Admit rate has ranged 44%–54% over the last 5 years — notably volatile. Source: IPEDS via Urban Institute.
Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.
Santa Clara University blends Jesuit tradition with Silicon Valley ambition, offering a tight-knit campus where 88% of students graduate—many into top-tier tech and business careers. With an acceptance rate hovering around 48%, SCU attracts high-achievers (average SAT: 1413) who want small classes, a collaborative vibe, and proximity to Apple and Google internships. The sticker price is steep ($63,514), but 30% of students receive aid averaging $52,229.
Admission requirements
Test-optional — scores considered if submitted
Required
High school transcript
Grade point average
Letters of recommendation
College-prep program
TOEFL (non-native English)
Considered (not required)
Class rank
Test scores (SAT/ACT)
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.
More details
Undergrad enrollment
6,552
In-state tuition
$61,293
Out-of-state tuition
$61,293
Top Majors
Finance, Psychology, Computer Science
Acceptance Rate
48%
4-Year Grad Rate
88%
Avg Financial Aid
$52,229
Alumni Earnings Rank
Top 1% nationally
Student-Faculty Ratio
11:1
Outcomes & value
Outcomes & value
Median earnings (10 yr)
$109,183
Value (earnings ÷ net price)
2.2×
Median debt at graduation
$19,162
Graduation rate
88%
First-year retention
94%
Reducing loan balance (3 yr)
88%
Pell (lower-income) share
33%
First-generation share
17%
Endowment / student
$237,370
Financial health
2.7 / 3.0Meets the federal financial-responsibility standard
U.S. Dept. of Education Financial Responsibility Composite Score (FY2022-23). Scale −1.0 to 3.0; ≥1.5 meets the standard. Reported for private nonprofit & for-profit institutions only — public universities are state-backed and not scored, so this is a stability signal, not a ranking.
Top-earning majors
Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.
Computer Engineering$103,449
Management Information Systems and Services$80,391
Civil Engineering$79,473
Mechanical Engineering$74,576
Finance and Financial Management Services$70,456
Accounting and Related Services$69,740
Campus & location
Campus safety
On-campus violent crimes (2024)
5
Per 1,000 students
0.76
On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.
Climate
Pleasant days / yr
199
Summer high
84°F
Winter low
44°F
Annual rain
20.6"
Natural-hazard risk
Very High
Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.
Deep dive — research, future-scholar output & economic mobility▾
Research output
Institutional h-index
283
Scholarly works
16,741
Institutional research volume and impact from OpenAlex. The h-index reflects large research universities and will be low for teaching-focused liberal-arts colleges — not a measure of undergraduate quality.
Economic mobility
Mobility rate
2.2%
Bottom → top quintile
62%
From bottom quintile
4%
Mobility rate = the share of students who both start in the bottom household-income quintile and reach the top quintile; bottom → top is that chance conditional on starting at the bottom. Source: Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Cards (Chetty, Friedman, Saez, Turner & Yagan). Reflects 1980–82 birth cohorts, so it’s directional, not current.
Quick answers
What is the acceptance rate at Santa Clara University?
Santa Clara University's acceptance rate is approximately 48% (Santa Clara, CA), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.
What SAT score do you need for Santa Clara University?
Admitted students at Santa Clara University typically score 1350–1490 on the SAT (the middle-50% range). Scores outside this band are still admitted, especially with strong applications.
How much does Santa Clara University cost?
At Santa Clara University, the average net price (after aid) is about $50,062 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.
How many undergraduates attend Santa Clara University?
Santa Clara University enrolls approximately 6,552 undergraduate students.
Where is Santa Clara University located?
Santa Clara University is located in Santa Clara, CA.
Admissions
Santa Clara’s admissions process is moderately selective, with a 48% acceptance rate for the Class of 2028. The middle 50% SAT range is 1360–1480, and ACT scores fall between 31–33. Unweighted GPAs average 3.73, with 55% of admitted students holding a 3.75+ GPA. SCU is test-optional and prioritizes course rigor and GPA over extracurriculars or essays (per their Common Data Set (CDS)A standardized report most colleges publish each year with admissions, test-score, and financial-aid figures, making schools easier to compare.). About 42% of students come from out-of-state, and the university actively recruits a diverse class—Latine/x enrollment hit a record high in 2023.
Earnings = median of students working ~10 years after entry; debt = median of graduates. Value divides 10-yr earnings by one year’s net price — read it as earnings per dollar of annual cost, not a full lifetime ROI; it favors lower-cost schools. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~2 years and reflect all students, not your intended major.
Business/Managerial Economics$69,338
Economics$68,379
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings). Figures cover graduates who received federal aid and lag ~2 years; not all programs report data.
Academics
SCU offers 50+ majors across its College of Arts and Sciences, Leavey School of Business, and School of Engineering. Popular programs include Finance, Psychology, and Computer Science, with small class sizes (student-faculty ratio: 11:1) and a Jesuit emphasis on ethics and social justice. The curriculum blends liberal arts with pre-professional training—think philosophy seminars alongside Silicon Valley startup incubators. Graduate programs in business and engineering are strong feeders to Bay Area tech firms.
The vibe is collaborative, not cutthroat, with a mix of laid-back Californians and career-focused go-getters. Parties exist but aren’t dominant—94% of students report feeling safe on campus, and the ‘Culture of CARE’ initiative promotes mental health support. The 106-acre campus, dotted with Spanish mission-style architecture, is a 10-minute drive from San Jose. TikTok tours highlight outdoor study spots, Jesuit service projects, and spontaneous runs to In-N-Out Burger.
SCU delivers top-tier ROI: its alumni earn median salaries in the top 1% nationally, ranking #7 out of 1,503 schools. The 88% graduation rate outpaces most peers, and graduates land at companies like Google, KPMG, and Tesla. The Silicon Valley location pays off—60% of students complete internships before graduating. US News ranks SCU among the best for long-term financial value.
Sticker price hits $63,514, but 30% of undergrads receive financial aid, with an average package of $52,229. The Net priceWhat a family actually pays after grants and scholarships are subtracted from the sticker price — usually far less than the published cost. for most aid recipients is $50,551—still steep, but SCU argues the Silicon Valley earnings justify it. Merit scholarships are competitive (typically for 3.8+ GPAs), and the university meets 100% of demonstrated need for admitted students.
SCU merges Jesuit values with tech hustle—where else can you attend Mass, then network with a Tesla recruiter at the campus career fair? Its 88% graduation rate and top 1% alumni earnings defy its ‘safety school’ reputation, while the 48% acceptance rate makes it accessible compared to Stanford down the road. For students who want small classes, sunny courtyards, and a foot in the Silicon Valley door, it’s a golden ticket.
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