SCU vs. BYU

Deciding between Santa Clara University and Brigham Young 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
Brigham Young University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • SCU Santa Clara, CA
  • BYU Provo, UT
  • Setting
  • SCU Midsize City
  • BYU Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • SCU 9,728
  • BYU 35,873
  • Type
  • SCU Private 4 Year
  • BYU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • SCU #61
  • BYU #131
  • Religious Affiliation
  • SCU Roman Catholic
  • BYU Latter Day Saints (Mormon Church)
  • Status
  • SCU Non-profit
  • BYU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • SCU
  • BYU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • SCU $61,293
  • BYU $6,688
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • SCU $61,293
  • BYU $6,688
  • Room & Board
  • SCU $19,893
  • BYU $10,396
  • Average Net Price
  • SCU $53,883
  • BYU $16,694
  • Average Grant Aid
  • SCU $28,368
  • BYU $6,088
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • SCU 71%
  • BYU 51%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • SCU 18,970
  • BYU 11,698
  • Admitted
  • SCU 9,105
  • BYU 7,929
  • Acceptance Rate
  • SCU 48%
  • BYU 67.8%
  • Enrolled
  • SCU 17.7%
  • BYU 77.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • SCU 1420
  • BYU 1370
  • Typical ACT score
  • SCU 32
  • BYU 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • SCU 3.67
  • BYU 3.89
  • Typical High School Grades
  • SCU A-
  • BYU A
  • Admissions Standards
  • SCU Exceptional
  • BYU Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • SCU Low
  • BYU Low
  • ACT Range
  • SCU 31/33
  • BYU 28/32
  • SAT Range
  • SCU 1350/1490
  • BYU 1270/1460
  • Submit Test Scores
  • SCU Test optional
  • BYU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • SCU Jan 7, 2027
  • BYU Dec 16, 2026

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • SCU 11:1
  • BYU 21:1
  • Popular Majors
  • SCU
    • Business (33%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Engineering (11%)
    • Communication (7%)
    • Psychology (6%)
  • BYU
    • Business (13%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Social Sciences (11%)
    • Education (10%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • SCU 85%
  • BYU 78%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • SCU $81,900
  • BYU $69,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • SCU 84%
  • BYU 80%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • SCU $21,500
  • BYU $11,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • SCU $222
  • BYU $113

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • SCU 49%
  • BYU 49%
  • % Women
  • SCU 51%
  • BYU 51%
  • Racial Diversity
  • SCU High
  • BYU Very Low
  • HBCU
  • SCU No
  • BYU No
  • % White
  • SCU 49%
  • BYU 83%
  • % Asian
  • SCU 16%
  • BYU 2%
  • % Black
  • SCU 3%
  • BYU 0%
  • % Hispanic
  • SCU 17%
  • BYU 6%
  • % Native American
  • SCU 0%
  • BYU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • SCU 0%
  • BYU 1%
  • % Two or More Races
  • SCU 7%
  • BYU 4%
  • % International
  • SCU 3%
  • BYU 3%
  • % Unknown Race
  • SCU 4%
  • BYU 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • SCU 55%
  • BYU 39%
  • % Out-of-State
  • SCU 36%
  • BYU 59%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Santa Clara University in Santa Clara, CA with Brigham Young University in Provo, UT on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Brigham Young University is larger than SCU based on total student enrollment (35,873 students vs. 9,728 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Santa Clara University is located in Santa Clara, CA (Midsize City setting); Brigham Young University is in Provo, UT (Midsize City setting).
  • Santa Clara University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Brigham Young University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Santa Clara University 11:1; Brigham Young University 21:1.

SCU vs. BYU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SCU or BYU? 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 Brigham Young University than SCU ($16,694 vs. $53,883).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Brigham Young University are 47.7% lower than at Santa Clara University ($10,396 vs. $19,893).
  • Santa Clara University is 816.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than BYU (about $54,605 more per year; $61,293.00 vs. $6,688.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 816.5% higher at SCU than at Brigham Young University (about $54,605 more per year; $61,293.00 vs. $6,688.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Santa Clara University than at Brigham Young University (71% vs. 51%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Santa Clara University students is 366% larger than aid received by Brigham Young University students ($28,368 vs. $6,088).

SCU vs. BYU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, SCU or BYU? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between BYU and SCU.

  • The typical SAT score (midpoint estimate) at Santa Clara University (1420) is 50 points higher than at BYU (1370).
  • Incoming SCU students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate) (32 vs. 30 at BYU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Santa Clara University 1350/1490; Brigham Young University 1270/1460.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Santa Clara University 31/33; Brigham Young University 28/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: SCU - Test optional; BYU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: SCU Jan 7, 2027; BYU Dec 16, 2026.
  • Enrolled freshman BYU students have a 0.22 point higher average high school GPA (3.89) than students at SCU (3.67).
  • BYU has a higher acceptance rate (67.8%) than SCU (48%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.7% at SCU vs. 77.5% at BYU.

SCU vs. BYU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SCU and BYU? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

  • Santa Clara University's six-year graduation rate (85%) is higher than Brigham Young University's (78%).
  • Graduates from Santa Clara University earn a median of about $12,800 more per year than BYU graduates about ten years after starting college ($81,900 vs. $69,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Brigham Young University graduates have a $10,500 lower median loan debt than SCU graduates ($11,000 vs. $21,500).
  • Among borrowers, BYU graduates have an estimated $109 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SCU graduates ($113 vs. $222).
  • More SCU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former BYU students, three years after graduation. (84% vs. 80%)

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.