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 |
 Recognitions |
 Faculty Fellowships |
 Olympic Medalists |
Rankings
U.S. News (2026) - National Rankings
#4
Regional Universities West
#3
Top Public Schools
#9
Best Value Schools
#3 Colleges for Veterans
#13 Social Mobility - Regional Universities (West)
#135 Nursing
#21 Undergraduate Engineering - Non-Doctoral
Money Magazine (2025) - National Rankings
Best Public Colleges - 5 Stars Received
CodeSignal (2025) - National Rankings
#9 University in the Nation for Coding
F1 Hire (2025) - National Rankings
#1 Career Outcomes for International Students
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 Salaries
- #28 for social mobility and #42 for best value in the nation
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.
Recognitions
U.S. Department of Education
2025 Postsecondary Success Recognition Program Winner
The U.S. Department of Education announced SJSU as one of six winners of the first-ever Postsecondary Success Recognition Program (PSRP). Launched in April 2024 by U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona, the program celebrates institutions of higher education that are enrolling underserved student populations, facilitating successful student transfers and completions, and equipping graduates for careers that lead to economic mobility.
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
