SCU vs. USC

Deciding between Santa Clara University and University of Southern California? 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
University of Southern California

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • SCU Santa Clara, CA
  • USC Los Angeles, CA
  • Setting
  • SCU Midsize City
  • USC Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • SCU 9,728
  • USC 46,566
  • Type
  • SCU Private 4 Year
  • USC Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • SCU #61
  • USC #37
  • Religious Affiliation
  • SCU Roman Catholic
  • USC -
  • Status
  • SCU Non-profit
  • USC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • SCU
  • USC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • SCU $61,293
  • USC $72,097
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • SCU $61,293
  • USC $72,097
  • Room & Board
  • SCU $19,893
  • USC $19,931
  • Average Net Price
  • SCU $53,883
  • USC $43,412
  • Average Grant Aid
  • SCU $28,368
  • USC $46,897
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • SCU 71%
  • USC 70%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • SCU 18,970
  • USC 82,027
  • Admitted
  • SCU 9,105
  • USC 8,050
  • Acceptance Rate
  • SCU 48%
  • USC 9.8%
  • Enrolled
  • SCU 17.7%
  • USC 43.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • SCU 1420
  • USC 1500
  • Typical ACT score
  • SCU 32
  • USC 33
  • Average High School GPA
  • SCU 3.67
  • USC 3.83
  • Typical High School Grades
  • SCU A-
  • USC A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • SCU Exceptional
  • USC Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • SCU Low
  • USC Very High
  • ACT Range
  • SCU 31/33
  • USC 32/35
  • SAT Range
  • SCU 1350/1490
  • USC 1450/1550
  • Submit Test Scores
  • SCU Test optional
  • USC Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • SCU Jan 7, 2027
  • USC

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • SCU 11:1
  • USC 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • SCU
    • Business (33%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Engineering (11%)
    • Communication (7%)
    • Psychology (6%)
  • USC
    • Business (25%)
    • Social Sciences (15%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (13%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Engineering (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • SCU 85%
  • USC 90%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • SCU $81,900
  • USC $85,500
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • SCU 84%
  • USC 81%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • SCU $21,500
  • USC $22,375
  • Median Loan Payment
  • SCU $222
  • USC $231

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • SCU 49%
  • USC 47%
  • % Women
  • SCU 51%
  • USC 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • SCU High
  • USC Very High
  • HBCU
  • SCU No
  • USC No
  • % White
  • SCU 49%
  • USC 40%
  • % Asian
  • SCU 16%
  • USC 22%
  • % Black
  • SCU 3%
  • USC 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • SCU 17%
  • USC 14%
  • % Native American
  • SCU 0%
  • USC 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • SCU 0%
  • USC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • SCU 7%
  • USC 5%
  • % International
  • SCU 3%
  • USC 13%
  • % Unknown Race
  • SCU 4%
  • USC 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • SCU 55%
  • USC 42%
  • % Out-of-State
  • SCU 36%
  • USC 39%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

University of Southern California is larger than SCU based on total student enrollment (46,566 students vs. 9,728 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

SCU vs. USC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SCU or USC? 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 University of Southern California than SCU ($43,412 vs. $53,883).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Santa Clara University are 0.2% lower than at University of Southern California ($19,893 vs. $19,931).
  • University of Southern California is 17.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than SCU (about $10,804 more per year; $72,097.00 vs. $61,293.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 17.6% higher at USC than at Santa Clara University (about $10,804 more per year; $72,097.00 vs. $61,293.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Santa Clara University than at University of Southern California (71% vs. 70%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Southern California students is 65.3% larger than aid received by Santa Clara University students ($46,897 vs. $28,368).

SCU vs. USC Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Southern California (1500) is 80 points higher than at SCU (1420).
  • Incoming USC students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (33 vs. 32 at SCU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Santa Clara University 1350/1490; University of Southern California 1450/1550.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Santa Clara University 31/33; University of Southern California 32/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: SCU - Test optional; USC - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: SCU Jan 7, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman USC students have a 0.16 point higher average high school GPA (3.83) than students at SCU (3.67).
  • SCU has a higher acceptance rate (48%) than USC (9.8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.7% at SCU vs. 43.3% at USC.

SCU vs. USC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SCU and USC? 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).

  • University of Southern California's six-year graduation rate (90%) is higher than Santa Clara University's (85%).
  • Graduates from University of Southern California earn a median of about $3,600 more per year than SCU graduates about ten years after starting college ($85,500 vs. $81,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Santa Clara University graduates have a $875 lower median loan debt than USC graduates ($21,500 vs. $22,375).
  • Among borrowers, SCU graduates have an estimated $9 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than USC graduates ($222 vs. $231).
  • More SCU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former USC 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.