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Santa Clara University
Admission Chances & Acceptance Rate

📍 Santa Clara, CA🏛️ Private university📝 Test-optional

Located in Santa Clara, California, this private university enrolls about 9,200 students and admits roughly half of applicants. It's strongest in business and engineering degrees. The school has an 88% graduation rate and 94% first-year retention. Graduates earn a median of $109,183 ten years after entry, though the sticker price exceeds $78,000 annually.

Acceptance rate
48.0%
Enrollment
9,178
Test policy
optional
Grad rate (6-yr)
88%

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Admitted Student Profile

The middle 50% of admitted students (25th–75th percentile), self-reported by the school.

SAT (combined)
1350 – 1490
ACT (composite)
31 – 33
GPA
Not published

$ What You'll Actually Pay

Average yearly net price after grants & scholarships, by family income (federal cohort averages — not a personal quote).

$0–30k
$22,985
family income
$30–48k
$19,154
family income
$48–75k
$26,531
family income
$75–110k
$37,219
family income
$110k+
$60,678
family income
11% receive Pell grants
37% take federal loans

Strongest Programs

The fields Santa Clara University graduates the most students in — a signal of depth, faculty, and alumni networks.

Business & Marketing
27.0%
Engineering
15.0%
Social Sciences
10.7%
Communications
7.8%
Psychology
7.3%

Outcomes

School-level averages across all students who enrolled (College Scorecard). Not a personal forecast.

Earnings (10 yr)
$109,183
Earnings (6 yr)
$91,198
Completion
88%
Retention
94%
Median debt
$19,162

? Frequently Asked Questions

What is the acceptance rate at Santa Clara University?

Santa Clara University has an acceptance rate of 48.0%, making it selective.

What SAT score do you need for Santa Clara University?

The middle 50% of admitted students scored between 1350 and 1490 on the SAT. The ACT range is 31–33.

How much does Santa Clara University actually cost?

After grants and scholarships, the average net price for the lowest income band is $22,985 per year, rising to $60,678 for families earning $110k+. These are federal cohort averages, not a personal quote.

What are my chances of getting into Santa Clara University?

Your odds depend on how your GPA and test scores compare to admitted students, plus factors like major, residency, and early decision. UniversityOdds calculates a personalized probability for free — enter your stats to see yours.

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Data sourced from IPEDS, the Common Data Set, and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Acceptance probabilities calculated by UniversityOdds are estimates based on published academic data and are not a guarantee of admission. Net price figures are federal cohort averages, not personalized quotes — run the school's official net price calculator for your own estimate.