Oxy vs. SCU

Deciding between Occidental College and Santa Clara University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Occidental College
Santa Clara University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Oxy Los Angeles, CA
  • SCU Santa Clara, CA
  • Setting
  • Oxy Large City
  • SCU Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Oxy 1,881
  • SCU 9,728
  • Type
  • Oxy Private 4 Year
  • SCU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Oxy #75
  • SCU #61
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Oxy -
  • SCU Roman Catholic
  • Status
  • Oxy Non-profit
  • SCU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Oxy
  • SCU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Oxy $66,274
  • SCU $61,293
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Oxy $66,274
  • SCU $61,293
  • Room & Board
  • Oxy $19,252
  • SCU $19,893
  • Average Net Price
  • Oxy $48,400
  • SCU $53,883
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Oxy $36,400
  • SCU $28,368
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Oxy 75%
  • SCU 71%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Oxy 6,461
  • SCU 18,970
  • Admitted
  • Oxy 2,854
  • SCU 9,105
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Oxy 44.2%
  • SCU 48%
  • Enrolled
  • Oxy 17.8%
  • SCU 17.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Oxy 1450
  • SCU 1420
  • Typical ACT score
  • Oxy 32
  • SCU 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • Oxy 3.63
  • SCU 3.67
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Oxy A-
  • SCU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Oxy Exceptional
  • SCU Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Oxy Low
  • SCU Low
  • ACT Range
  • Oxy 31/34
  • SCU 31/33
  • SAT Range
  • Oxy 1380/1520
  • SCU 1350/1490
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Oxy Test optional
  • SCU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Oxy Jan 10, 2027
  • SCU Jan 7, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Oxy 9:1
  • SCU 11:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Oxy
    • Social Sciences (32%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Biology (7%)
    • Foreign Languages (6%)
  • SCU
    • Business (33%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Engineering (11%)
    • Communication (7%)
    • Psychology (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Oxy 83%
  • SCU 85%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Oxy $56,600
  • SCU $81,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Oxy 87%
  • SCU 84%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Oxy $23,652
  • SCU $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Oxy $244
  • SCU $222

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Oxy 41%
  • SCU 49%
  • % Women
  • Oxy 59%
  • SCU 51%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Oxy High
  • SCU High
  • HBCU
  • Oxy No
  • SCU No
  • % White
  • Oxy 49%
  • SCU 49%
  • % Asian
  • Oxy 13%
  • SCU 16%
  • % Black
  • Oxy 5%
  • SCU 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • Oxy 16%
  • SCU 17%
  • % Native American
  • Oxy 0%
  • SCU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Oxy 0%
  • SCU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Oxy 9%
  • SCU 7%
  • % International
  • Oxy 6%
  • SCU 3%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Oxy 2%
  • SCU 4%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Oxy 43%
  • SCU 55%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Oxy 49%
  • SCU 36%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Oxy Yes
  • SCU Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Oxy Yes
  • SCU No
  • Meal Plan
  • Oxy Yes
  • SCU Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Oxy No
  • SCU No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Oxy Yes
  • SCU Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare Occidental College in Los Angeles, CA with Santa Clara University in Santa Clara, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Santa Clara University is larger than Oxy based on total student enrollment (9,728 students vs. 1,881 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Occidental College is located in Los Angeles, CA (Large City setting); Santa Clara University is in Santa Clara, CA (Midsize City setting).
  • Occidental College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Santa Clara University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Occidental College 9:1; Santa Clara University 11:1.

Oxy vs. SCU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Oxy or SCU? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Occidental College than SCU ($48,400 vs. $53,883).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Occidental College are 3.2% lower than at Santa Clara University ($19,252 vs. $19,893).
  • Occidental College is 8.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than SCU (about $4,981 more per year; $66,274.00 vs. $61,293.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 8.1% higher at Oxy than at Santa Clara University (about $4,981 more per year; $66,274.00 vs. $61,293.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Occidental College than at Santa Clara University (75% vs. 71%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Occidental College students is 28.3% larger than aid received by Santa Clara University students ($36,400 vs. $28,368).

Oxy vs. SCU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Oxy or SCU? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between SCU and Oxy.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Occidental College (1450) is 30 points higher than at SCU (1420).
  • Incoming Oxy students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 32) as students at SCU (32).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Occidental College 1380/1520; Santa Clara University 1350/1490.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Occidental College 31/34; Santa Clara University 31/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Oxy - Test optional; SCU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Oxy Jan 10, 2027; SCU Jan 7, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman SCU students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.67) than students at Oxy (3.63).
  • SCU has a higher acceptance rate (48%) than Oxy (44.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.8% at Oxy vs. 17.7% at SCU.

Oxy vs. SCU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Oxy and SCU? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Santa Clara University's six-year graduation rate (85%) is higher than Occidental College's (83%).
  • Graduates from Santa Clara University earn a median of about $25,300 more per year than Oxy graduates about ten years after starting college ($81,900 vs. $56,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Santa Clara University graduates have a $2,152 lower median loan debt than Oxy graduates ($21,500 vs. $23,652).
  • Among borrowers, SCU graduates have an estimated $22 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Oxy graduates ($222 vs. $244).
  • More Oxy graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SCU students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 84%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.