Santa Clara University (SCU)
Private nonprofit four-year university in Santa Clara, CA that costs an average of $36,116 a year after financial aid, admits 48% of applicants and graduates 87% of full-time students.
Net price / year
$36,116
Acceptance rate
48%
Graduation rate
87%
Earnings after 10 yrs
$117,193
Private nonprofitMidsize city6,552 undergraduates
Cost of SCU
| Total cost of attendance (per year) | $84,261 |
|---|---|
| Tuition and fees, in-state | $63,513 |
| Housing and food (on campus) | $19,446 |
| Books and supplies | $1,089 |
| Average net price after aid | $36,116 |
Net price by family income
| Family income | Average net price / year |
|---|---|
| $0–30,000 | $22,696 |
| $30,001–48,000 | $13,570 |
| $48,001–75,000 | $25,352 |
| $75,001–110,000 | $40,238 |
| $110,001+ | $63,129 |
Net price is what students actually pay after grants and scholarships. Get your own estimate with SCU's net price calculator ↗.
Admissions
| Acceptance rate | 48% |
|---|---|
| Average SAT | 1,426 |
| SAT reading (25th–75th percentile) | 670–730 |
| SAT math (25th–75th percentile) | 680–760 |
| ACT composite (25th–75th percentile) | 31–33 |
| Test scores | Considered but not required |
Graduation, earnings and debt
| Graduation rate | 87% |
|---|---|
| First-year retention | 94% |
| Median earnings 6 years after enrolling | $96,609 |
| Median earnings 10 years after enrolling | $117,193 |
| Rank in California (earnings) | 7th of 129 similar colleges |
| Median debt of graduates | $19,500 |
| Typical monthly loan payment | $222 (10-year plan) |
| Students with Pell grants | 14% |
| Students with federal loans | 35% |
Majors and programs at SCU
Earnings one year after graduation and median debt, by program. Click a program for details and comparisons.
Bachelor's degree programs (46)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Engineering | 181 | $93,450 | $24,500 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | 337 | $88,868 | $16,500 |
| Accounting and Related Services | 137 | $88,383 | $16,249 |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | 55 | $84,402 | — |
| Mechanical Engineering | 75 | $84,296 | $16,304 |
| Mathematics and Computer Science | 197 | $78,758 | $18,000 |
| Management Information Systems and Services | 42 | $75,970 | — |
| Marketing | 173 | $72,607 | $19,500 |
| Economics | 154 | $71,361 | $17,000 |
| Human Resources Management and Services | 82 | $65,753 | $19,082 |
| Communication and Media Studies | 260 | $62,295 | $19,000 |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences | 65 | $52,670 | $20,500 |
| Political Science and Government | 158 | $52,348 | $19,093 |
| Biology | 112 | $46,955 | $19,500 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | 78 | $44,061 | $24,500 |
| Psychology | 227 | $40,079 | $15,500 |
| Anthropology | 13 | — | — |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | 30 | — | — |
| Business/Commerce | — | — | — |
| Business/Managerial Economics | 32 | — | — |
| Chemistry | 11 | — | — |
| Civil Engineering | 52 | — | $21,500 |
| Classical and Ancient Studies | — | — | — |
| Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | 11 | — | — |
| Computer and Information Sciences | 77 | — | $15,000 |
| Computer Software and Media Applications | 22 | — | — |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | 18 | — | — |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | 30 | — | — |
| Engineering | 16 | — | — |
| Engineering Physics | 5 | — | — |
| English Language and Literature | 46 | — | — |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies | 36 | — | — |
| Fine and Studio Arts | 24 | — | — |
| Germanic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | — | — | — |
| History | 26 | — | — |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | 46 | — | — |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 7 | — | — |
| Mathematics | 36 | — | — |
| Music | 19 | — | — |
| Natural Sciences | — | — | — |
| Philosophy | 35 | — | — |
| Physics | 11 | — | — |
| Public Health | 98 | — | $13,000 |
| Religion/Religious Studies | 7 | — | — |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | 46 | — | — |
| Sociology | 50 | — | — |
Post-baccalaureate certificate programs (1)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accounting and Related Services | — | $95,065 | — |
Master's degree programs (22)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 446 | $166,185 | $92,990 |
| Computer Engineering | 566 | $149,078 | — |
| Engineering-Related Fields | 32 | $124,939 | — |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | 218 | $110,071 | $47,583 |
| Educational Administration and Supervision | 46 | $105,580 | — |
| Marketing | 67 | $92,109 | $41,089 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 93 | $71,131 | $32,817 |
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology | 247 | $68,468 | $62,877 |
| Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering | 1 | — | — |
| Applied Mathematics | — | — | — |
| Bilingual, Multilingual, and Multicultural Education | — | — | — |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | 9 | — | — |
| Civil Engineering | 5 | — | — |
| Computer and Information Sciences | 80 | — | — |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | — | — | — |
| Energy Systems Technologies/Technicians | 4 | — | — |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | — | — | — |
| Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies | 9 | — | — |
| Mechanical Engineering | 29 | — | — |
| Mechatronics, Robotics, and Automation Engineering | 9 | — | — |
| Religion/Religious Studies | 34 | — | — |
| Theological and Ministerial Studies | 66 | — | — |
Doctoral degree programs (6)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Engineering | 11 | — | — |
| Educational Administration and Supervision | 14 | — | — |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | — | — | — |
| Law | — | — | — |
| Mechanical Engineering | 2 | — | — |
| Theological and Ministerial Studies | 3 | — | — |
Professional degree programs (5)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Law | 434 | $98,780 | $181,936 |
| Computer Engineering | — | — | — |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | — | — | — |
| Mechanical Engineering | — | — | — |
| Theological and Ministerial Studies | 39 | — | — |
Graduate certificate programs (6)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accounting and Related Services | 24 | — | — |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | 1 | — | — |
| Engineering, Other | — | — | — |
| Mechanical Engineering | — | — | — |
| Religion/Religious Studies | 1 | — | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | — | — | — |
Similar colleges in California
| College | City | Net price / yr | Acceptance | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loyola Marymount University | Los Angeles | $50,518 | 45% | $86,034 |
| Chapman University | Orange | $46,708 | 65% | $80,694 |
| Stanford University | Stanford | $12,307 | 3.6% | $125,340 |
| University of San Diego | San Diego | $29,539 | 52% | $93,069 |
| University of San Francisco | San Francisco | $30,496 | 62% | $94,613 |
| California Baptist University | Riverside | $24,138 | 85% | $67,633 |
| National University | San Diego | $24,008 | — | $73,988 |
| Pepperdine University | Malibu | $48,065 | 63% | $89,410 |
About SCU
| Type | Private nonprofit four-year university |
|---|---|
| Location | Santa Clara, CA |
| Setting | Midsize city |
| Undergraduates | 6,552 |
| Student-to-faculty ratio | 11 to 1 |
| Accreditor | Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission |
| Website | scu.edu ↗ |
Frequently asked questions
What is SCU's acceptance rate?
Santa Clara University admits 48% of applicants, making it selective. Admitted students average 1,426 on the SAT.
How much does SCU cost per year?
The full cost of attendance is $84,261 a year (tuition and fees: $63,513). After grants and scholarships the average student pays $36,116 a year, and students from families earning under $30,000 pay about $22,696.
How much do SCU graduates earn?
Former students earn a median of $117,193 a year, 10 years after first enrolling — 7th of 129 similar colleges in California. The best-paid bachelor's program is computer engineering ($93,450 a year after graduation).
What is SCU's graduation rate?
87% of full-time students graduate within six years, and 94% of first-year students return for a second year.