Accomplishments
From topping the charts in national rankings to taking home the gold medal on the world's biggest athletic stage, SJSU has reached the pinnacle of excellence often during its more than 160 year history. Here are some of the recent and historic achievements.
Sections:
 Rankings |
 Faculty Fellowships |
 Olympic Medalists |
Rankings
US News (2025) - National Rankings
#4
Regional Universities (West)
- #3 Top Public University (West)
- #11 Best Value (West)
- #3 Best Colleges for Veterans
- #12 Social Mobility - Regional Universities (West)
- #127 Best Undergraduate Business
- #15 Best Undergraduate Engineering - Non-Doctoral
Wall Street Journal (2025) - National Rankings
#4
Public University in the Country
- SJSU vaulted 157 spots from last year’s overall rankings
- #5 among public universities for Best Salaries
- #28 for social mobility and #42 for best value in the nation
Money Magazine (2024) - National Rankings
- Scored 4.5 out of 5 stars in rating system for Best Colleges
- SJSU also appears on the following lists:
- Best Public Colleges
- Best Colleges in the West
- Best Colleges with High Acceptance Rates
- In inaugural Best Graduate Programs rankings, SJSU's Public Health program earned
5 out of 5 stars and the Nursing program earned 4 out of 5 stars.
- Public Health is only one of two programs in the nation to earn 5 stars.
- SJSU still holds the #1 Most Transformative University ranking first announced in 2020.
U.S. News and World Report (2024)
National Ranking - among public universities
#3
Electrical/Electronic/ Communications Program
#4
Mechanical Engineering Program
#6
Best Undergraduate Engineering Program – Non-Doctorate
#7
Computer Engineering Program
Regional Rankings (West)
#1
Best Value among Public Universities
#3
Best Colleges for Veterans
#3
Most Innovative School
#3
Top Public Schools
#3
Campus Ethnic Diversity among Public Universities
#7
Top Performers for Social Mobility
Wall Street Journal (2024) - National Rankings
#1
Public University for Accounting Salaries for Graduates
#2
Public University for Marketing Salaries for Graduates
#4
Public University for Data Science Salaries for Graduates
#5
Public University for Engineering Salaries for Graduates
#6
Public University for Software Developer Salaries for Graduates
#19
Public University in California
Forbes (2023) - National Rankings
#10
Public university in California
Washington Monthly (2023) - National Rankings
Top 50
Master’s University Rankings
Third Way (2023) - Economic Mobility Index
Tier 1
Top 20% of universities in the country
Times Higher Education Impact Rankings (2022) - National Rankings
Based on U.N.’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Top 15
Life Below Water
From Times Higher Ed (THE) - How "universities are protecting and enhancing aquatic
ecosystems like lakes, ponds, streams, wetlands, rivers, estuaries and the open ocean.”
Top 15
Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
From THE - Focused on “universities’ research on law and international relations,
their participation as advisers for government and their policies on academic freedom.”
Top 20
Sustainable Cities and Communities
From THE - Highlights the “interaction between universities and their communities,
urban and rural” and how higher education institutions must “act as custodians of
heritage and environment in their communities, a sustainable community must have access
to its history and culture in order to thrive.”
Sustainability - National & International Rankings
#6 Among Master's Institutions - Top Performers List [pdf]
Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE)
Recognizes top-performing colleges and universities overall by institution type and
in 17 sustainability impact areas.
Gold Rating
Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating System (STARS)
A program of AASHE, valid from 2024 to 2027.
LEED Gold Certification
United States Green Buildings Council
Awarded to the Interdisciplinary Science Building.
Green Colleges for 2023
The Princeton Review
Recognizes environmentally responsive schools—based on a review of more than 700 colleges.
Top 55
Sierra Club Cool Schools 2021
Based on academics, engagement, operations and planning
Top 15% in Sustainability
UI GreenMetric World University Rankings
Based on environmentally friendly policies that support sustainability.
Faculty Fellowships
Magdalena Barrera
College of Social Sciences, Chicana and Chicano Studies
- 2011 Recipient - WWNFF Career Enhancement
Faustina DuCros
College of Social Sciences, Chicana and Chicano Studies
- 2017 Recipient - WWNFF Career Enhancement
Rebeca Burciaga
Connie L. Lurie College of Education, Educational Leadership
- 2007 Recipient - National Institutes of Health
Jonathan Gomez
College of Social Sciences, Chicana and Chicano Studies
- 2021 Recipient - Ford Postdoctoral Fellow
Ellen Middaugh
Connie L. Lurie College of Education, Child and Adolescent Development
- 2020 Recipient - Spencer Fellows
Robert Marx
Connie L. Lurie College of Education, Child and Adolescent Development
- 2020 Recipient - Society for Research in Child Development
Olympic Medalists
San José State has been a part of nearly every Summer Olympic Games since 1924. Spartans have competed, coached or earned medals, while representing the United States and countries around the globe.
7
Gold Medals
- Jill Sudduth, 1996, synchronized swimming
- Lee Evans, 1968, 4x400 meters
- Lee Evans, 1968, 400 meters
- Ronnie Ray Smith, 1968, 4x100 meters
- Tommie Smith, 1968, 200 meters
- Chuck Adkins, 1952, boxing
- Willie Steele, 1948, long jump
7
Silver Medals
- Clara Espar Llaquet, 2020, water polo, representing Spain
- Jim Doehring, 1992, shot put
- Kevin Asano, 1988, judo
- Bob Berland, 1984, judo
- Steve Hamann, 1984, water polo
- Mitch Ivey, 1972, 100 meter backstroke
- Mitch Ivey, 1968, 200 meter backstroke
- Lynn Vidali, 1968, 400 meters IM
6
Bronze Medals
- Emma Entzminger, 2020, softball, representing Canada
- Marti Malloy, 2012, judo
- Mike Swain, 1988, judo
- John Powell, 1984, discus
- John Powell, 1976, discus
- Lynn Vidali, 1972, 200 meters IM
- John Carlos, 1968, 200 meters
