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. Every figure on this page is reported by the federal government, not supplied by the college, so it can be compared like for like against anywhere else you are looking.
AccreditorWestern Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission
Academic CalendarQuarter
How It Measures Up
These four scores answer one question: compared with similar colleges, is this one worth the money? Each runs 0 to 100 and is judged only against its peer group (4-Year Selective), so a community college is never marked down for not being Harvard. Everything is computed from federal data. Nobody can pay to move a score, and a pillar with missing data is left unscored rather than guessed.
Good
68/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes94
Value27
Affordability2
Selectivity88
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
Santa Clara University admits 48% of applicants, which makes it genuinely competitive, so your application needs to be strong.
Acceptance Rate
48%
Selective
SAT Range (25th–75th)
1350 – 1490
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
31 – 33
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized 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
Ignore the sticker price. What matters is the net price, which is what a typical family pays here after grants and scholarships come off. At $50,062 a year on average, it sits above what private nonprofit colleges charge nationally. That is a serious number, so the earnings further down matter more here than usual. Figures are College Scorecard 2023-24.
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.
$4,79310%percentile
$10,16725%percentile
$19,162Medianpercentile
$27,00075%percentile
$31,50090%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 students who start here finish within six years, and 94% come back after first year. Most people who start here leave with the degree they came for. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
Completion and earnings carry the most weight in this college's score, and how the UCD Score weighs each measure sets out exactly how they are combined.
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
Ten years after starting here, the median student earns $109,183 a year, well above the national median. Strong earnings, though the field studied drives much of that. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
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
Who you would actually be sitting next to: 6,552 students, a large student community.
Total Enrolled
6,552
Part-Time
2%
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.
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.
There are 10 students for every instructor here: small classes, and staff who are likely to know your name.
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
No college is right for everyone. Here is where Santa Clara University is likely to suit you and where it may not, based on the same figures shown above.
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
The questions families ask most about Santa Clara University, answered straight from the federal data rather than from the college's own marketing.
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?
48% of applicants are admitted. Around half get in, so a solid application has a real chance. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What SAT score do you need for Santa Clara University?
Aim for 1490 or better. Half of admitted students scored between 1350 and 1490 (Reading plus Math), so anything above the top of that range makes you competitive and anything below the bottom means the rest of your application has to carry more weight. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
What ACT score do you need for Santa Clara University?
Aim for 33 or better. Half of admitted students scored between 31 and 33 on the composite, so the upper half of that band is where you want to land. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Santa Clara University cost?
Budget around $50,062 a year. That is the net price, what families typically pay once grants and scholarships come off, not the sticker price. Your own figure depends on household income, so treat this as a midpoint rather than a quote. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Santa Clara University worth it?
On the numbers, yes: moderate return on investment. Ten years in, the median graduate earns $109,183 a year against a net price of $50,062, about 2.2 dollars of earnings for every dollar of annual cost. That ratio ignores whether you finish and what you study, which matter just as much. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Santa Clara University known for?
Mostly Business Administration, Computer Engineering, Law. Those are the fields where it awards the most degrees, which is a better guide to where the teaching strength sits than any reputation ranking. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
What do Santa Clara University graduates earn?
About $109,183 a year, measured ten years after students first enrolled. Half earn more and half earn less, and what you study moves that figure far more than where you study. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
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?
6,552 students. Big enough for a wide course catalogue without feeling anonymous. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
What is the graduation rate at Santa Clara University?
84% finish within six years. Most people who start here graduate, which is the signal you want. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
Is Santa Clara University a public or private college?
It is Private Nonprofit. Private nonprofit, so the sticker price is higher but institutional aid is often larger too.
Where is Santa Clara University located?
Santa Clara University is located in Santa Clara, California.
What programs does Santa Clara University offer?
63 different programs, most commonly Business Administration, Computer Engineering, Law. If the subject you want is not among them, check the full list before applying rather than assuming it is offered.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Santa Clara University?
10 students per instructor. Low enough that staff are likely to know who you are. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
Related Colleges in California
Other colleges in California share the same applicant pool, regional economy, and academic landscape. Comparing nearby options puts admissions, costs, and outcomes in context, useful when weighing your fit against local alternatives.
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