Santa Clara University
- 9/10 Overall Rating
- 4 Year
- Santa Clara, CA
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4.9 14 reviews
Overview
Total enrollment
9,728- Location Santa Clara, California
- Website scu.edu
- Type Private 4 Year
- Setting Midsize City
- Religious Affiliation Roman Catholic
- Size Mid-size
- Status Non-profit
- Housing Yes
- Level of Study Undergrad/Graduate
Santa Clara University, located in the heart of California's Silicon Valley, occupies a 106-acre campus in Santa Clara with Spanish Colonial Revival architecture that reflects its founding in 1851 as the first operating institution of higher learning in California. The private Jesuit university sits adjacent to tech industry headquarters and maintains its historic Mission Santa Clara de Asís at the campus center. Known for its selective undergraduate programs in business, engineering, and computer science, SCU leverages its Silicon Valley location through extensive industry partnerships and internship opportunities. The university houses most first-year students in on-campus residence halls, while upper-division students typically live in nearby university-operated housing or private accommodations. As a member of the West Coast Conference, Santa Clara competes in NCAA Division I athletics, with its men's soccer program having achieved particular prominence.
Ratings
SCU is rated within the top 14% of four-year colleges nationally and earns a CollegeSimply grade of 9 out of 10.
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Overall Rating9 out of 10
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Academics10 out of 10
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Resources9 out of 10
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Outcomes9 out of 10
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Value5 out of 10
Rankings
Rankings for Santa Clara University within the 2027 CollegeSimply Best Colleges Lists.
Admissions
Admission Standards
- SAT (enrolled mid-50) 1350/1490
- ACT (enrolled mid-50) 31/33
- GPA 3.67
Acceptance Rate
- Applications Due Jan 7, 2027
- Enrollment Rate 17.7%
- Application Fee $70
Applicant Competition Average
Annual Cost to Attend
Tuition
$61,293Student Outcomes
Average Salary After 10 Years
Bachelor's Degree Graduation Rate
Popular Areas of Study
Popular majors at Santa Clara University are Business, Social Sciences, and Engineering. 33% of students major in Business, 13% in Social Sciences, and 11% in Engineering.
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Business 33%
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Social Sciences 13%
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Engineering 11%
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Communication 7%
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Psychology 6%
More Colleges to Consider
Students considering Santa Clara University are frequently interested in these similar colleges.
Data source: NCES / IPEDS https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=122931.
GPA calculator: Santa Clara University GPA calculator.
Last updated: August 2026