SCU vs. IIT

Deciding between Santa Clara University and Illinois Institute of Technology? 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
Illinois Institute of Technology

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • SCU Santa Clara, CA
  • IIT Chicago, IL
  • Setting
  • SCU Midsize City
  • IIT Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • SCU 9,728
  • IIT 8,834
  • Type
  • SCU Private 4 Year
  • IIT Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • SCU #61
  • IIT #236
  • Religious Affiliation
  • SCU Roman Catholic
  • IIT -
  • Status
  • SCU Non-profit
  • IIT Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • SCU
  • IIT

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • SCU $61,293
  • IIT $52,386
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • SCU $61,293
  • IIT $52,386
  • Room & Board
  • SCU $19,893
  • IIT $17,356
  • Average Net Price
  • SCU $53,883
  • IIT $24,796
  • Average Grant Aid
  • SCU $28,368
  • IIT $44,547
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • SCU 71%
  • IIT 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • SCU 18,970
  • IIT 12,216
  • Admitted
  • SCU 9,105
  • IIT 6,710
  • Acceptance Rate
  • SCU 48%
  • IIT 54.9%
  • Enrolled
  • SCU 17.7%
  • IIT 7.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • SCU 1420
  • IIT 1310
  • Typical ACT score
  • SCU 32
  • IIT 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • SCU 3.67
  • IIT 3.84
  • Typical High School Grades
  • SCU A-
  • IIT A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • SCU Exceptional
  • IIT Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • SCU Low
  • IIT Low
  • ACT Range
  • SCU 31/33
  • IIT 26/32
  • SAT Range
  • SCU 1350/1490
  • IIT 1180/1440
  • Submit Test Scores
  • SCU Test optional
  • IIT Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • SCU Jan 7, 2027
  • IIT Mar 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • SCU 11:1
  • IIT 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • SCU
    • Business (33%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Engineering (11%)
    • Communication (7%)
    • Psychology (6%)
  • IIT
    • Engineering (50%)
    • Architecture (20%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (8%)
    • Business (7%)
    • Biology (4%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • SCU 85%
  • IIT 64%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • SCU $81,900
  • IIT $79,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • SCU 84%
  • IIT 81%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • SCU $21,500
  • IIT $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • SCU $222
  • IIT $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • SCU 49%
  • IIT 62%
  • % Women
  • SCU 51%
  • IIT 38%
  • Racial Diversity
  • SCU High
  • IIT Very High
  • HBCU
  • SCU No
  • IIT No
  • % White
  • SCU 49%
  • IIT 33%
  • % Asian
  • SCU 16%
  • IIT 13%
  • % Black
  • SCU 3%
  • IIT 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • SCU 17%
  • IIT 16%
  • % Native American
  • SCU 0%
  • IIT 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • SCU 0%
  • IIT 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • SCU 7%
  • IIT 2%
  • % International
  • SCU 3%
  • IIT 26%
  • % Unknown Race
  • SCU 4%
  • IIT 4%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • SCU 55%
  • IIT 67%
  • % Out-of-State
  • SCU 36%
  • IIT 24%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Santa Clara University in Santa Clara, CA with Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago, IL on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Santa Clara University is larger than IIT based on total student enrollment (9,728 students vs. 8,834 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Santa Clara University is located in Santa Clara, CA (Midsize City setting); Illinois Institute of Technology is in Chicago, IL (Large City setting).
  • Santa Clara University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Illinois Institute of Technology is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Santa Clara University 11:1; Illinois Institute of Technology 14:1.

SCU vs. IIT Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SCU or IIT? 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 Illinois Institute of Technology than SCU ($24,796 vs. $53,883).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Illinois Institute of Technology are 12.8% lower than at Santa Clara University ($17,356 vs. $19,893).
  • Santa Clara University is 17% more expensive for in-state tuition than IIT (about $8,907 more per year; $61,293.00 vs. $52,386.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 17% higher at SCU than at Illinois Institute of Technology (about $8,907 more per year; $61,293.00 vs. $52,386.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Illinois Institute of Technology than at Santa Clara University (100% vs. 71%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Illinois Institute of Technology students is 57% larger than aid received by Santa Clara University students ($44,547 vs. $28,368).

SCU vs. IIT Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Santa Clara University (1420) is 110 points higher than at IIT (1310).
  • Incoming SCU students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 29 at IIT).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Santa Clara University 1350/1490; Illinois Institute of Technology 1180/1440.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Santa Clara University 31/33; Illinois Institute of Technology 26/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: SCU - Test optional; IIT - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: SCU Jan 7, 2027; IIT Mar 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman IIT students have a 0.17 point higher average high school GPA (3.84) than students at SCU (3.67).
  • IIT has a higher acceptance rate (54.9%) than SCU (48%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.7% at SCU vs. 7.7% at IIT.

SCU vs. IIT Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SCU and IIT? 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 Illinois Institute of Technology's (64%).
  • Graduates from Santa Clara University earn a median of about $2,600 more per year than IIT graduates about ten years after starting college ($81,900 vs. $79,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Santa Clara University graduates have a $5,500 lower median loan debt than IIT graduates ($21,500 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, SCU graduates have an estimated $57 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than IIT graduates ($222 vs. $279).
  • More SCU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former IIT students, three years after graduation. (84% vs. 81%)

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.