UCLA vs. SCU

Deciding between University of California Los Angeles and Santa Clara 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.

University of California Los Angeles
Santa Clara University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UCLA Los Angeles, CA
  • SCU Santa Clara, CA
  • Setting
  • UCLA Large City
  • SCU Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • UCLA 47,335
  • SCU 9,728
  • Type
  • UCLA Public 4 Year
  • SCU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UCLA #66
  • SCU #61
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UCLA -
  • SCU Roman Catholic
  • Status
  • UCLA Non-profit
  • SCU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UCLA
  • SCU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UCLA $15,203
  • SCU $61,293
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UCLA $49,403
  • SCU $61,293
  • Room & Board
  • UCLA $18,369
  • SCU $19,893
  • Average Net Price
  • UCLA $14,512
  • SCU $53,883
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UCLA $25,627
  • SCU $28,368
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UCLA 49%
  • SCU 71%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UCLA 146,272
  • SCU 18,970
  • Admitted
  • UCLA 13,114
  • SCU 9,105
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UCLA 9%
  • SCU 48%
  • Enrolled
  • UCLA 50.4%
  • SCU 17.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UCLA 1420
  • SCU 1420
  • Typical ACT score
  • UCLA 32
  • SCU 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • UCLA 3.92
  • SCU 3.67
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UCLA A
  • SCU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • UCLA Elite
  • SCU Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • UCLA Extreme
  • SCU Low
  • ACT Range
  • UCLA 29/35
  • SCU 31/33
  • SAT Range
  • UCLA 1300/1530
  • SCU 1350/1490
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UCLA Test-free
  • SCU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UCLA Nov 30, 2026
  • SCU Jan 7, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UCLA 20:1
  • SCU 11:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UCLA
    • Social Sciences (27%)
    • Biology (14%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Engineering (9%)
    • History (7%)
  • SCU
    • Business (33%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Engineering (11%)
    • Communication (7%)
    • Psychology (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UCLA 90%
  • SCU 85%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UCLA $70,700
  • SCU $81,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UCLA 78%
  • SCU 84%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UCLA $16,300
  • SCU $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UCLA $168
  • SCU $222

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UCLA 43%
  • SCU 49%
  • % Women
  • UCLA 57%
  • SCU 51%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UCLA Very High
  • SCU High
  • HBCU
  • UCLA No
  • SCU No
  • % White
  • UCLA 27%
  • SCU 49%
  • % Asian
  • UCLA 29%
  • SCU 16%
  • % Black
  • UCLA 3%
  • SCU 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • UCLA 21%
  • SCU 17%
  • % Native American
  • UCLA 0%
  • SCU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UCLA 0%
  • SCU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UCLA 5%
  • SCU 7%
  • % International
  • UCLA 13%
  • SCU 3%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UCLA 2%
  • SCU 4%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UCLA 79%
  • SCU 55%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UCLA 12%
  • SCU 36%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

University of California Los Angeles is larger than SCU based on total student enrollment (47,335 students vs. 9,728 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of California Los Angeles is located in Los Angeles, CA (Large City setting); Santa Clara University is in Santa Clara, CA (Midsize City setting).
  • University of California Los Angeles is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Santa Clara University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of California Los Angeles 20:1; Santa Clara University 11:1.

UCLA vs. SCU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UCLA or SCU? 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 California Los Angeles than SCU ($14,512 vs. $53,883).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of California Los Angeles are 7.7% lower than at Santa Clara University ($18,369 vs. $19,893).
  • Santa Clara University is 303.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than UCLA (about $46,090 more per year; $61,293.00 vs. $15,203.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 24.1% higher at SCU than at University of California Los Angeles (about $11,890 more per year; $61,293.00 vs. $49,403.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Santa Clara University than at University of California Los Angeles (71% vs. 49%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Santa Clara University students is 10.7% larger than aid received by University of California Los Angeles students ($28,368 vs. $25,627).

UCLA vs. SCU Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of California Los Angeles (1420) is the same as at SCU (1420).
  • Incoming UCLA students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 32) as students at SCU (32).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Los Angeles 1300/1530; Santa Clara University 1350/1490.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Los Angeles 29/35; Santa Clara University 31/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UCLA - Test-free; SCU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UCLA Nov 30, 2026; SCU Jan 7, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman UCLA students have a 0.25 point higher average high school GPA (3.92) than students at SCU (3.67).
  • SCU has a higher acceptance rate (48%) than UCLA (9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 50.4% at UCLA vs. 17.7% at SCU.

UCLA vs. SCU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UCLA and SCU? 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 California Los Angeles's six-year graduation rate (90%) is higher than Santa Clara University's (85%).
  • Graduates from Santa Clara University earn a median of about $11,200 more per year than UCLA graduates about ten years after starting college ($81,900 vs. $70,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Los Angeles graduates have a $5,200 lower median loan debt than SCU graduates ($16,300 vs. $21,500).
  • Among borrowers, UCLA graduates have an estimated $54 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SCU graduates ($168 vs. $222).
  • More SCU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UCLA students, three years after graduation. (84% vs. 78%)

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.