SCU vs. Bentley

Deciding between Santa Clara University and Bentley 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.

Santa Clara University
Bentley University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • SCU Santa Clara, CA
  • Bentley Waltham, MA
  • Setting
  • SCU Midsize City
  • Bentley Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • SCU 9,728
  • Bentley 5,333
  • Type
  • SCU Private 4 Year
  • Bentley Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • SCU #61
  • Bentley #107
  • Religious Affiliation
  • SCU Roman Catholic
  • Bentley -
  • Status
  • SCU Non-profit
  • Bentley Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • SCU
  • Bentley

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • SCU $61,293
  • Bentley $61,000
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • SCU $61,293
  • Bentley $61,000
  • Room & Board
  • SCU $19,893
  • Bentley $20,140
  • Average Net Price
  • SCU $53,883
  • Bentley $45,802
  • Average Grant Aid
  • SCU $28,368
  • Bentley $33,673
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • SCU 71%
  • Bentley 88%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • SCU 18,970
  • Bentley 11,012
  • Admitted
  • SCU 9,105
  • Bentley 4,961
  • Acceptance Rate
  • SCU 48%
  • Bentley 45.1%
  • Enrolled
  • SCU 17.7%
  • Bentley 21.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • SCU 1420
  • Bentley 1360
  • Typical ACT score
  • SCU 32
  • Bentley 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • SCU 3.67
  • Bentley 3.75
  • Typical High School Grades
  • SCU A-
  • Bentley A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • SCU Exceptional
  • Bentley Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • SCU Low
  • Bentley Low
  • ACT Range
  • SCU 31/33
  • Bentley 28/31
  • SAT Range
  • SCU 1350/1490
  • Bentley 1280/1430
  • Submit Test Scores
  • SCU Test optional
  • Bentley Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • SCU Jan 7, 2027
  • Bentley Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • SCU 11:1
  • Bentley 12:1
  • Popular Majors
  • SCU
    • Business (33%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Engineering (11%)
    • Communication (7%)
    • Psychology (6%)
  • Bentley
    • Business (83%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (12%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (3%)
    • Mathematics (1%)
    • General Studies (1%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • SCU 85%
  • Bentley 88%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • SCU $81,900
  • Bentley $87,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • SCU 84%
  • Bentley 92%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • SCU $21,500
  • Bentley $26,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • SCU $222
  • Bentley $274

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • SCU 49%
  • Bentley 59%
  • % Women
  • SCU 51%
  • Bentley 41%
  • Racial Diversity
  • SCU High
  • Bentley Medium
  • HBCU
  • SCU No
  • Bentley No
  • % White
  • SCU 49%
  • Bentley 62%
  • % Asian
  • SCU 16%
  • Bentley 8%
  • % Black
  • SCU 3%
  • Bentley 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • SCU 17%
  • Bentley 7%
  • % Native American
  • SCU 0%
  • Bentley 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • SCU 0%
  • Bentley 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • SCU 7%
  • Bentley 2%
  • % International
  • SCU 3%
  • Bentley 14%
  • % Unknown Race
  • SCU 4%
  • Bentley 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • SCU 55%
  • Bentley 39%
  • % Out-of-State
  • SCU 36%
  • Bentley 44%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Santa Clara University in Santa Clara, CA with Bentley University in Waltham, MA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Santa Clara University is larger than Bentley based on total student enrollment (9,728 students vs. 5,333 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Santa Clara University is located in Santa Clara, CA (Midsize City setting); Bentley University is in Waltham, MA (Small City setting).
  • Santa Clara University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Bentley University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Santa Clara University 11:1; Bentley University 12:1.

SCU vs. Bentley Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SCU or Bentley? 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 Bentley University than SCU ($45,802 vs. $53,883).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Santa Clara University are 1.2% lower than at Bentley University ($19,893 vs. $20,140).
  • Santa Clara University is 0.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Bentley (about $293 more per year; $61,293.00 vs. $61,000.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 0.5% higher at SCU than at Bentley University (about $293 more per year; $61,293.00 vs. $61,000.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Bentley University than at Santa Clara University (88% vs. 71%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bentley University students is 18.7% larger than aid received by Santa Clara University students ($33,673 vs. $28,368).

SCU vs. Bentley Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, SCU or Bentley? 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 Bentley and SCU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Santa Clara University (1420) is 60 points higher than at Bentley (1360).
  • Incoming SCU students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 29 at Bentley).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Santa Clara University 1350/1490; Bentley University 1280/1430.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Santa Clara University 31/33; Bentley University 28/31.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: SCU - Test optional; Bentley - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: SCU Jan 7, 2027; Bentley Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Bentley students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.75) than students at SCU (3.67).
  • SCU has a higher acceptance rate (48%) than Bentley (45.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.7% at SCU vs. 21.3% at Bentley.

SCU vs. Bentley Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SCU and Bentley? 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).

  • Bentley University's six-year graduation rate (88%) is higher than Santa Clara University's (85%).
  • Graduates from Bentley University earn a median of about $5,300 more per year than SCU graduates about ten years after starting college ($87,200 vs. $81,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Santa Clara University graduates have a $5,000 lower median loan debt than Bentley graduates ($21,500 vs. $26,500).
  • Among borrowers, SCU graduates have an estimated $52 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Bentley graduates ($222 vs. $274).
  • More Bentley graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SCU students, three years after graduation. (92% 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.