B+
Very Good
Score: 70/100
Overall (traditional)
A+
Outcome Rating
95/100 · earnings-weighted

Santa Clara University

4-Year Private Non-Profit
📍 Santa Clara, California 95053
Santa Clara University campus, Santa Clara, CA
Santa Clara University campus, Santa Clara, CA. Photo: Omar A., CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons.
Outcomes
A+
92/100
Affordability
F
21/100
Resources
B+
76/100
Experience
A+
94/100
Prestige
B
66/100

Two ratings: the overall grade compares colleges the conventional way (outcomes, cost, resources, experience, reputation). The Outcome Rating asks what students earn: 60% wage-adjusted earnings 10 years after enrolling, 25% graduation, 15% retention. Methodology

Quick Stats

9,340
Total Enrollment
88%
Graduation Rate
94%
Retention Rate
10.0:1
Student-Faculty Ratio
44%
Acceptance Rate
N/A
Avg Net Price

Earnings, Debt & Completion

What happens to students who enroll at Santa Clara University, from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.

$109,183
Median earnings 10 yrs after entry
$91,198
Median earnings 6 yrs after entry
$19,162
Median debt at graduation
87.9%
Completion rate (within 150% of normal time)
1,426
Average SAT
32
Median ACT
11.3%
Students receiving Pell grants

Typical debt at graduation equals about 18% of one year’s median earnings ten years after entry.

Earnings rank: 99th percentile among bachelor’s-degree-focused colleges after a partial adjustment for local wage levels (CA wage index 1.21). This drives the Outcome Rating.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, retrieved Oct 2026. Earnings are for federally aided students who enrolled, whether or not they graduated.

Earnings by Major at Santa Clara University

Median pay of bachelor's degree graduates by field of study, and how each program ranks against every college reporting that major — by raw pay and adjusted for state wage levels. Same school, very different paychecks.

Major1 yr after4 yrs aftervs. nationalRank (pay)Rank (wage-adj.)Median debt
Computer Engineering$103,804$163,765+50%#9 of 189#12$24,833
Management Information Systems and Services$93,042$153,926+85%#1 of 166#1$19,995
Mathematics and Computer Science$91,851$147,013+24%#2 of 5#2$21,500
Accounting and Related Services$78,417$130,087+71%#3 of 796#6$18,625
Mechanical Engineering$81,865$122,111+33%#3 of 318#10$19,000
Economics$76,606$121,307+47%#31 of 368#39$19,500
Finance and Financial Management Services$79,929$118,737+42%#20 of 452#31$14,490
Biomedical/Medical Engineering$73,710$114,426+22%#6 of 118#17$20,500
Civil Engineering$84,883$105,594+22%#5 of 233#19—
Marketing$58,493$104,723+51%#5 of 516#13$19,712
Political Science and Government$57,111$93,518+48%#13 of 565#23$20,500
Communication and Media Studies$51,720$84,206+49%#4 of 660#11$17,832
Psychology$38,587$75,742+49%#7 of 1027#23$17,000
Human Resources Management and Services—$75,430+11%#53 of 187#103—
Natural Resources Conservation and Research$42,576$72,889+32%#12 of 265#26$24,500
Sociology$53,612—————
Public Health$47,274————$24,500
Biology$36,270————$19,500

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study data. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid and were working; small programs are not reported.

For parents & investors

The Santa Clara University Town Property Report

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🏆 Where Santa Clara University Ranks

Rankings based on Repit College Grade among schools offering each program.

🥇
Computer Hardware Engineering
of 1 schools
#4
Counseling Psychology
of 100 schools
#4
Mathematics and Computer Science
of 15 schools
#8
Theology/Theological Studies
of 57 schools
#10
Organizational Behavior Studies
of 42 schools
#14
Information Technology
of 100 schools
#23
Computer Engineering, General
of 100 schools
#27
Speech Communication and Rhetoric
of 100 schools

Costs & Financial Aid

Tuition & Fees

Category In-State Out-of-State
Tuition $58,587 $58,587
Total Cost (On-Campus) $83,142 $83,142

Financial Aid

75%
Receive Any Aid
11%
Receive Pell Grants
27%
Take Out Loans
N/A
Avg Net Price

Student Demographics

9,340
Total Students
50%
Women
99%
Traditional Age (18-24)

👥 Race & Ethnicity

White 33%
Hispanic 18%
Black 3%
Asian 21%
Two or More 7%
Non-Resident 16%

🏠 Living Arrangements

💻 Learning Mode

In-Person 89%
Hybrid (Some Online) 7%
Fully Online 4%

📊 Age Distribution

18-24 (Traditional) 99%
25-64 (Adult) 1%

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the acceptance rate at Santa Clara University?
Santa Clara University has an acceptance rate of 44%. This makes it a moderately selective institution with competitive admission standards.
How much does it cost to attend Santa Clara University?
Tuition at Santa Clara University is $58,587 for in-state students and $58,587 for out-of-state students .
What is the graduation rate at Santa Clara University?
The graduation rate at Santa Clara University is 88%. This is considered an excellent graduation rate, indicating strong student success and support systems.
Is Santa Clara University a good school?
Santa Clara University has a Repit College Score of 70/100 (Grade: B+). Our rating evaluates five key factors:
  • Outcomes (A+): Graduation and retention rates
  • Affordability (F): Net cost and financial aid access
  • Resources (B+): Class sizes and selectivity
  • Experience (A+): Campus life and learning format
  • Prestige (B): Reputation and recognition
How many students attend Santa Clara University?
Santa Clara University has a total enrollment of 9,340 students. Most students (99%) are traditional college-age (18-24).

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🎓 Similar Colleges to Santa Clara University

Compare with other 4-Year private non-profit institutions of similar size.

B+
Loyola Marymount University
Los Angeles, CA · 10,256 students
B
University of San Diego
San Diego, CA · 9,110 students
B
Pepperdine University
Malibu, CA · 9,545 students
B
Chapman University
Orange, CA · 9,961 students
B
University of San Francisco
San Francisco, CA · 9,212 students
C+
University of La Verne
La Verne, CA · 5,596 students

Data source: IPEDS 2023-24 | Last updated: October 2026 | Methodology