On-Campus and Off-Campus Program Comparison

• Admissions

  • On-campus mainly serves recent undegraduates and requires GRE results for some applicants. Off-campus serves mainly working professionals so does not use GRE results. Neither program requires letters of recommendation. Details.

• Location/Modality

  • Off-Campus

    - The MSAI and SSES programs are entirely online at the present.

    - Their original, pre-pandemic design was to offer both in-person and online options each week, so they continue to be classified as hybrid.

    - The full-time MSSE programs have one virtual and two in-person classes each semester.

    - When there are in-person off-campus classes, off-campus locations are chosen for your commuting/parking convenience.

    - For the Hybrid status which affords these options, students do need to attend any in-person meetings during the program.

    
    On-Campus

    - Classes are held on the main campus of San José State University, typically in-person.

• Curriculum & Schedule

  • Off-Campus

    Courses fit people with full-time lives, who benefit more from streamlined convenience more than class choices.

    - Typically, each class in the program meets at the same evening time, same one night each week.
    - Depending on the degree program, courses can be 11 or 16 weeks long.
    - Many programs take one course at a time; MSSE students take three at a time. On program schedules, two courses in “Spring” may mean consecutive between January and June.
    - The program schedule is available on the website in advance and at all times.
    - Due to the cohort nature of off-campus programs, students are guaranteed a seat in all program courses.
    - Summer courses are mandatory in some programs.

    On-Campus

    Students have more choices, and need much more schedule and logistic flexibility to embrace them.

    - Courses are 16 weeks long.

    - Classes meet on varying days/times, often during the work day. The Schedule of Classes is published prior to each semester and may include multiple sections of each class.

    - Summer courses are optional.

• Program Duration

  • Off-Campus

    - The program’s streamlined schedule means that all students in the cohort complete their degree in the same timeframe. 

    
    On-Campus

    - Typical duration of the program study is two years for a full time student. Taking classes on a part-time basis is possible but will lengthen the time required to complete the degree. 

• Time off

  • Off-Campus

    - Campus holidays and closures apply to off-campus classes frequently, but not universally. Make sure to check the specific program schedule for dates.

     

    -Off-campus programs frequently have different weeks off (e.g., between two classes).

    
    On-Campus

    - Campus closures are scheduled and posted on the online Academic Calendars.
    

• Cost/Fees

  • Off-Campus

    You pay per course, rather than per term, making the cost predictable and cost-effective for taking one course at a time.

    - For our one-course-at-a-time programs, you take two courses sequentially in Spring (January-March and March-May). The fourth course makes the total cost per year (10,800 for us) comparable to taking 3 courses on-campus ($9,426 for 2023-2024 school year), assuming one-course-at-a-time for the full-time professional.

    - Fall 2023 - Single degree: $900/unit = $2,700/course = $27,000/degree
    - Corporate degree: $1,100/unit = $3,300/course = $36,300/degree
    - No additional fees are required for non-residents. Textbooks are not included in program cost.
    - Costs are subject to change based on University-mandated fee increases.

    
    On-Campus

    Students are assessed a flat tuition fee and various mandatory registration fees for main campus amenities and resources.

    - 6 units or less = $3,207/semester (Fall 2023)

    - 6.1 units or more = $4,713/semester (Fall 2023)

    - Non-residents are required to pay an additional $396 per unit.

    - All CSU listed fees should be regarded as estimates that are subject to change upon approval by The Board of Trustees. Fees listed in published schedules or student accounts may need to be increased when public funding is inadequate. A list of current registration fees is available on the Bursar’s Office website.

     

    Students are assessed a flat tuition fee and various mandatory registration fees for main campus amenities and resources, making a full-time, on-campus life more cost-effective.

     

    Effective Fall 2024

    Public, off-campus programs will cost $927/unit. Classes are typically three units, for a total course cost of $2,781

• Other on-campus services

  • Both can get

    - Access to the Recreation Center on campus

    - Access to MLK Jr. Library on campus

    - Access to many Career Center resources

    -Access to Health Center

    -Tower Card

     

    Off-Campus

    - Only pay for Recreation Center membership, Health Center, and Tower Card fees if they want to come on-campus and use them. 

    - Some of Career Center's many services, for example they give out sets of interview clothes, are only for students paying on-campus fees.

    On-Campus

    - Pay all fees for on-campus services automatically.