Can you get into Santa Clara University?
Santa Clara, CA · Private · 6,552 students Here is the class that got in, and where your numbers land inside it.
Add your GPA, or a test score, and the read appears here. Nothing you type leaves this page.
The admitted class · 2024
What it took to get in
Acceptance rate
48.0%
SAT middle 50%
1350–1490
median 1410
ACT middle 50%
31–33
median 32
Admitted GPA
~3.72
unweighted, 4.0 scale
Top 10% of class
35%
of admitted students
Testing
optional
34% submitted an SAT
Graduation rate
88%
within six years
Reported by the college
What Santa Clara University actually reads
Colleges publish which parts of an application they weigh. It is the most useful thing they say about admissions and almost nobody reads it, because knowing that an essay is very important here and class rank is not considered changes where the work should go.
Very important
The parts of an application this school weighs most heavily.
- Grades
- Course rigor
- Essay
- Extracurriculars
- Talent or ability
- Character and personal qualities
- Volunteer work
- Work experience
Important
Weighed, though below the factors above.
- Class rank
- Recommendations
- Demonstrated interest
Considered
Looked at, but not decisive on its own.
- Test scores
- First-generation status
- Legacy
- State residency
- Where you live
- Religious affiliation
Not considered
Reported as playing no part in the decision.
- Interview
From Santa Clara University’s Common Data Set, 2024, section C7, where colleges report how heavily they weigh each part of an application.
Admitted GPA · 2024
What GPA you need for Santa Clara University
Admitted students average around a 3.72 (unweighted, 4.0 scale). A single average hides how compressed the top of an admitted class is, so here is the whole distribution:
- 3.75 and above54%
- 3.50 to 3.7428%
- 3.25 to 3.4913%
- 3.00 to 3.244%
- 2.50 to 2.99<1%
- 2.00 to 2.490%
- Below 2.000%
Share of admitted students in each band, from Santa Clara University’s Common Data Set. Colleges read GPA alongside course rigor, so a slightly lower GPA in harder courses can read stronger than the number suggests.
Real cost · 2024 data
What families actually pay
The sticker price is $82,026, but almost nobody pays it. Average net price at Santa Clara University by family income, after grants and scholarships:
- Under $30k$22,985
- $30k–$48k$19,154
- $48k–$75k$26,531
- $75k–$110k$37,219
- Over $110k$60,678
U.S. Department of Education data: average net price per year for aided first-time students. Your number depends on your family’s finances.
Keep going
More on Santa Clara University
Harder to get into
About as selective
Common questions
Santa Clara University admissions, answered
What is Santa Clara University's acceptance rate?
Santa Clara University admits 48.0% of applicants (latest reported cycle: 2024).
What SAT score do you need for Santa Clara University?
The middle 50% of admitted students score between 1350 and 1490. A score above 1490 clears the 75th percentile; below 1350, the rest of the application has to carry more weight.
What GPA do you need for Santa Clara University?
Admitted students average around a 3.72 GPA (unweighted, 4.0 scale), and 35% ranked in the top 10% of their high school class. Colleges read GPA alongside course rigor, so a slightly lower GPA in harder courses can read stronger.
Is Santa Clara University test-optional?
Yes, Santa Clara University is currently test-optional. Submit a score if it falls inside or above the admitted middle 50%.
What does Santa Clara University look for in an application?
Santa Clara University reports that it weighs grades, course rigor, essay, extracurriculars, talent or ability most heavily, in its Common Data Set. Anything it lists as not considered is worth knowing too, because effort spent there does not count here.
How much does Santa Clara University actually cost?
Sticker price is $82,026, but the average family pays $50,062 after aid. Families earning under $30k pay about $22,985 per year on average.
What Spike does with this
Use the Santa Clara University read in your plan.
Spike helps connect your numbers with courses, testing, essays, activities, and the rest of your college list.
One email when Spike opens. No card, no account. About the waitlist.