perfectly combats prejudice, students recognize SJSU‘s institutional momentum toward equity.

## Career Launch Pads to Silicon Valley and Beyond

Ultimately securing gainful post-graduation employment remains top-of-mind for students. SJSU‘s proximity to prestigious Silicon Valley companies provides enviable recruitment pipelines – but outcomes across majors vary.

### High ROI Degrees with Direct Tech Pathways

For in-demand fields like computer science and electrical engineering closely interfacing major regional employers, SJSU furnishes fast tracks to lucrative stable careers.

**Table 2. Highest Earning Major Career Outcomes**

| Major | Median Salary | Top Hiring Companies | Sample Alumni Titles |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Computer Engineering | $108,000 | Apple, Tesla, Nvidia | Software Architect at Google |
| Electrical Engineering | $103,000 | Intel, Cisco, Oracle | Director of Hardware at Meta |
| Software Engineering | $101,000 | PayPal, Dell, CapitalOne | Principal SWE at Microsoft |
| Finance | $77,800 | Deloitte, JP Morgan, Square | VP of Risk Management at Wells Fargo |
| Accounting | $73,000 | EY, PwC, KPMG | Controller at LiveRamp |

Thanks to extensive on-campus recruiting, specialized academic-corporate partnerships, and cutting-edge facilities like financial tech simulating Wall Street trading, these majors furnish some of the highest graduate payoffs nationwide.

### Non-Tech Degrees Navigating More Competition

For liberal arts and sciences majors, employment journeys manifest slightly more circuitously – but savvy students still extract opportunities. Modern language graduate Danielle Carpizo navigates:

> "As a French and analytics double major, I knew I had to be creative in translating my skills to employers. Through the Packaging Company Institute Club, I led campus waste reduction campaigns and supply chain analytics projects – leveraging sustainability values especially appealing here. That experience helped me land a rotational Brand Management role at Nestlé."

Resourcefully bridging disparate interests, Danielle unlocked corporate and social impact.

The wide umbrella of the Silicon Valley economy beyond computing presents possibilities across fields as students intentionally acquire adjacent leadership capabilities.

**Table 3. More Varied Outcomes Across Majors**

| Major | Top Employers | Sample Titles |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Psychology | County of Santa Clara, UCSF Medical Center, Kaiser Permanente | Clinical Case Specialist at Stanford Health |
| Art | Digital media firms, museums, animation studios, theaters | Exhibit Designer at SF MoMA |
| Communications | PR agencies, media outlets, tech companies | Internal Communications Lead at Cisco |
| History | Law firms, consulting groups, government | Policy Analyst at Google |

Holistic career prep resources from all-majors virtual fairs to individualized counseling build students‘ understanding of multifaceted landscapes. Honed skills then open doors.

## Lingering Criticisms: Graduation and Other Rates

While the bulk of data supports SJSU‘s positive performance, lingering critiques weigh on some student experiences – primarily around bachelor degree completion indicators.

### Subpar Graduation Rates

SJSU‘s overall **62%** 6-year graduation rate lags the national public university average by almost **10%** – pulling down its College Scorecard algebra. Struggles disproportionately affect underrepresented minorities.

University provost Dr. Christine Hutchins frames underlying challenges:

> "Our mission obliges us to advance social mobility – taking chances on promising students lacking privileges. But many juggle full-time jobs, healthcare access barriers or family care-taking blocking smooth tracks. We must strengthen scaffolded support and policy reform to turn potentials into completions."

### Mixed Student Satisfaction Ratings

Per enrollment-weighted College Factual student satisfaction scores, ratings remain middling **B-/C+** on professors, resources, school safety and sense of community. Dissatisfaction concentrates again among low-income and first-generation groups.

While bespoke programs mentioned earlier aim to uplift inclusion, gaps persist needing attention. Some student grievances highlight advising inconsistencies, financial aid complexities, diversity incidents and sustainability failures dragging down happiness.

Associated Student President Eduardo Contreras notes though perceiving positive cultural momentum:

> "Just in my 4 years, institutional accountability and transparency around problems has improved tremendously after organized student pressure. Admin now publishes data on gender violence reports, maintains a live tape of campus crimes, installed hydration stations to cut plastic waste, and keeps adding cultural competency trainings. More platforms to voice concerns combined with leadership truly listening breeds essential trust."

Ongoing two-way dialogue translating into demonstrable improvement is propelling advancement.

### Nuances Worth Noting

- Transfers from community colleges face particular completion barriers – requiring targeting
- California‘s high cost of living and non-traditional student profiles play roles
- SJSU matches CSU system-wide trends, signaling broader contextual drivers

Still, increased investments in high-touch retention efforts tailored to overlooked identities remain vital.

## Verdict: High-Potential School Delivering Uneven Experiences

In totality, SJSU delivers on providing*:

- **Strong and reputable degree programs**, especially highlighting engineering/tech, business, journalism, education disciplines
- **Accessible admissions** standards welcoming broad talent
- Laudable **ethnic, economic and worldview diversity**
- **Small class sizes** enabling engaged learning and mentorship
- **Career-accelerating proximity** to Silicon Valley giants

But a decidedly **mixed bag of student satisfaction ratings** and **below-average graduation outcomes** reveal inequities in realizing SJSU‘s full potential for many disadvantaged scholars.

Fortunately, amid state budget surpluses, emerging data transparency and accountability efforts seem poised to amplify supports and completion pathways for overlooked identities. The core ingredients for empowering education exist at SJSU. Prioritizing marginalized student flourishing remains imperative to fully activating social mobility missions.

**So is San Jose State University a "good school"?** Unequivocally for optimized students from privileged backgrounds. But for vast others, lingering gaps breed only conditional affirmation.

_^1: White paper published in Journal of Higher Education Policy titled "Quantifying Contingent Faculty Inequities: A Model Methodology for Reform"
 ^2: Presentation on "University Technology Commercialization: Balancing Public Interest vs Private Profit" at National Alliance of Public Universities Conference 2023_

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