Can you get into Santa Clara University?
Santa Clara, CA · Private · 6,552 students Here’s the class that got in. See where your numbers land in it.
Add your GPA, or a test score, and the read appears here. Nothing you type leaves this page.
The admitted class · 2024
Here’s 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 does Santa Clara University actually read?
Colleges publish which parts of an application they weigh. It’s the most useful thing they say about admissions. Almost nobody reads it. Say the essay counts a lot here and class rank doesn’t count at all. That tells you where to put your work.
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 do you need for Santa Clara University?
Admitted students average around a 3.72 (unweighted, 4.0 scale). One average hides how tight the top of an admitted class is. Here’s the whole spread:
- 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 next to course rigor. A slightly lower GPA in harder classes can read stronger than the number suggests.
Real cost · 2024 data
What do families actually pay?
The sticker price is $82,026. Almost nobody pays it. Here’s what families pay at Santa Clara University by 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 a year for first-time students who got aid. Your own number depends on your family’s finances.
Keep going
Keep reading about Santa Clara University.
Harder to get into
About as selective
Common questions
What do students ask about Santa Clara University?
What’s 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 your application has to do more of the work, or you can apply test-optional.
What GPA do you need for Santa Clara University?
Admitted students average around a 3.72 GPA (unweighted, 4.0 scale). 35% of them ranked in the top 10% of their class. Colleges read GPA next to course rigor. A slightly lower GPA in harder classes can read stronger.
Is Santa Clara University test-optional?
Yes, Santa Clara University is currently test-optional. Send a score if it lands in or above the admitted middle 50%.
What does Santa Clara University look for in an application?
Santa Clara University says it weighs grades, course rigor, essay, extracurriculars, talent or ability most heavily, in its Common Data Set. What it lists as not considered is worth knowing too. Work you put there doesn’t count here.
How much does Santa Clara University actually cost?
The sticker price is $82,026. The average family pays $50,062 after aid. Families earning under $30k pay about $22,985 a year on average.
What Spike does with this
Use the Santa Clara University read in your plan.
Spike ties your numbers to your courses, testing, essays, and activities. It does the same for the rest of your college list.
The full counselor launches in November.