Money.com names SJSU as one of nation’s top public universities

Campus receives highest possible 5-star rating.

San José, CA – Money Magazine rated San José State University as one of the top public universities in the country on its 2025 Best Colleges list, giving SJSU its highest 5-star rating. SJSU received high scores on  25 data points emphasizing graduation rates, typical prices and borrowing amounts, and outcomes such as median alumni salaries and the share of recent grads with jobs.

Based on those criteria, SJSU received the highest score possible, and was among 15 CSU schools that ranked in the top 10 percent nationally.

SJSU joins a select group of only 10 public institutions nationwide that achieved the 5-star ranking, placing it in the top 5% of all 732 institutions ranked alongside Universities such as Stanford, UC Berkeley, Harvard, or Princeton.

San José State scored particularly well in Money’s outcomes category. Ten years after enrolling, median annual earnings for alumni are nearly $79,000. That figure is significantly higher than expected compared to schools with similar student demographics. SJSU’s graduation rate of 75% is also about 15% higher than predicted based on its demographics, according to Money’s analysis.

Other contributing factors to San José State’s 5-star rating include the relatively inexpensive annual cost, the number of student organizations on campus, amount of club sports, and initiatives and centers ensuring students from all backgrounds can find a community on campus. 

Speaking about the 15 CSU campuses included on the list, Chancellor Mildred Garcia emphasized the CSU’s impact.

“The tremendous scale at which we are graduating and serving students across the CSU is truly impactful, and indeed unmatched among four-year higher education systems,” said García. “Our students are juggling work, family responsibilities and their studies—demonstrating extraordinary determination and resolve. We are committed not only to expanding access to quality higher education, but also to ensuring career outcomes that empower and enrich our graduates long after they leave campus. This ranking further establishes the CSU’s standing as a national model for delivering an accessible, high-quality education that uplifts individuals, families and entire communities.”

SJSU’s location in the heart of Silicon Valley is an advantage to students interested in exploring professional opportunities or internships at one of the many tech companies in the area. Apple, Intuit, Salesforce, PayPay and IBM are among companies that have hired San José State students.

This accolade from Money Magazine adds to SJSU’s growing list of national recognitions, such as its recent ranking as the #4 Best Public University in the Nation by the Wall Street Journal/College Pulse, further validating its role as a leader in accessible, high-impact higher education.