Admissions
Getting in, fall 2025
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.
Out of every 100 applicants…
The funnel
$70 to apply
Grants credit for AP exams
Men and women
Men were admitted at 45%, women at 51%.
Where applicants live
California applicants were admitted at 48%, applicants from other states at 54%, and international applicants at 29%.
All applicants in the same class: 48%
Of those admitted, 19% from California enrolled, against 14% from other states and 19% from abroad.
Counted by where applicants lived when they applied, which can differ from who qualifies for in-state tuition. A group's rate reflects who applies from there as well as how the college chooses.
Yield
17% of admitted students enroll, in the typical range nationally.
Applying early
Early decision: 76% admitted
467 of 611 early applicants; 48% of all applicants
Apply by Nov 1; decisions by Dec 31
Second round: apply by Jan 7; decisions by Feb 15
Early decision is binding: if admitted, you commit to enroll. Recruited athletes and other applicants with an edge often apply early, so the early rate overstates the gain for a typical applicant.
Early action (not binding): apply by Nov 1; decisions by Dec 31
Where you stand
How Santa Clara reads a record
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 . Scores aren't read. Recommends 4 years of math and 3 of science (3 and 2 required). See the years by subject
What they look at
- High school GPA
- Required
- High school record
- Required
- Class rank
- Considered
- College-prep program
- Required
- Recommendations
- Required
- Essay
- Required
- Legacy status
- Not considered
- Work experience
- Not considered
- Demonstration of competencies
- Not considered
- English proficiency test
- Required
- Other tests
- Not considered
Transferring in
65% of transfer applicants were admittedvs. 48% of first-year applicants
1,206 applied · 780 admitted · 247 enrolled
Transfers may start in the fall and winter.
At least 12 per quarter completed to apply as a transfer.
Minimum college GPA: 3.3
Dates
- Fall entry: priority date April 15
- Winter entry: priority date October 1
- Spring entry: priority date November 15
- Summer entry: priority date June 15
Applying
The regular round, as the college reports it. Early rounds have their own dates.
- Apply by January 7 for fall 2026.
- Priority date: November 1. Applying by then can matter for scholarships, programs, or housing.
- Decisions are released: Late March.
- Admitted students must reply by May 1.
- $500 housing deposit, due May 7, non-refundable.
- Admitted students may postpone enrollment for a gap year.
What you'll need in high school
Requires a high school diploma; accepts the GED.
Neither requires nor recommends a set college-preparatory program.
| Years of | Required | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| English | 4 | 4 |
| Math | 3 | 4 |
| Science (lab: 2 / 3) | 2 | 3 |
| Foreign language | 2 | 3 |
| Social studies | 3 | 3 |
| Total | 14 | 18 |
A unit is a year of the subject; lab science is part of science.
Recent change: Stopped considering legacy status in fall 2024; Stopped considering work experience in fall 2024.
Recent change: Became test-blind, for students entering in fall 2027.
On the admissions map
↑ SAT midpoint (higher = higher scores)
Fall 2025 first-years
First-years' high school GPA
Average GPA 3.72
High schools grade differently, and colleges recalculate or weight GPAs their own way, so compare this college only with itself.
First-years by high school GPA (4.0 scale)
- 4.010%
- 3.75–3.9943%
- 3.50–3.7429%
- 3.25–3.4913%
- 3.00–3.243%
- below 3.01%
The middle half had GPAs of 3.50–3.99.
All nine bands
| GPA | All |
|---|---|
| 4.0 | 10.4% |
| 3.75–3.99 | 43.4% |
| 3.50–3.74 | 28.6% |
| 3.25–3.49 | 13.4% |
| 3.00–3.24 | 3.4% |
| 2.50–2.99 | 0.7% |
| 2.0–2.49 | 0.0% |
| 1.0–1.99 | 0.0% |
| below 1.0 | 0.0% |
47% were in the top tenth of their high school class, 74% in the top quarter, of the 3% whose high school reported a rank.
Source:Santa Clara University Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2025About the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)
Test scores
What enrolled first-years scored
The typical enrolled first-year who sent scores is around 1400 on the SAT, 230 points above the median for colleges that report scores.
Not considered
Scores aren't considered, even if you send them. For students entering in fall 2027.
Where would you land?
Middle 50% of enrolled first-years who sent scores This college's median National median midpoint
Score bands
56% of enrolled first-years who sent an SAT scored 1400 or higher.
72% of enrolled first-years who sent an ACT scored 30 or higher.
52% of enrolled first-years who sent an SAT scored 700 or higher.
60% of enrolled first-years who sent an SAT scored 700 or higher.
61% of enrolled first-years who sent an ACT scored 30 or higher.
Shares of the 29% of first-years who sent an SAT; students who didn't send scores aren't in these bands.
Shares of the 9% of first-years who sent an ACT; students who didn't send scores aren't in these bands.
Who submitted scores?
submitted SAT
472 studentssubmitted ACT
145 studentsRead with care: fewer than half of enrolled students submitted either test, so these ranges may run high. Learn about admissions.
Sources:Santa Clara University Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2025;IPEDS Admissions survey, Fall 2024;IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey, 2023–24;IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation), 2025–26;Santa Clara University Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2027 applicants;Santa Clara University Common Data Set 2025–26, 2025–26;Santa Clara University Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2026 cycleAbout the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)