Quad

Santa Clara University

Santa Clara, CAQuad's selectivityVery selective
Known forVery diverseHigh earnersHigh graduation rateTest-optional heavy
WebsiteAdmissionsApplyVisitFinancial aid

Updates

What changed

New and revised figures from the latest data releases, each with its year.

Published Oct 11, 2026

  • Fall 2025: 20,032 applied (fall 2024: 18,970)Santa Clara University (Fall 2025)
  • Fall 2025: 9,592 admits (fall 2024: 9,105)Santa Clara University (Fall 2025)
  • Fall 2025: 47.9% admitted (fall 2024: 48.0%)Santa Clara University (Fall 2025)
  • Fall 2025: middle 50% SAT Reading & Writing 660–730 (fall 2024: 670–730)Santa Clara University Common Data Set 2025–26
  • Fall 2025: middle 50% SAT Math 660–750 (fall 2024: 680–760)Santa Clara University Common Data Set 2025–26
  • Fall 2025: middle 50% ACT composite 29–33 (fall 2024: 31–33)Santa Clara University Common Data Set 2025–26
  • Fall 2027 applicants: Test-blind (fall 2024: Test-optional)Santa Clara University Common Data Set 2025–26
  • Entered fall 2024: 93% returned for a second year (entered fall 2023: 94%)Santa Clara University Common Data Set 2025–26

Sources:Santa Clara University Common Data Set 2025–26, 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)

Admissions · Fall 2025

1 in 2 applicants admitted

Santa Clara admits about 1 in 2 applicants (48%). That puts it in the "Very selective" tier, more selective than 85% of the 1,547 colleges that report admissions.

48%

48%

acceptance rateQuad's selectivityVery selective

Applied

20,032

Admitted

9,592

Yield

17%

of admits enroll

Avg. GPA

3.72

SAT middle 50%

1330–1470

10001600
ACT middle 50%

29–33

1836
Applications +27% since fall 2014 · admit rate 49% → 48%Over time

Getting in, in detail: funnel, what they look at, your scores

Students

Who's on campus

A medium campus of 6,552 undergrads, where 11% receive Pell Grants, a low share compared to other colleges.

6.6K

undergrads · larger than 82% of colleges

Diversity index

0.77

Pell Grant

11%

below the median

First generation

17%

below the median

Midsize cityNCAA D-I · West Coast ConferenceROTCStudy abroadUndergrad research
More diverse · index 0.70 → 0.77 since fall 2014Over time

Students and campus life in detail

Academics

Majors and faculty

The most popular major is Finance, General (14% of graduates). 11 students for every faculty member, fewer than at 68% of colleges. 72% of faculty are full-time. Spends $22,421 a year on instruction per student.

11 to 1

students per faculty member · fewer than at 68% of colleges

Most popular major

Finance, General

14% of 2024–25 graduates

Top-earning major

Computer Engineering

$163.8K four years after completion

Full-time faculty

72%

of faculty

Instruction spending

$22.4K

per student a year

All majors with search, earnings by major, and faculty

Cost & aid · 2023–24

What it costs

In 2023–24, the average first-year paid an estimated $62,874 in total (tuition, housing, food, books and other costs, after grants), $38.6K more than the national median. The 71% who received grants paid $53,883 on average; the other 29% paid the full sticker price of $83,142.

24%

$62.9K

average total cost per year, all first-years, after grants (est.) · $38.6K above the national median

$0$110K$400K+
Full price
$83,142 a year
tuition, housing, food, books, and other costs
Need-based aid
Little need-based aid above $110K
aid thins out for families above that income
Merit aid
24% · avg $16K
of first-years got a grant without federal aid (a proxy: at most colleges that's merit aid)
Aid generosity

Limited

grants cover 24% of full price

Federal loans

37%

of undergrads · national median 45%

Your price

Net price calculator

the college's own

Financial aid

Financial aid office Veterans' benefits
Cost rising · +9% after inflation since 2013–14Over time

Prices, who gets aid, and borrowing in detail

Outcomes

What it pays

Former students earn a median $109,183 ten years after enrolling, more than at 99% of colleges; 90% graduate within six years. Four years of net price is about 2.3 years of that salary.

90%

90%

graduate within six years · national median 59%

Median earnings

$109.2K

10 years after entry

Median debt

$19.2K

≈ $203/month for 10 years

Retention

93%

come back for year two

Graduation rate 85% → 88% since the class that entered fall 2008Over time

Earnings, finishing, 8-year outcomes, by group

Over time · since 2013–14

How it's changed

Since 2013–14, the full price rose 6% after inflation, while what the average first-year paid rose 9%, as grants covered less of it. Applications rose 27% since fall 2014, and the acceptance rate went from 49% to 48%.

  • Cost

    Rising

    +9% after inflation

  • Applications

    Growing

    +27%

  • Selectivity

    Steady

    admit rate 49% → 48% (to fall 2024)

  • Diversity

    More diverse

    index 0.70 → 0.77

Every series, year by year

Keep exploring

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University of Rochester

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Berklee College of Music

55% admit · 7.2K undergrads

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Case Western Reserve University

37% admit · SAT 1485 · 6.4K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar scoresSimilar size
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Sources for this overviewEvery dataset and year behind the numbers on this profile; tap any ⓘ for one number's source

Sources for this profile

  1. 1
    IPEDS directory (Institutional Characteristics: HD)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  2. 2
    College Scorecard

    U.S. Department of Education · most recent release; Fall 2024; 2023–24; Fall 2023 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  3. 3
    Santa Clara University Common Data Set 2025–26

    Santa Clara University · Fall 2025; Fall 2027 applicants; Entered fall 2024; 2024–25; 2025–26; Fall 2026 entrants; Fall 2026 cycle; Class of 2025 · retrieved 2026-10-11

  4. 4
    IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  5. 5
    IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  6. 6
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part D)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  7. 7
    IPEDS Completions survey (degrees awarded by field)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2024–25 graduates · retrieved 2026-10-12

  8. 8
    College Scorecard Field of Study data

    U.S. Department of Education · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12

  9. 9
    IPEDS Finance survey, derived per-student figures

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  10. 10
    IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  11. 11
    Common Data Set

    Each college (voluntary, standardized template) · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12

  12. 12
    IPEDS Graduation Rates survey (Pell Grant and subsidized loan recipients)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Entered fall 2018 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  13. 13
    IPEDS Admissions survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  14. 14
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part C, residence of first-time students)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  15. 15
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part A, enrollment by level)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  16. 16
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (distance education)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  17. 17
    IPEDS Salaries survey (SAL, instructional staff, all ranks)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  18. 18
    IPEDS Outcome Measures survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Students entering fall 2016 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  19. 19
    Santa Clara University (2026)

    Santa Clara University · 2026 · retrieved 2026-10-04

IPEDS unit ID 122931 · Data retrieved 2026-10-12. Tap any ⓘ to see where that number came from and what year it describes. National ranks and medians include every 4-year college that reports the measure. How we source and calculate everything