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Santa Clara University

Private Nonprofit Graduate Good 68/100

Santa Clara University

See admissions data, costs, student outcomes, and academic programs, all verified from official US government sources.

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Santa Clara, California

About Santa Clara University

Santa Clara University is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Santa Clara, California. It enrolls 6,552 students (a large student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.

Official website: scu.edu

Acceptance: 48%
Graduation: 83.9%
Net Price: $50,062
Median Earnings (10yr): $109,183
Enrollment: 6,552
Student : Faculty: 10:1

Accreditor Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission

Academic Calendar Quarter

How It Measures Up

US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.

Good

68/100

UCD Score · 4-Year Selective

Outcomes 94

Value 27

Affordability 2

Selectivity 88

Admissions & Acceptance Rate

With an acceptance rate of 48%, Santa Clara University is a selective institution.

Acceptance Rate

48%

Selective

SAT Range (25th–75th)

1350 – 1490

Reading + Math combined

ACT Range (25th–75th)

31 – 33

Cumulative composite

Test Policy Not Considered Standardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.

5-Year Admission Trend

Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Santa Clara University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.

Stable ↓ 5.0 pts since 2019

Cost & Financial Aid

The real cost of attending Santa Clara University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $50,062 per year. That's above the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.

Average Net Price

$50,062

Per year, after typical aid

Receive Pell Grants

11%

Need-based federal aid

Receive Federal Loans

37%

Borrowing to attend

Full Cost Breakdown

Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.

Tuition & Fees: $61,293
Room & Board (on-campus): $19,893
Room & Board (off-campus): $22,086
Books & Supplies: $1,062
Other Expenses (on-campus): $4,446
Other Expenses (off-campus): $6,930
Total Cost of Attendance: $82,026

Application fee: $70 (one-time, due at submission)

Net Price by Family Income

Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.

Under $30,000

$22,985
$30,001 – $48,000

$19,154
$48,001 – $75,000

$26,531
$75,001 – $110,000

$37,219
Over $110,000

$60,678

Debt at Graduation

Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.

$4,793

10% percentile

$10,167

25% percentile

$19,162

Median percentile

$27,000

75% percentile

$31,500

90% percentile

Median Debt by Student Type

Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.

GroupDebtvs Median

Pell recipients $18,204 ↓ $958

No Pell $14,916 ↓ $4,246

Dependent students $17,175 ↓ $1,987

Independent students $12,500 ↓ $6,662

Female students $17,000 ↓ $2,162

Male students $15,658 ↓ $3,504

Worth knowing: Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $6,500, less than completers ($19,162), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.

Graduation Rate & Retention

84% of full-time students who enrolled at Santa Clara University graduate within six years, and 94% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

6-Year Graduation Rate

84%

Of students who graduate within six years

First-Year Retention

94%

Returning for their second year

What this means: Strong completion signals. Most students who start, finish.

After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes

According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Santa Clara University earn a median of $109,183 ten years after first enrolling. That's well above the national median for U.S. colleges.

Median Earnings (10 yrs)

$109,183

Earning > $25K

93%

10 yrs after entry

Earnings Growth After Graduation

Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.

Earnings by Demographic

Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.

By Gender

Female graduates

$77,100

Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.

Male graduates

$96,100

Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.

By Family Income at Entry

Family income (lowest third)

$88,000

Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (middle third)

$80,400

Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (highest third)

$86,400

Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.

The gender gap: Male graduates earn $19,000, about 20% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.

Loan Repayment Progression

Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.

Stable ↑ 4.2 pts across 6 years

What this signals: Excellent. 93% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.

Who Studies Here

Santa Clara University is home to 6,552 students, a large student community.

Total Enrolled

6,552

Part-Time

First-Generation

17%

Race & Ethnicity Breakdown

Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.

GroupShareStudents

White 36.5% 2,393

Asian 21.4% 1,400

Hispanic 19.8% 1,297

Other 9.5% 623

International 7.4% 487

Black 3.4% 221

Student Life & Campus Culture

Where students live, learn, and connect at Santa Clara University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.

