programs-fees

MLIS Fees

There are two types of fee structures for MLIS students at the San José State University School of Information: Regular Session and Special Session.

For a comparison of the two fee structures, view this fee comparison chart.

Regular Session students live near the San José State University campus, and their tuition is established by the California State University system. Students who live in zip codes 939xx-958xx are Regular Session students. Regular Session students pay a flat rate based on the number of units they enroll in each semester, rather than paying by unit. The California State University system sets this fee structure. Further details about Regular Session tuition can be found here.

Special Session students live anywhere in the world, except the San José, California catchment area. California residents who don’t live in the San José catchment area (zip codes 939xx-958xx), students who live outside California, and international students are Special Session students. Special Session tuition for AY 2025 - 2026 through Summer 2026 are $568 per unit. Fees for AY 2026 – 2027 starting in Fall 2026 will be $596 per unit. Fees are subject to review and change. 

Students are advised to budget for textbook expenses, as well as obtaining the necessary equipment to prepare their home computing environment, including monthly Internet service, so that they may begin their first semester with all materials in place.

Important Note: In order for financial aid to be available in your first semester, you must complete your financial aid application 3 to 4 months before the semester begins. Applicants can try to get a financial aid application on file while applying for admission to the program.

The Financial Aid Office will not make any financial awards or disbursements until an applicant has been admitted to the iSchool and enrolled for classes. The amount awarded depends on the number of units a student takes each semester. Students need to enroll in at least 4 units (200 level courses) each semester in order to maintain eligibility for financial aid.

“I found the San José State program to be the most affordable of all the MLIS programs, which was very important to me coming almost directly out of undergraduate university.” — Beth Atlas

MARA Fees

Special Session tuition for AY 2025 - 2026 through Summer 2026 are $568 per unit. Fees for AY 2026 – 2027 starting in Fall 2026 will be $596 per unit. Fees are subject to review and change.  Fees are subject to review and change.

Students are advised to budget for textbook expenses, as well as obtaining the necessary equipment to prepare their home computing environment, including monthly Internet service, so that they may begin their first semester with all materials in place.

Important Note: In order for financial aid to be available in your first semester, you must complete your financial aid application 3 to 4 months before the semester begins. Applicants can try to get a financial aid application on file while applying for admission to the program.

The Financial Aid Office will not make any financial awards or disbursements until an applicant has been admitted to the iSchool and enrolled for classes. The amount awarded depends on the number of units a student takes each semester. Students need to enroll in at least 4 units (200 level courses) each semester in order to maintain eligibility for financial aid.

MS Informatics Fees

For AY 2025 – 2026, Special Session MS in Informatics tuition is $622 per unit through Summer 2026. For AY 2026 – 2027 starting in Fall 2026, Special Session MS in Informatics tuition is $653 per unit. Fees are subject to review and change.

Students are advised to budget for textbook expenses, as well as obtaining the necessary equipment to prepare their home computing environment, including monthly Internet service, so that they may begin their first semester with all materials in place.

INFM students must make decisions about add / drops for both session I and session II within the Special Session fall, spring and summer semester MySJSU enrollment periods, and within Special Session semester deadlines for add/drops and refunds.

Before registering, review the information about the Special Session refund policy. Late registration ends 14 days after the first day of the Special Session semester (rather than the INFM session start date), and incurs fees. INFM students needing to withdraw from a class after the first two weeks in the semester should contact iSchool Student Services.

Important Note: In order for financial aid to be available in your first semester, you must complete your financial aid application 3 to 4 months before the semester begins. Applicants can try to get a financial aid application on file while applying for admission to the program.

The Financial Aid Office will not make any financial awards or disbursements until an applicant has been admitted to the iSchool and enrolled for classes. The amount awarded depends on the number of units a student takes each semester. Students need to enroll in at least 4 units (200 level courses) each semester in order to maintain eligibility for financial aid.

MSIDT Fees

For AY 2025 – 2026, Special Session MSIDT tuition will be $622 per unit through Summer 2026. For AY 2026 – 2027, starting in Fall 2026, Special Session MSIDT tuition will be $653 per unit. Fees are subject to review and change.

Students are advised to budget for textbook expenses, as well as obtaining the necessary equipment to prepare their home computing environment, including monthly Internet service, so that they may begin their first semester with all materials in place.

Important Note: In order for financial aid to be available in your first semester, you must complete your financial aid application 3 to 4 months before the semester begins. Applicants can try to get a financial aid application on file while applying for admission to the program.

The Financial Aid Office will not make any financial awards or disbursements until an applicant has been admitted to the iSchool and enrolled for classes. The amount awarded depends on the number of units a student takes each semester. Students need to enroll in at least 4 units (200 level courses) each semester in order to maintain eligibility for financial aid.

BS-ISDA Freshman Student Fees

Information on tuition and fees can be found on the Bursar’s Office website.

Students are advised to budget for textbook expenses, as well as obtaining the necessary equipment to prepare their home computing environment, including monthly Internet service, so that they may begin their first semester with all materials in place.

BS-ISDA Transfer Student Fees

Fees for the bachelor’s degree in AY 2025 – 2026 are $500 a unit for the required 60 units with a total cost of $30,000 through Summer 2026. For AY 2026 – 2027 starting in Fall 2026, Special Session BS in Information Science and Data Analytics tuition will be $525 per unit. Fees are subject to review and change.

See: SJSU Online Costs and Aid

Your tuition fees also include:

Regular academic advising and student support from our Student Success Center.

Access to helpful campus resources such as the SJSU Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library, Career Center, and Writing Center.

Opportunities to participate in open-access activities such as SJSU events and student organizations

Students are advised to budget for textbook expenses, as well as obtaining the necessary equipment to prepare their home computing environment, including monthly Internet service, so that they may begin their first semester with all materials in place.

Students in Special Session are eligible for federal financial aid (Pell Grant and Federal Direct Loans). Special Session students are not eligible for state financial aid (State University Grant, Cal Grant, EOP, Middle Class Scholarship).