Santa Clara University: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes

Santa Clara University is a private institution located in Santa Clara, California with a selective admissions profile. For the most recent reporting cycle, Santa Clara University admits between a quarter and half of applicants, with an overall admission rate of 48%. Admitted students typically post a median SAT of 1410 and an ACT composite around 32. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $50,062 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price.

What GPA does my child need for Santa Clara University?

54% of enrolled students at Santa Clara University had a high school GPA of 3.75 or above, and the average was 3.72, according to its 2025-2026 Common Data Set.

SAT and ACT scores Santa Clara University typically admits

The middle-50 SAT Math range is 680–760, with an EBRW midpoint near 685. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 31–33. A score at or above this school's 75th percentile materially improves your child's odds, particularly when paired with a rigorous course load.

Where admitted students ranked in their high school class

Class rank distribution gives parents a clear sense of how academically dominant a typical admitted student was within their own high school cohort — often a more meaningful signal than absolute GPA.

How much does Santa Clara University actually cost?

Published tuition is $61,293 for in-state students and $61,293 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $19,893 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $50,062 per year — the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 11% of students receive Pell Grants.

Application deadlines and early decision data for Santa Clara University

Will my child graduate from Santa Clara University?

These predict outcomes at Santa Clara University better than its acceptance rate does. How to read retention and graduation rates

Most popular majors at Santa Clara University

The most popular undergraduate programs at Santa Clara University, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Finance and Financial Management Services, Communication and Media Studies and Psychology, General. Across all programs, Santa Clara University confers roughly 877 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Finance and Financial Management Services program report a median income of about $127,056 five years after entering college. What these figures mean

Is Santa Clara University safe? Campus crime & safety

In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), Santa Clara University disclosed 26 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 4.0 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 6 violent offenses and 6 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Why per-1,000 rates, not counts

What is campus life like at Santa Clara University?

About 51% of undergraduates at Santa Clara University live in campus housing, making it a largely residential campus. Residential rate and Greek participation shape day-to-day social life and are worth weighing alongside academics and cost.

Other colleges in California parents ask about

• University of the Pacific
  71% acceptance
• University of San Diego
  52% acceptance
• University of San Francisco
  62% acceptance
• Pepperdine University
  63% acceptance
• Chapman University
  65% acceptance
• Saint Mary's College of California
  87% acceptance
• California State University-Chico
  93% acceptance
• Sonoma State University
  93% acceptance

Common questions parents ask about Santa Clara University