Setting

Midsize City Santa Clara, California

Housing

Mostly residential 3,797 beds on campus

Adult Learners

1% of students are 25 or older

Athletics

NCAA athletic-conference member

Academic Calendar

Quarter scheduling structure

Designation

Religiously affiliated

What You Can Study

Santa Clara University offers an extensive catalog of programs: 63 distinct programs across 24 majors. Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings. Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.

10 Programs

Business

Business Administration $68K ($48K–$94K)
Finance $83K ($61K–$112K)
Management Sciences $86K ($62K–$115K)

14 Programs

Engineering

Computer Engineering $109K ($86K–$145K)
Computer Engineering $109K ($86K–$145K)
Mechanical Engineering $92K ($78K–$109K)

2 Programs

Legal Studies

Law $143K ($74K–$297K)
Legal Research $63K ($47K–$84K)

1 Program

Communication

Communication & Media $56K ($40K–$76K)

3 Programs

Biology

Biology $57K ($39K–$79K)
Neurobiology $62K ($41K–$89K)
Biochemistry & Biophysics $65K ($45K–$88K)

1 Program

Interdisciplinary Studies

Mathematics and Computer Science $119K ($77K–$175K)

View all majors View all programs

Faculty & Resources

The student-to-faculty ratio at Santa Clara University is 10:1, low (small classes, more faculty contact).

Student : Faculty

10:1

Students per instructional faculty member

Endowment

$2.4B

Strong financial cushion supports aid and stability

Avg Faculty Salary

$127,327

9-month equivalent across all ranks

Faculty by Rank

674 instructional faculty across 5 ranks. The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.

Rank	Faculty Count	Share	Avg Salary
Full Professors	137	20%	$184,578
Associate Professors	146	22%	$136,238
Assistant Professors	126	19%	$121,203
Lecturers	263	39%	$96,240
No Rank	2	0%	$152,500

Pros & Cons of Santa Clara University

A quick at-a-glance summary of how Santa Clara University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.

PROS

Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
Strong six-year graduation rate
Strong first-year retention
Above-average post-graduation earnings

CONS

High net price compared to most US colleges
Selective admissions, solid academic profile expected
Very high published cost of attendance (full-pay families pay much more than the net-price average)
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families

Best for: Based on the data, Santa Clara University is a fit for students prioritizing post-graduation earnings.

Frequently Asked Questions about Santa Clara University

Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Santa Clara University.

Is Santa Clara University hard to get into?

Santa Clara University is selective but not extremely competitive. Its acceptance rate is 48%. Strong academic credentials and a thoughtful application materially improve your odds.

What is the acceptance rate at Santa Clara University?

Santa Clara University has an acceptance rate of 48%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.

What SAT score do you need for Santa Clara University?

The middle 50% of admitted students at Santa Clara University scored between 1350 and 1490 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.

What ACT score do you need for Santa Clara University?

The middle 50% of admitted students at Santa Clara University scored between 31 and 33 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.

How much does Santa Clara University cost?

The average net price after aid at Santa Clara University is $50,062 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.

Is Santa Clara University worth it?

Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $109,183 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $50,062 per year. That's roughly 2.2x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.

What is Santa Clara University known for?

Santa Clara University is best known for its programs in Business Administration, Computer Engineering, Law. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

What do Santa Clara University graduates earn?

Median earnings 10 years after entering Santa Clara University are $109,183, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.

Is Santa Clara University accredited?

Yes. Santa Clara University is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission.

How many students attend Santa Clara University?

Santa Clara University enrolls 6,552 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.

What is the graduation rate at Santa Clara University?

Santa Clara University graduates 84% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

Is Santa Clara University a public or private college?

Santa Clara University is a Private Nonprofit institution.

Where is Santa Clara University located?

Santa Clara University is located in Santa Clara, California.

What programs does Santa Clara University offer?

Santa Clara University offers 63 distinct programs. The most popular include Business Administration, Computer Engineering, Law.

What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Santa Clara University?

The student-to-faculty ratio at Santa Clara University is 10:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.