Private · #60 National University

Santa Clara University

Santa Clara, CA · 6,552 undergraduates

48%
Acceptance rate
1350–1490
SAT middle 50%
31–33
ACT middle 50%
Test-optional
Test policy
88%
Graduation rate
$109,183
Median earnings (10 yr)
✓ Offers merit scholarships

What it may cost by family income

Estimated average net price — what families actually pay after grants and scholarships — by annual household income. Net price matters far more than the $82,026 sticker price. All figures are the full cost of attendance — housing, food, and books included, not just tuition.

Household incomeEst. net price / year
Under $30k$22,985
$30k–$48k$19,154
$48k–$75k$26,531
$75k–$110k$37,219
Over $110k$60,678

Sticker cost of attendance: $82,026.

What the whole degree costs

Every cost figure above is one year. A bachelor's degree is four — sometimes five. Today's-prices makes no assumptions; the second column assumes prices rise ~3.5% a year, in line with recent averages.

Household income4 yrs, today's prices4 yrs with increases
Under $30k$91,940$96,880
$30k–$48k$76,616$80,733
$48k–$75k$106,124$111,827
$75k–$110k$148,876$156,876
Over $110k$242,712$255,754

First-year aid is not guaranteed to repeat — ask Santa Clara University how grants change after year one. That answer moves these numbers more than anything else on this page.

Applying to a specific major at Santa Clara University

48% is the acceptance rate for the whole university — not for every major. For the programs below, admission is usually decided separately and is harder than that number suggests. Almost no university publishes a by-major admission rate, and neither does the federal government, so we do not show one: any site that does is estimating.

To find the real figure for your major, check Santa Clara University's Common Data Set and its admissions page, or ask an admissions officer directly — that question gets answered more often than students expect.

Engineering Direct admit

At Santa Clara University: 83 bachelor's degrees awarded a year · $103,449 median earnings (Computer Engineering.)

Most engineering colleges admit students directly into the college rather than the university at large, and review them against a separate, usually more selective pool.

Check: Whether you apply to the engineering college directly, and what happens if you are not admitted — some schools offer general admission with a later transfer path, others do not.

Business Direct admit

At Santa Clara University: 389 bachelor's degrees awarded a year · $70,456 median earnings (Finance and Financial Management Services.)

Many undergraduate business schools admit their own cohort at application time and are more selective than the university overall; others admit only after two years of coursework.

Check: Whether the business school is direct-admit for first-years, and if not, what GPA the internal application actually requires.

Federal data shows no bachelor's completions at Santa Clara University in computer science, nursing, architecture or visual & performing arts, so those are not listed above. Small or new programs can be missing from federal reporting — confirm with the school before ruling one out.

What graduates earn, by major

Median earnings and median federal loan debt for bachelor's graduates of Santa Clara University, by field of study, from the U.S. Department of Education. Earnings differ far more between majors at one school than between schools.

MajorMedian earningsMedian debt
Finance and Financial Management Services. · Business $70,456 —
Communication and Media Studies. $44,858 —
Psychology, General. · Social Sciences $31,133 —
Marketing. · Business $56,867 —
Political Science and Government. · Social Sciences $44,869 —
Accounting and Related Services. · Business $69,740 —
Computer Engineering. · Engineering $103,449 —
Economics. · Social Sciences $68,379 —
Biology, General. · Biological Sciences $34,526 —
Public Health. · Other Health Professions $35,594 —
Natural Resources Conservation and Research. $37,568 —
Management Information Systems and Services. · Business $80,391 —

Largest programs shown. Earnings are measured a few years after graduation and reflect who enrolls as much as what is taught.

Is Santa Clara University a reach, target, or safety for you?

Ladder2College models your personal admission odds and net cost here — based on your GPA, scores, and family income — and shows how it fits alongside the rest of your list.

Model my odds & cost — free

Figures are estimates modeled on U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard data and recent reporting, provided for guidance only. Always confirm cost with Santa Clara University’s official net price calculator and admissions figures with the school directly.