A+
Overall Niche Grade
How are grades calculated?
  1. Academics
    A
  2. Value
    A+
  3. Diversity
    A
  4. Campus
    A
  5. Athletics
    A-
  6. Party Scene
    A
  7. Professors
    B+
  8. Location
    A-
  9. Dorms
    A+
  10. Campus Food
    A
  11. Student Life
    A
  12. Safety
    B+
View Full Report Card
Santa Clara University is ...
Private not-for-profit, Catholic
Athletic Division
NCAA Division I-AAA
Athletic Conference
West Coast Conference
Address
500 El Camino Real
Santa Clara, CA 95053
Website
scu.edu/admission/undergraduate

Santa Clara University Rankings

Niche rankings are based on rigorous analysis of key statistics from the U.S. Department of Education and millions of reviews.

Admissions

Acceptance Rate
49%
SAT Range
1210-1390
ACT Range
27-32
Application Fee
$60
SAT/ACT
Required
High School GPA
Required
Will You Get In?

Test Scores and GPA for Santa Clara University

Cost

Net Price
$36,645/ year
National
$15,431
Average cost after financial aid for students receiving grant or scholarship aid, as reported by the college.
Net Price by Household Income
  • <$30k
    $22,964/ year
  • $30-48k
    $22,368/ year
  • $49-75k
    $24,826/ year
  • $76-110k
    $33,083/ year
  • $110k+
    $43,600/ year

Academics

Professors
B+
Based on faculty accomplishments, salary, student reviews, and additional factors.
Student Faculty Ratio
12:1
Evening Degree Programs
Yes
90%
of students agree that professors put a lot of effort into teaching their classes.82 responses
70%
of students agree that it is easy to get the classes they want.82 responses
65%
of students agree that the workload is easy to manage.82 responses

Majors

Most Popular Majors
  • Finance
    135 Graduates
  • Communications
    124 Graduates
  • Political Science and Government
    118 Graduates
  • Psychology
    116 Graduates
  • Marketing
    110 Graduates
  • Economics
    102 Graduates
  • Accounting
    97 Graduates
  • Biology
    71 Graduates
  • Public Health
    51 Graduates
  • Mechanical Engineering
    48 Graduates

Students

Full-Time Enrollment
5,389Undergrads
Undergrads Over 25
1%
Pell Grant
13%
Varsity Athletes
7%
Poll
What one word or phrase best describes the typical student at this school?
Based on 35 responses
Report
  • Driven
    37%
  • Well-rounded
    34%
  • Chill
    14%
  • Superficial
    9%
  • Basic
    3%
  • Entitled
    3%

Campus Life

Freshmen Live On-Campus
96%
Poll
51%
of students say that Greek life is average, and no one will treat you differently if you don't join.74 responses
Poll
65%
of students say varsity sporting events are attended, but not a huge part of campus life.116 responses
Poll
What one word or phrase best describes your school?
Based on 39 responses
Report
  • Perfect.
    23%
  • Pretty chill
    23%
  • A Resort.
    21%
  • Serene
    21%
  • Home away from home
    8%
  • California
    5%

After Santa Clara University

Median Earnings 6 Years After Graduation
$67,700/ year
National
$33,028
Graduation Rate
85%
National
47%
Employed 2 Years After Graduation
93%
National
83%
85%
of students feel confident they will find a job in their field after graduation.40 responses
Colleges like Santa Clara University
More

Santa Clara University Reviews

1,261 reviews
All Categories
Absolutely loved the school as a whole. My favorite thing is how close I am with a bunch of my professors; I regularly converse with them outside of class and consider them friends as well as educators. They even sometimes go with us students to a bar! I would give 5 stars, but I had a few issues with my program in particular. If you plan on going here, check out your specific program of interest first, because the quality varies within each department.
Review Santa Clara University
Our alumni network is amazing! There are a huge number of students who attended Santa Clara who are looking to give opportunities to recent grads from their alma matter. The education we receive at Santa Clara is more than just a degree, we get an education of the whole person and are very well prepared for the work force. People are often interested in hiring Santa Clara students for the wide variety of qualities they have and have gotten from their time here.
  • May 12 2016
  • Value
Located close to San Francisco, close to Santa Cruz and the Pacific Ocean, and in driving distance to Lake Tahoe, Yosemite, Big Sur, and countless others, SCU is the perfect school for someone looking for an adventure. If you choose to stay near campus, you still will always find something to do. Santa Clara University proudly holds the number one spot for most beautiful campuses in the country, and students take full advantage of the beauty. The weather is perfect all year around. Santa Claras specific colleges are nationally ranked and prepare their students for the real world. Many students receive job offers from top companies before even graduating. Santa Clara is a small but incredibly fun school. There is a club for any interest and a group for every student. The Jesuit environment of Santa Clara University promotes a general kindness around campus. Everyone is friendly and supporting the growth of their fellow classmates. There is truly no place like SCU.