Santa Clara, CA
Located in Santa Clara, CA, Santa Clara University is a private mid-sized school with roughly 6,552 undergraduates. Santa Clara University is moderately selective, with an acceptance rate near 48%. Among reported majors, Computer Engineering shows the strongest outcomes -- $163,765/year in median earnings four years after graduation. Most students arrange their own housing since on-campus living isn't required.
Admissions
Test scores for the Fall 2025 entering class come from Santa Clara University's own 2025-26 Common Data Set: 29% submitted SAT scores, 9% submitted ACT scores.
Application deadlines for Fall 2027 entry
- Early Decision I: Nov 1, 2026
- Early Action: Nov 1, 2026
- Early Decision II: Jan 7, 2027
- Regular Decision: Jan 7, 2027
Confirm on Santa Clara University's own admissions site before you apply.
Cost & outcomes
From the US Dept of Education College Scorecard, most recent year reported. Not every school reports every field. Tuition & fees are the sticker price for a full-time first-year undergrad, before financial aid, and don't include room and board.
Where do you stand against Santa Clara University's numbers?
Check your chances hereHow Santa Clara University weighs your application
From Santa Clara University's own Common Data Set, 2024-25, Section C7 -- not a generic admissions checklist. What is a Common Data Set?
See full profile -- financial aid, campus life, and what Santa Clara University weighs in your application
Paying it back
"Still growing" means a borrower's payments aren't yet covering interest 3 years into repayment -- not a default rate. A high number here can mean real repayment difficulty, or just a lot of grads who deferred for graduate school, so read it alongside the school's typical outcomes above.
Majors & earnings
Median earnings 4 years after graduation, by major, from the US Dept of Education. Only shown where the school reports a real figure for that major -- most schools don't report every major they offer, especially smaller programs.
Campus life
Room and board are shown separately from the cost of attendance above -- that total already includes them alongside tuition and fees, this just breaks out the living-cost portion.
What matters in your application
From this school's own reporting to the US Dept of Education on what it formally requires, considers, or doesn't use when reviewing applications.
Frequently asked questions
What does Santa Clara University look for in applicants?
Per Santa Clara University's own Common Data Set (Section C7), it rates rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, talent/ability, character/personal qualities, volunteer work, work experience, application essay, extracurricular activities as "very important" in admissions decisions -- its own stated top factors, not a generic guess.
What is Santa Clara University's acceptance rate?
Santa Clara University in Santa Clara, CA admits approximately 48% of applicants, based on the US Dept of Education's most recently reported figures.
What SAT score do I need for Santa Clara University?
Per Santa Clara University's own 2025-26 Common Data Set, the middle 50% of enrolled first-years scored 1330–1470 on the SAT (25th–75th percentile, among students who submitted scores).
What ACT score do I need for Santa Clara University?
Per Santa Clara University's own 2025-26 Common Data Set, the middle 50% of enrolled first-years scored 29–33 on the ACT (25th–75th percentile, among students who submitted scores).
How much does Santa Clara University cost?
Santa Clara University's total cost of attendance is reported at $82,026 per year, including tuition, fees, and room and board.
When is the application deadline for Santa Clara University?
Santa Clara University's deadlines are Early Decision I Nov 1, 2026; Early Action Nov 1, 2026; Early Decision II Jan 7, 2027; Regular Decision Jan 7, 2027, per its own published admissions calendar.
Does Santa Clara University require students to live on campus?
No -- Santa Clara University doesn't require students to live in on-campus housing.
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