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Santa Clara , CA
Santa Clara University, located in Santa Clara, California, is a private Jesuit institution known for its rigorous academic programs, innovative teaching methods, and commitment to social justice. Founded in 1851, it is the oldest institution of higher education in California. The university offers undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs in areas such as business, law, engineering, arts and sciences, education, and theology, attracting students from diverse backgrounds.
One of the main highlights of Santa Clara University is its strong emphasis on social justice, which is deeply rooted in the Jesuit tradition. The university encourages students to engage in community service and actively work towards creating a more just and humane society. This commitment is evident through the numerous service-learning opportunities available to students and programs such as the Pedro Arrupe Immersion Program, which allows students to live and serve in underserved communities domestically and internationally.
Academically, Santa Clara University provides a well-rounded education that prepares students for success in their chosen fields and fosters intellectual curiosity. The university boasts a distinguished faculty, many of whom are leaders in their respective fields, and offers a wide range of academic resources and research opportunities. Additionally, the campus offers state-of-the-art facilities, including modern classrooms, research centers, libraries, and interactive learning spaces, ensuring students have access to the tools necessary for a comprehensive education.
Overall, Santa Clara University exemplifies a combination of academic excellence, a commitment to social justice, and a vibrant campus community. It provides students with a transformative education that not only prepares them for career success but also instills in them a deep sense of social responsibility and a desire to make a positive impact on the world.
Santa Clara University is a private university located in Santa Clara, CA. It has an acceptance rate of 47%. The freshman retention rate at Santa Clara University is 93.76% and the six-year graduation rate is 88%.
For freshmen, the application deadline for this school is January 7. For transfer students, the application deadline is November 1.
Explore this school's profile to find out all the important things about Santa Clara University.
Quick Facts
6,577
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
$62,760
Tuition
11:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
88%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
In order to improve your chances of getting admitted, you need to know as much as possible about the institution's criteria for admission. Read on to find out some essential data about admission policy and requirements at Santa Clara University.
According to the newest data, this institution uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 9,105 in 2025.
Test Scores
24% of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students submitted their SAT scores for admission, and 10% submitted ACT scores, out of the total number of those who submitted test scores. 57% of the freshmen submitted SAT composite scores between 1,400 and 1,600, 40% between 1,200 and 1,399 and 3% between 1,000 and 1,199. The percent of first-year students who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 89 and 11 between 24-29.
The latest reported average GPA of the enrolled students was 3.72. Therefore, the chances are that you'll need a GPA higher than the average for acceptance,.
Deadlines
The last day for submitting applications to this school is January 7. For transfer students, the application deadline is November 1.
Retention Rate
The percentage of freshmen at a college or university who stay on for their second year is known as the freshman retention rate. Why is that information important? Because it tells you if the majority of freshmen enjoyed their first year at a school enough to come back.
The freshman retention rate for Santa Clara University was 93.76% in 2025, which is an excellent retention rate only the most prestigious institutions achieve.
Another important metric to consider is the graduation rate. This rate indicates how many students finish their degrees within a certain timeframe. At this academic institution, the proportion of students graduating in six years is 88%, which is considered an above-average graduation rate.
Student Body
It is always challenging to figure out which school is best for you. You can have a better understanding of the school's culture and way of life by learning more about the student body.
Main Student Body
The total number of students enrolled at Santa Clara University in 2025 was 9,728.
That year, the institution had an out-of-state student body percentage of 41.83. There was a total of 6,577 undergraduate students, including 487 international students. 205 students were admitted as transfer students.
Student Population Gender Ratio
With a coeducational student body, the school had 4,116 male and 4,234 female full-time students in 2025. 981 full-time graduate men and 1,028 full-time graduate women attended this school.
Student Population Diversity
The significance of student diversity cannnot be denied, when it comes to the overall feeling of inclusion and beloning among the students of any school. An inclusive student body brings together individuals from diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. Find out more about different ethnic groups you can meet at Santa Clara University.
This school had 1,400 Asian students and 221 Afro-American students in 2025. 1,297 undergraduates at this school declared as Hispanic/Latino and 606 as multirace. The school also had 12 students who identified as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, as well as 5 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 131 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
One of the most crucial things to take into consideration when applying to any college or university is the financial component. The most recent data reported regarding the expenses for attending this school are detailed below.
Tuition and Fees
Wondering about tuition at Santa Clara University? Here is what you need to know.
Tuition in 2025 was $62,760 for full-time domestic students. Santa Clara University is a private institution, so tuition is the same for all the accepted students. Full-time students in 2025 needed to pay additional fees in the amount of $753.
Books and Supplies
When you try to estimate the cost of attendance for a college or university, you need to think about the cost of books and supplies you're going to need. The estimated expense of books and supplies for a full-time student of this school is $1,089.
Boarding
The cost of dorm rooms and meals in the school's cafeteria is for sure something to take into consideration. What do schools typically charge for room and board?
At Santa Clara University, the 2025 annual cost of room and board (on campus) was $19,446. Room-only (on campus) cost per academic year at this school reached $12,930, according to the data from 2025.
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $ 62,760 |
| Room and Board | $ 19,446 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 1,089 |
| Total Expense | $ 83,295 |
Financial Aid
Financial support for students comes in different forms: grants, loans, scholarships, or work-study programs. If you wish to find out more about need-based and non-need-based aid at Santa Clara University, here are some recent data you should consider.
The most recent figures show that financial help was given to 600 freshmen. Students of this school received an average of $52,127.6 in financial help.
Need-based
If you need help with paying for your studies and you meet other eligibility requirements, you may be eligible for need-based aid.
1,843 students were awarded some form of need-based financial aid. The total number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need was 1,963. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution added up to $6,396,854, and state $6,420,517. The students of Santa Clara University received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $64,398,272, and external in the amount of $176,758.
$16,384
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Non-need-based aid is any type of financial aid given to a student who does not meet the requirements for need-based aid. The most popular forms of non-need-based financial aid for students are loans and grants, like Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the Teacher Education Access for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant.
Institutional non-need-based scholarships or grants were given to 612 students overall (including freshmen) at Santa Clara University in 2025. Institutional grants or scholarships that are not based on financial need were given to 186 full-time freshman. The total amount of institutional scholarships and awards that were not based on financial need was $55,119,526. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. $559,714 was the amount that the students at this institution got from external sources (like Kiwanis and National Merit).
Open Applications
Find open programs by choosing your preferred academic interest from the list below, and select your desired term start. Get started with your application process and find more information using the Apply button.
The Common Application for Transfer (Common App for transfer)
Majors
Faculty
11:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
The student-to-faculty or student-to-professor ratio represents the number of students compared to the number of professors at a school.
In 2025, this ratio at Santa Clara University was 11:1. That means that there were 11 times more students than teachers at this school. The total number of faculty teaching at the institution is 1,036. Out of that number, there were 524 male and 512 female faculty members.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
Knowing what to expect out of campus life at a college or university can set you up for success. Check out some information about social life at Santa Clara University.
Student Organizations
Being a member of a student organization will make you connect better with your fellow students and enjoy your college years more.
If the world of acting appeals to you, there is a drama club you can join. For students looking to explore media and communication, Santa Clara University publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
FAQ
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Santa Clara University is located in Santa Clara, CA.
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According to the latest information, you would need to pay about 62,760 USD per academic year for Santa Clara University.
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This school uses standardized test scores for admission.
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The most recent reported acceptance rate for Santa Clara University is 47%.
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The most recent reported freshman retention rate for Santa Clara University is 93.76%.
Contact Information
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved. Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
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Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.