SCU vs. Trinity

Deciding between Santa Clara University and Trinity 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
Trinity University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • SCU Santa Clara, CA
  • Trinity San Antonio, TX
  • Setting
  • SCU Midsize City
  • Trinity Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • SCU 9,728
  • Trinity 2,687
  • Type
  • SCU Private 4 Year
  • Trinity Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • SCU #61
  • Trinity #64
  • Religious Affiliation
  • SCU Roman Catholic
  • Trinity Presbyterian Church (USA)
  • Status
  • SCU Non-profit
  • Trinity Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • SCU
  • Trinity

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • SCU $61,293
  • Trinity $53,676
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • SCU $61,293
  • Trinity $53,676
  • Room & Board
  • SCU $19,893
  • Trinity $14,750
  • Average Net Price
  • SCU $53,883
  • Trinity $32,224
  • Average Grant Aid
  • SCU $28,368
  • Trinity $35,990
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • SCU 71%
  • Trinity 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • SCU 18,970
  • Trinity 12,506
  • Admitted
  • SCU 9,105
  • Trinity 3,241
  • Acceptance Rate
  • SCU 48%
  • Trinity 25.9%
  • Enrolled
  • SCU 17.7%
  • Trinity 20.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • SCU 1420
  • Trinity 1420
  • Typical ACT score
  • SCU 32
  • Trinity 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • SCU 3.67
  • Trinity 3.68
  • Typical High School Grades
  • SCU A-
  • Trinity A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • SCU Exceptional
  • Trinity Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • SCU Low
  • Trinity High
  • ACT Range
  • SCU 31/33
  • Trinity 31/34
  • SAT Range
  • SCU 1350/1490
  • Trinity 1340/1500
  • Submit Test Scores
  • SCU Test optional
  • Trinity Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • SCU Jan 7, 2027
  • Trinity Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • SCU 11:1
  • Trinity 8:1
  • Popular Majors
  • SCU
    • Business (33%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Engineering (11%)
    • Communication (7%)
    • Psychology (6%)
  • Trinity
    • Business (32%)
    • Social Sciences (14%)
    • Foreign Languages (9%)
    • Biology (7%)
    • English and Literature (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • SCU 85%
  • Trinity 80%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • SCU $81,900
  • Trinity $62,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • SCU 84%
  • Trinity 88%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • SCU $21,500
  • Trinity $25,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • SCU $222
  • Trinity $263

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • SCU 49%
  • Trinity 45%
  • % Women
  • SCU 51%
  • Trinity 55%
  • Racial Diversity
  • SCU High
  • Trinity High
  • HBCU
  • SCU No
  • Trinity No
  • % White
  • SCU 49%
  • Trinity 55%
  • % Asian
  • SCU 16%
  • Trinity 6%
  • % Black
  • SCU 3%
  • Trinity 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • SCU 17%
  • Trinity 20%
  • % Native American
  • SCU 0%
  • Trinity 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • SCU 0%
  • Trinity 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • SCU 7%
  • Trinity 5%
  • % International
  • SCU 3%
  • Trinity 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • SCU 4%
  • Trinity 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • SCU 55%
  • Trinity 77%
  • % Out-of-State
  • SCU 36%
  • Trinity 18%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Santa Clara University in Santa Clara, CA with Trinity University in San Antonio, TX on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Santa Clara University is larger than Trinity based on total student enrollment (9,728 students vs. 2,687 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Santa Clara University is located in Santa Clara, CA (Midsize City setting); Trinity University is in San Antonio, TX (Large City setting).
  • Santa Clara University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Trinity University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Santa Clara University 11:1; Trinity University 8:1.

SCU vs. Trinity Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SCU or Trinity? 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 Trinity University than SCU ($32,224 vs. $53,883).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Trinity University are 25.9% lower than at Santa Clara University ($14,750 vs. $19,893).
  • Santa Clara University is 14.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Trinity (about $7,617 more per year; $61,293.00 vs. $53,676.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 14.2% higher at SCU than at Trinity University (about $7,617 more per year; $61,293.00 vs. $53,676.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Trinity University than at Santa Clara University (100% vs. 71%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Trinity University students is 26.9% larger than aid received by Santa Clara University students ($35,990 vs. $28,368).

SCU vs. Trinity Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Santa Clara University (1420) is the same as at Trinity (1420).
  • Incoming SCU students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 32) as students at Trinity (32).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Santa Clara University 1350/1490; Trinity University 1340/1500.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Santa Clara University 31/33; Trinity University 31/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: SCU - Test optional; Trinity - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: SCU Jan 7, 2027; Trinity Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Trinity students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.68) than students at SCU (3.67).
  • SCU has a higher acceptance rate (48%) than Trinity (25.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.7% at SCU vs. 20.1% at Trinity.

SCU vs. Trinity Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SCU and Trinity? 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 Trinity University's (80%).
  • Graduates from Santa Clara University earn a median of about $19,100 more per year than Trinity graduates about ten years after starting college ($81,900 vs. $62,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Santa Clara University graduates have a $4,000 lower median loan debt than Trinity graduates ($21,500 vs. $25,500).
  • Among borrowers, SCU graduates have an estimated $41 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Trinity graduates ($222 vs. $263).
  • More Trinity graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SCU students, three years after graduation. (88% 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.