San José State University is a comprehensive public university in San Jose, California, and the founding campus of the California State University system. Founded in 1857 as Minns' Evening Normal School in San Francisco, it was the first State Normal School in California, established to train teachers. It now serves more than 35,000 students through degree and academic programs spanning teacher training and education, research, and community engagement.
Situated in the heart of Silicon Valley and anchoring the tenth largest city in the United States, the university maintains close proximity to one of the world's densest concentrations of technology employers. Its stated work includes innovative research alongside teaching and community engagement. Technical and research activity sits within a broader institutional focus on equity-minded social impact, global innovation, and community engagement.
San José State University is a Hispanic Serving Institution and has been recognised nationally for graduating historically underserved students. Its alumni network exceeds 350,000, with graduates found around the globe. The university's Transformation 2030 strategic plan sets out to position it as a nationally prominent urban public university.
