As the fall semester begins, San José State welcomes a record number of new students and a record-high price in campus parking.
Nearly 40,000 students are enrolled at SJSU this fall, an 8% increase from the Fall 2024 semester, according to an SJSU News Center webpage.

The daily parking fee is now $12, according to an SJSU ​webpage, with rates rising for the first time in over 20 years, according to Eric Cross, SJSU’s Parking Manager.

“Parking fees here at San José State University had been locked at the same rate since 2004 … the parking fees have not kept up with the parking expenses,” Cross said.

In the current academic year, an “S” semester parking permit is $220, according to an SJSU webpage.

“The yearly parking permit last year was $192 … per semester, ” Cross said.

The parking price hike has impacted a significant number of commuter students, as a 2023 survey conducted by SJSU Associated Students’ Transportation Solutions reported that 30.32% of students drive themselves to campus.

Daniela Espinoza, a fourth-year human resources student at SJSU, shared her thoughts on the price hike.

“I’m already paying so much to go here. I can barely find parking and I drive around for an hour and half just to find a spot,” Espinoza said. “I don’t wanna pay for the yearly pass but daily parking is already half of what I make hourly.”

In addition to increases in campus parking prices and student enrollment, tuition and campus fees has also increased from $8,410, as of the 2024-25 academic year, to $8,846, for the 2025-26 academic year, according to a SJSU webpage.

Nicole Alle, a fourth-year business student, expressed her experience with the price hike.

“I had to cut hours at my job just to come an hour and a half early to find parking,” Alle said.

Cross said that parking is available and that the South Campus Garage parking specifically has yet to reach above 60% capacity since the beginning of the fall semester, but that students do not want to utilize South Campus Garage parking, creating overcrowding in the other parking facilities.

The shuttle from South Campus Garage runs Monday through Thursday, starting transport from the Park and Ride lot at 6:30 a.m. and ending service from Duncan Hall at 10:20 p.m., according to the SJSU Shuttle Bus Flyer.

After 4:15 p.m., shuttle buses will run exclusively on the short route, from 7:05 a.m. to 9:35 p.m. to, shuttle buses transport every 10 minutes, and from 9:35 p.m. to 10:20 p.m., shuttle buses run every 20 minutes, according to the same SJSU Shuttle Bus Flyer.

“The reality is that even though we have that limited number of parking (spots), we do have parking, we have yet to meet peak capacity for parking on campus,” Cross said. “The last time we experienced that issue was probably pre-Covid.”

Stephan Lee, a fourth-year student, shared his thoughts about the situation upon learning of the rise in parking prices.
“I feel like I’m being scammed,” Lee said.

Cross also said that some commuters may benefit more from using the Associated Students Smartpass Clipper card as opposed to driving themselves.

The Associated Students SmartPass Clipper card offers both students and employees unlimited rides on Santa Clara Valley Transport Authority (VTA) Local and Rapid buses, Limited routes, and Light Rail line, according to the SJSU SmartPass webpage.

“Do you really need to bring your vehicle to campus? That’s a big issue we have long partnered with (A.S.) Transportation Solutions, with, in regards too. We encourage students to really have that conversation with themselves, with mom and dad, family members.” Cross said.

The SmartPass Clipper is not valid on ACE, Amtrak, BART, Caltrain, AC Transit, Highway 17 Express, Dumbarton Express, Monterey-Salinas Transit, SamTrans and other non-VTA services, according to the same webpage.

Cross said that the raise in parking prices are more so a reactionary measure, aiming to make up the difference in the department’s reserves, rather than an intentional exploitative procedure.

He said that the parking department is funded directly through the parking fees collected, not through the university.

“We’re dealing with inflationary prices … wage increases from our staff and members here within our organization, technology cost to operate the parking systems, the equipment we need … the maintenance,” Cross said.

Aarnav Iyer, an SJSU fourth-year business student, shared his personal opinion on the price increase.

“I think if people are paying that much they should have designated spots … I spent an hour and a half (trying) to find parking … I was late to class today because of it,” Iyer said.