Santa Clara University
Santa Clara, California · Private · 6,552 undergraduates · scu.edu
Test policy (fall 2027)
Test optional
Sending scores is your choice
Admit rate
48%
of 18,970 applicants
SAT (middle 50%)
1360 to 1480
of enrolled freshmen
Annual cost (2027-28)
$97,010Est.Estimate
before aid
Your chances and merit aid at Santa Clara University
See where you stand for admission, how much merit aid you could get, and what you'd pay after it.
We started you at a typical enrolled freshman here. Move the sliders to match you.
Your admission chances
48% of applicants admitted
Target
Your SAT is inside the range where the middle half of enrolled freshmen scored, and your GPA is in the middle half of freshmen's.
Estimated merit aid
a year
Your cost after merit aid
$97,010
a year in 2027-28, from a $97,010 sticker price
What to do with your 1410
Send your score
About 68% of freshmen here didn't send a score. We estimate their typical SAT at about 1310, and yours is above it.
Named scholarships you may qualify for (1)
You meet the GPA and score minimums. Also needs admission to the honors program, other requirements. · Application required
Reach, target and likely are a rough guide from your test score and how selective the college is. Admissions also weigh your courses, grades, essays and activities. Merit aid figures are estimates, before any need-based aid.
Admissions
Test policy for fall 2027
Test optional
You choose whether to send an SAT or ACT score. If you send one, it's considered.
- Superscores: it combines your best section scores from different test dates.
- You can type your scores into the application; official reports come later.
Source: Test Optional - Admission - Santa Clara University · Checked October 16, 2026
Application deadlines
- Nov1Early Action · November 1, 2026Apply early and hear early. Not binding.
- Nov1Early Decision · November 1, 2026Binding: if admitted, you commit to enroll.
- Jan7Early Decision II · January 7, 2027A second binding round, after Early Decision.
- Jan7Regular Decision · January 7, 2027The standard deadline.
Who gets in
48%
of applicants were admitted: 9,105 of 18,970 for fall 2024.
Early Action
Not binding. Apply by 11/1, hear by 12/31.
Early Decision
Binding. 80% of early applicants were admitted.
Wait list
5,871 students were offered a spot; 197 were later admitted.
Test scores of enrolled freshmen (fall 2024)
The shaded part shows the middle half of enrolled freshmen who sent scores: a quarter scored below it and a quarter above. 24% of them sent SAT scores and 10% sent ACT scores.
SAT total 1360 to 1480
Reading and Writing 670 to 730
Math 680 to 760
ACT composite 31 to 33
How enrolled freshmen scored on the SAT
- 1400 to 160057%
- 1200 to 139940%
- 1000 to 11993%
- 800 to 9990%
- 600 to 7990%
- 400 to 5990%
Source: Common Data Set 2024-2025
High school GPA of enrolled freshmen
Average GPA: 3.72
- 4.09.9%
- 3.75 to 3.9945%
- 3.50 to 3.7428%
- 3.25 to 3.4913%
- 3.00 to 3.244.2%
- 2.50 to 2.990.7%
- Below 2.500%
Cost and financial aid
The sticker price is what a year costs before any aid. Most students pay less after grants and scholarships.
Sticker price for 2027-28Estimate
$97,010
a year
- Tuition$67,880
- Fees$820
- Food and housing$22,230
- Books and supplies$1,180
- Transportation and other$4,900
Santa Clara University published $89,692 for 2025-26. Its 2027-28 prices aren't out yet.
Source: Common Data Set 2024-2025
What families actually pay
What a year cost on average after grants and scholarships, for freshmen who got federal aid in 2023-24, by family income.
- $0 to $30,000$22,696
- $30,001 to $48,000$13,570
- $48,001 to $75,000$25,352
- $75,001 to $110,000$40,238
- Over $110,000$63,129
Financial aid
71%
of a student's financial need is covered, on average
$41,590
average need-based grant to freshmen, money you don't repay
13%
of freshmen got merit aid without financial need, $16,788 on average
- FAFSA
- Required for need-based aid. It's the free federal aid form.
- CSS Profile
- Required. It's a second, more detailed aid form some colleges use for their own grants.
- Aid priority date: 2/1
- Send your aid forms by this date to be first in line for the college's grant money.
Source: Common Data Set 2024-2025
Merit scholarships
Awards for grades and scores, on top of need-based aid. You don't repay them.
