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University of Silicon Valley

San Jose, CA · City · 455 students
WebsiteScorecard
$27,815
Average net priceYour net price
2023-24
<30
30–48
48–75
75–110
110+
By household income — tap a bar
31%
Graduation rate
Entered fall 2017 & 2018
43% typical
$51,017
Earnings 10 years on
Measured 2020 & 2021
$45,606 typical
51%
Acceptance rate
Applied for fall 2024
75% typical · not scored
Accredited by Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission
About

The University of Silicon Valley, formerly known as Cogswell College, is a specialized institution celebrated for its career-focused degrees in game design and development, digital art and animation, audio production, and software engineering. The campus culture is close-knit, creative, and highly collaborative, functioning much like an active digital media studio where students learn in small cohorts. A defining feature of USV is its project-based learning model, which leverages its prime San Jose location and deep tech-industry connections to immerse students in real-world production pipelines that yield professional-grade portfolios.


Wikipedia:The University of Silicon Valley (USV) is a private for-profit university in San Jose, California, in Silicon Valley. The school was founded in 1887 as Cogswell Polytechnical College. It was the first technical training institution in the Western United States and one of only two private universities, along with Stanford University, that were originally guaranteed a tax exemption in the California Constitution. USV is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission. Programs at USV range from digital media to engineering, with an emphasis on digital animation, audio and music production, and video game design.

Location
San Jose, CA, 95134 · City campus
✈
Nearest airport from college
SJC · San Jose
4 mi away
Cost & aid
Cost of attendance
These figures are federal data and may be out of date.
YoursEveryone
Tuition & fees$22,480
Housing & food (on campus)$19,926
Books & supplies$944
Cost of attendance$35,722
Average net price$27,815
Same price for all students
Tuition & fees$22,480
Housing & food (on campus)$19,926
Books & supplies$944
Cost of attendance$35,722
Average net price$27,815
Net price by family income · 2023-24
$0–30k
$24,350
$30–48k
$27,140
$48–75k
$28,102
$75–110k
$28,144
$110k+
$34,379
Outcomes
Completion
Within 6 yrs
31%
Entered 2017–18
Within 4 yrs
20%
Back for yr 2
69%
Transferred
2%
8 yrs after starting · first-time, full-time students
48% graduated · 22% transferred · 30% left or unknown · none still enrolled
Earnings · measured 2020 & 2021
6 yrs after entry$39,802
10 yrs after entry$51,017
Debt
Median at graduation$31,000
Monthly payment$329
Middle 50% owe$8.3k–$31k
90th percentile$44,000
Green marks a figure above the typical Baccalaureate — diverse fields: $45,606 earned 10 yrs after entry.
Admissions
Getting in · applied for fall 2024
Admit rate
51%
Test policy
Not required
Per College Scorecard

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Essay prompts

If University of Silicon Valley asks for supplemental essays, the prompts are in the school's application.

Student Body
Gender
Men 72%Women 28%
Who enrolls
Faculty ratio
13 : 1
Pell grant
50%
First-gen
28%
Family income
$35,952
Independent
23%
Age at entry
21.0
Part-time
21%
Race & ethnicity
White
29%
Hispanic
27%
Black
12%
Asian
17%
Two or more
6%
AI/AN
1%
NH/PI
1%
Unknown
8%
Varsity sports

No data. This school isn't in the U.S. Department of Education's athletics (EADA) file, so we can't list its teams. That doesn't mean it has none.

Programs & Earnings
Bachelor's degrees by annual completions · 4yr national median earnings
Median earnings, all programs · measured 2020 & 2021
After 6 yrs
$39,802
After 10 yrs
$51,017
Graphic Communications26
Design and Applied Arts19
Computer Software and Media Applications15
Music10
Computer Programming9
Business Administration, Management and Operations2
Type your major above to highlight and detail relevant programs.
Institutional
Resources
Full-time faculty
7%
Faculty salary
$7,964/mo
Teaching spend
$5,946
per student
Federal loans
67%
Classification
Carnegie type
Baccalaureate — diverse fields
Undergraduate profile
Four-year, more selective admissions

Wondering if University of Silicon Valley is the right fit for you?

SchoolScout builds a personalized college list — reach, match, and safety schools — tailored to your profile, grades, and goals. Get financial aid estimates, scholarship guidance, and deep dives on every school.

Personalized reach / match / safety list
Financial aid & net cost estimates
Deep dives on any school
Scholarship search