Santa Clara University: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes
Claremont, California · Private nonprofit · Selective
Santa Clara University is a private institution located in Claremont, 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 34%. Admitted students typically post an average SAT of 1480 and an ACT composite around 33. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $38,802 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price. For parents weighing whether Santa Clara University is realistic for their teenager, the most useful planning step is comparing your child's current GPA and most recent SAT or ACT against these admitted-student ranges — not the headline acceptance rate alone.
What GPA does my child need for Santa Clara University?
Admitted students at Santa Clara University typically present unweighted GPAs in the 3.6–3.9 range with several honors or AP courses. Parents tracking their child's GPA toward this tier of school can use Solyo's free calculator to see weighted, unweighted, and college-recalculated numbers side by side.
SAT and ACT scores Santa Clara University typically admits
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 700–770, with an EBRW midpoint near 730. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 32–34. Scores below the 25th-percentile mark are accepted occasionally, but the realistic submission target for most families is the school's middle-50 floor or higher.
How much does Santa Clara University actually cost?
Published tuition is $63,434 for in-state students and $63,434 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $20,998 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $38,802 per year — the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 11% of students receive Pell Grants, a useful indicator of how much need-based aid the school distributes.
Other colleges in California parents ask about
- Stanford University4% acceptance
- University of California-Berkeley12% acceptance
- University of California-Los Angeles9% acceptance
- University of Southern California10% acceptance
- University of California-Davis42% acceptance
- University of California-Irvine26% acceptance
- University of California-San Diego25% acceptance
- University of California-Santa Barbara63% acceptance
How parents track GPA toward selective schools like Santa Clara University
Solyo helps parents track grades pulled directly from school emails, calculate GPA the same way colleges like Santa Clara University recalculate it, and ask an AI college counselor specific questions about their teen's odds. The platform is built for parents — not students — and turns what's usually a fragmented planning process into a single dashboard.
Common questions parents ask about Santa Clara University
What GPA do I need for Santa Clara University?
Admitted students at Santa Clara University typically present unweighted GPAs in the 3.6–3.9 range with several honors or AP courses.
What SAT or ACT score does Santa Clara University typically admit?
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 700–770, with an EBRW midpoint near 730. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 32–34.
How much does Santa Clara University actually cost after financial aid?
The average net price at Santa Clara University after grants and scholarships is $38,802 per year. That figure is more useful for budgeting than the published sticker price, because it reflects what families actually pay after aid is applied.
Is Santa Clara University realistic for my child?
Compare your teen's current unweighted GPA and most recent SAT or ACT against the ranges above. If both numbers fall inside the school's middle-50, Santa Clara University is a target school. If both fall below the 25th-percentile mark, treat it as a reach and balance the application list accordingly.