Key differences on Getting in
- 1
U. Rochester's SAT midpoint is 55 points higher than Santa Clara's
SAT midpoint - 2
Santa Clara's yield is 4 pts higher than U. Rochester's
Yield rate - 3
U. Rochester admits 42% vs. 48% at Santa Clara
Acceptance rate
Admissions
Getting in, fall 2024
Acceptance and yield, test score ranges, test policy, and what each college weighs.
The funnel
Quad's selectivity
- U. RochesterVery selective
- Santa ClaraVery selective
Men and women
Acceptance rate for men and women who applied, where a college reports admissions by sex.
Test scores
SAT total,
Axis runs 1200–1600. The dark tick marks the national median midpoint.
ACT composite,
Axis runs 25–36. The dark tick marks the national median midpoint.
Test policy
- U. RochesterTest-optional
- Santa ClaraTest-blind
How they read a record
U. Rochester
and GPA are both very important; class rank and tests are both considered. 56% of first-years who sent test scores had a 3.75 or higher, so and rarely sets an applicant apart; the courses behind it carry more of the weight.
Santa Clara
GPA, the high school record, and a college-prep program are required; class rank is considered. 54% of first-years had a 3.75 or higher, so .
What they look at
| Factor | U. Rochester | Santa Clara |
|---|---|---|
| High school GPA | Very important | Required |
| High school record | Required | Required |
| Class rank | Considered | Considered |
| College-prep program | Required | Required |
| Recommendations | Important | Required |
| Essay | Important | Required |
| Legacy status | Considered | Not considered |
| Work experience | Considered | Not considered |
| Demonstration of competencies | Not considered | Not considered |
| English proficiency test | Required | Required |
| Other tests | Not considered | Not considered |
Sources:University of Rochester (Fall 2025), Fall 2025;IPEDS Admissions survey, Fall 2024;University of Rochester Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2027 applicants;University of Rochester Common Data Set 2025–26, Entered fall 2024;College Scorecard, most recent release;Santa Clara University (Fall 2025), Fall 2025;Santa Clara University Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2027 applicants;Santa Clara University Common Data Set 2025–26, Entered fall 2024About the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)
Figures are the newest each college has published; years can differ between colleges. Each value's ⓘ shows its source and year. Why