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
Money Magazine (2022) - National Rankings
#1
Most Transformative University (2020)
#27
Best Public Universities
#31
Best Colleges/Universities Overall
U.S. News and World Report (2023)
National Ranking
#3
Best Undergraduate Engineering Program among Public Universities
#4
Mechanical Engineering Program among Public Universities
#6
Electrical Engineering Program among Public Universities (2022)
Regional Rankings (West) - among public universities
#2
Campus Ethnic Diversity
#3
Best Colleges for Veterans
#3
Best Value Schools
#4
Top Public Schools
#7
Top Performers for Social Mobility
#15
Least Debt
Wall Street Journal (2022) - National Rankings
#13
Diversity of Students and Faculty
Diverse: Issues in Higher Education (2020) - National Rankings for Undergraduate and Graduate
Total Minority
#1
Engineering - Graduate
#1
Library Science - Graduate
#3
Business Administration, Management and Operations - Undergraduate
#4
Engineering - Undergraduate
#6
Visual And Performing Arts - Undergraduate
#7
Public Health - Undergraduate
Asian American
#1
Business Administration, Management and Operations - Undergraduate
#1
Engineering - Graduate
#2
Engineering Technologies And Engineering-Related Fields - Undergraduate
#2
Visual And Performing Arts - Undergraduate
#3
Public Health - Undergraduate
#4
Engineering - Undergraduate
Hispanic
#1
Library Science - Graduate
#7
Public Health- Undergraduate
#8
Business Administration, Management and Operations- Undergraduate
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
Recognizes top-performing colleges and universities overall by institution type and
in 17 sustainability impact areas.
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
- 2011 Recipient - WWNFF Career Enhancement
Rebeca Burciaga
Connie L. Lurie College of Education, Educational Leadership
- 2007 Recipient - National Institutes of Health
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