Johnson Scholars Award
Competitive · Application required
Up to full tuition, standard room & board, books & supplies; summer stipend upon application in sophomore/junior year; international students not eligible
- Early Action or Early Decision I admits must apply to the University Honors Program to be considered
To keep it: stay on track toward your degree under the college's academic progress rules; it renews for 12 quarters in a row.
DetailsSCU Presidential at Entry Scholarship
Full tuition
Competitive · No separate application
To keep it: a 3.5 college GPA, stay on track toward your degree under the college's academic progress rules, and stay a full-time student; it renews for 12 quarters in a row.
DetailsSCU Provost Scholarship
Half tuition (50%); indexed to tuition increases; selected at time of admission
Competitive · No separate application
To keep it: a 3.0 college GPA, stay on track toward your degree under the college's academic progress rules, and stay a full-time student; it renews for 12 quarters in a row.
Details
Compare awards across colleges with the merit aid calculator.
AP credit
AP exams that earn credit can replace college courses, so you pay for fewer of them and may graduate sooner.
AP exams that earn credit
38 of 38
Earn credit with a score of 3
2 exams
A 3-credit course is worth
about $6,790Est.Estimate
at 2027-28 tuition
Credit for each AP exam
| Exam | Score needed | Credits | Counts as |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2-D Art and Design | 4 | 4 | Elective Credit |
| 3-D Art and Design | 4 | 4 | Elective Credit |
| African American Studies | 4 | 4 | ETHN 30T |
| Art History | 4 | 4 | ARTH 21, 22, or 23 |
| Biology | 4 | 4 | Elective Credit |
| Calculus AB | 4 | 8 | MATH 11 and Elective Credit |
| Calculus BC | 3 | 4 | MATH 11 |
| Calculus BC | 4 | 12 | MATH 11, 12, and Elective Credit |
| Chemistry | 3 | 5 | CHEM 11T |
| Chinese Language and Culture | 4 | 4 | CHIN 21 |
| Comparative Government and Politics | 4 | 4 | POLI 2T |
| Computer Science A | 4 | 5 | CSEN 10, 10L, or CSCI 10 |
| Computer Science A | 5 | 5 | CSEN 10, 10L, 11, 11L, or CSCI 10 |
| Computer Science Principles | 4 | 4 | CSCI 3 (4 credits) |
| Drawing | 4 | 4 | Elective Credit |
| English Language and Composition | 4 | 4 | Elective Credit |
| English Literature and Composition | 4 | 4 | Elective Credit |
| Environmental Science | 4 | 4 | Elective Credit |
| European History | 4 | 4 | HIST 23 |
| French Language and Culture | 4 | 4 | FREN 21 |
| German Language and Culture | 4 | 4 | GERM 21 |
| Human Geography | 4 | 4 | ANTH 50T or ENVS 50T |
| Italian Language and Culture | 4 | 4 | ITAL 21 |
| Japanese Language and Culture | 4 | 4 | JAPN 21 |
| Latin | 4 | 4 | Elective Credit |
| Macroeconomics | 4 | 4 | ECON 2 |
| Microeconomics | 4 | 4 | ECON 1 |
| Music Theory | 4 | 4 | MUSC 1T |
| Physics 1 | 4 | 5 | PHYS 11 or Elective Credit |
| Physics 2 | 4 | 5 | Elective Credit |
| Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism | 4 | 5 | Elective Credit |
| Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism | 5 | 5 | PHYS 33 |
| Physics C: Mechanics | 4 | 5 | PHYS 31 |
| Pre-Calculus | 4 | 4 | MATH 9 |
| Psychology | 4 | 4 | PSYC 2 |
| Spanish Language and Culture | 4 | 4 | SPAN 21 |
| Spanish Literature and Culture | 4 | 4 | SPAN 22 |
| Statistics | 4 | 4 | MATH 8 or OMIS 40 |
| United States Government and Politics | 4 | 4 | POLI 1 |
| United States History | 4 | 4 | HIST 96AT or 96BT |
| World History: Modern | 4 | 4 | Elective Credit |
Source: AP credit policy
After college
Graduate within 6 years
87%
Come back for a second year
94%
Typical earnings
$117,193
a year, 10 years after starting here
- Santa Clara University$125,893
- All colleges$89,719
Median yearly earnings of graduates five years after finishing a bachelor's in this major. 19 majors here have earnings data.
Keep exploring
Figures marked Estimate are our estimates, not numbers the college published. Check each college's own site before you apply. SAT is a trademark of College Board, and ACT is a trademark of ACT, Inc. Sharp is not affiliated with either, or with Santa Clara University. The Santa Clara University logo is a trademark of the college.