Santa Clara University - Profile, Rankings and Data | US News Best Colleges

Santa Clara University

#60 in National Universities (tie)

4 year • Santa Clara, CA

4 year • Santa Clara, CA
Write a Review

Overview

Santa Clara University is a private institution that was founded in 1851. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 6,115 (fall 2022), its setting is city, and the campus size is 106 acres. It utilizes a differs by program-based academic calendar. Santa Clara University's ranking in the 2024 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, #60. Its tuition and fees are $59,241.


Santa Clara University is located in the Silicon Valley town of Santa Clara, California, about an hour from San Francisco. The university offers arts and entertainment programs at the Center of Performing Arts and the de Saisset Museum of art and history. There are more than 100 student organizations on campus including the Santa Clara Community Action Program, a volunteer service organization, and the Santa Clara Review, a biannual literary magazine. Santa Clara offers housing in its residence halls, and students can also join a Residential Learning Community. The Santa Clara Broncos field nearly 20 Division I athletic teams and are known for their successful soccer and volleyball programs. The Ruff Riders – the official student booster club of SCU athletics – is the largest organization on campus.


Santa Clara’s graduate programs include the Leavey School of Business, School of Law, School of Engineering, School of Education and Counseling Psychology, College of Arts and Sciences, and the Jesuit School of Theology. Undergraduates can study in the College of Arts and Sciences, Leavey School of Business or School of Engineering. Notable alumni include president of the University of California system and former U.S. secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano, former director of the CIA and secretary of defense Leon Panetta, and author of the best-selling novel "The Kite Runner" Khaled Hosseini.

Santa Clara University is a private institution that was founded in 1851. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 6,115 (fall 2022), its setting is city, and the campus size is 106 acres. It utilizes a differs by program-based academic calendar. Santa Clara University's ranking in the 2024 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, #60. Its tuition and fees are $59,241.


Santa Clara University is located in the Silicon Valley town of Santa Clara, California, about an hour from San Francisco. The university offers arts and entertainment programs at the Center of Performing Arts and the de Saisset Museum of art and history. There are more than 100 student organizations on campus including the Santa Clara Community Action Program, a volunteer service organization, and the Santa Clara Review, a biannual literary magazine. Santa Clara offers housing in its residence halls, and students can also join a Residential Learning Community. The Santa Clara Broncos field nearly 20 Division I athletic teams and are known for their successful soccer and volleyball programs. The Ruff Riders – the official student booster club of SCU athletics – is the largest organization on campus.


Santa Clara’s graduate programs include the Leavey School of Business, School of Law, School of Engineering, School of Education and Counseling Psychology, College of Arts and Sciences, and the Jesuit School of Theology. Undergraduates can study in the College of Arts and Sciences, Leavey School of Business or School of Engineering. Notable alumni include president of the University of California system and former U.S. secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano, former director of the CIA and secretary of defense Leon Panetta, and author of the best-selling novel "The Kite Runner" Khaled Hosseini.

+ Show More

At-a-Glance

Setting

City

Tuition & Fees

$59,241

Undergraduate Enrollment

6,115

Acceptance Rate

52%

500 El Camino Real, Santa Clara, CA, 95053

2024 Rankings

Schools are ranked according to their performance across a set of widely accepted indicators of excellence. Read more about how we rank schools.

My Fit Score

My Fit Custom College Ranking

Does this school fit your college needs? Receive a personalized ranking provided by U.S. News College Compass and find out. Try it now

Admissions

Jan. 7

Application Deadline

52%

Acceptance Rate

SAT Range*

1290-1480

ACT Range*

29-33

High School GPA*

3.7

* These are the average scores of applications admitted to this school. Ranges represent admitted applicants who fell within the 25th and 75th percentile.

Will You Get Into Santa Clara University?

College Admissions Calculator

Data provided by U.S. News College Compass Users.

Cost

Tuition & Fees

$59,241

Room & Board

$17,967(2023-24)

Average Need-Based Aid Package

$42,730

$43,228

Annual Cost*

$43,228

Annual Cost*

Tuition & Fees

$59,241

Room & Board

$17,967(2023-24)

Average Need-Based Aid Package

$42,730

*Average cost after aid

Academics

85%

4-Year Graduation Rate

12:1

Student/Faculty Ratio

44%

Classes With Fewer Than 20 Students

Popular Majors

MAJOR

% OF GRADUATES

ALUMNI STARTING SALARY

Finance, General

12%

N/A

Speech Communication and Rhetoric

9%

N/A

Psychology, General

8%

N/A

Mathematics and Computer Science

7%

N/A

Economics, General

7%

N/A

Finance, General
12% Percent of Graduates
N/A Alumni Starting Salary
Speech Communication and Rhetoric
9% Percent of Graduates
N/A Alumni Starting Salary
Psychology, General
8% Percent of Graduates
N/A Alumni Starting Salary
Mathematics and Computer Science
7% Percent of Graduates
N/A Alumni Starting Salary
Economics, General
7% Percent of Graduates
N/A Alumni Starting Salary

* In cases where salary data at the specific major level is unavailable, a general salary for the major category is displayed.

Faculty Research Impact

Bibliometric Rank

237

Bibliometrics is the statistical analyses of publications and citations for the purpose of measuring faculty research impact.

Publications Cited in Top 25% of Journals

61%

Publications Cited in Top 5% of Journals

18%

Total Papers published between 2018-2022

1,955

Citations Per Publication

8:1

Data provided byLast updated 2023.

Pick the Perfect Major

Discover the perfect major for you based on your innate wiring. The Innate Assessment sets you up for success by pairing you with majors, colleges and careers that fit your unique skills and abilities.

Take the QuizTake the Quiz

Students

6,115

Undergraduate Enrollment

Graduate Enrollment

3,063

Total Enrollment

9,178

Full-Time Degree-Seeking Students

5,989

Student Diversity

Gender Distribution

Male52%
Female48%

Ethnic Diversity

52%

Minority Enrollment

52%

Minority Enrollment

40%

White

21%

Asian

18%

Hispanic

10%

Two or more races

6%

International

3%

Black

2%

Unknown

Not Specified is not included in this breakdown due to an enrollment of 0%.

Campus Life

Housing and Dorms

Types of campus housing available:

  • coed dorms
  • apartment for single students
  • theme housing
  • other housing options
  • Student Activities

    70+

    Sports Teams

    N/A

    Fraternities

    N/A

    Sororities

    After College

    Graduation Rate

    85%

    Graduating Students Who Have Borrowed (any loan type, 2021)

    35%

    Average Debt at Graduation

    $25,193

    $68,156

    Median Starting Salary of Alumni

    $68,156

    Median Starting Salary of Alumni

    Graduation Rate

    85%

    Graduating Students Who Have Borrowed (any loan type, 2021)

    35%

    Average Debt at Graduation

    $25,193

    Reviews & Ratings

    See reviews and ratings of this school from students, alumni, staff and others. These reviews are not written by U.S. News and have no impact on any of the Best Colleges rankings. Read an explanation of user ratings.

    0 reviews

    This school does not have enough reviews yet. Click here to submit your review.

    Read More

    Undergraduate data are based on the 2022 school year.

    My Fit Score

    My Fit Custom College Ranking

    Does this school fit your college needs? Receive a personalized ranking provided by U.S. News College Compass and find out. Try it now

    Top Schools in California

    View the top schools in CA

    You can compare up to 25 schools at a time. Please remove a school before adding another.

    Close