Selective Private · Santa Clara, CA
Santa Clara University
Calculate your Santa Clara oddsQuick Facts
| Acceptance rate | — |
| Type | Private · Selective Private |
| Setting | Campus setting |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Last verified May 2026.
Getting In
Santa Clara University is among the most selective institutions in the country. The application is read holistically. Test scores and GPA establish baseline academic credibility but rarely drive the final decision. The rest of the application (activities, recommendations, and especially essays) reveals who you are and what you would add to the community.
Personalized estimate
What are your actual odds at Santa Clara?
Enter your SAT/ACT, GPA, activities, and target schools. Get a probability calibrated to real admit data, not a headline acceptance rate.
Run the calculatorBeyond the Numbers
Santa Clara is best known for the Leavey School of Business, Silicon Valley networks, and a Jesuit campus in Santa Clara. Admissions readers are looking for applicants whose specific interests and ways of working would actually thrive in that environment. Not generic “passion.” Concrete curiosity that already shows up in what you do.
Santa Clara essay tools
Score, brainstorm, or revise Santa Clara essays with tools tuned to Santa Clara's prompts.
Santa Clara vs. Peer Schools
Side-by-side comparison with similar Selective Private schools applicants typically consider.
| School | Accept | SAT mid-50 | Net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Clara This page | — | — | — |
| Tufts | 9.5% | 1490–1550 | $39,998 |
| Boston College | 16.4% | 1440–1540 | $41,704 |
| BU | 11.1% | 1420–1530 | $24,402 |
| Northeastern | 5.2% | 1440–1540 | $30,915 |
| Tulane | 14.0% | 1400–1520 | $39,949 |
Sources
All numerical data on this page is sourced from official, primary sources. Admissions stats reflect the most recent publicly published cycle. Verify current figures with Santa Clara's admissions office before applying.
- U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard — federally maintained dataset on admissions, cost, demographics, and post-graduation outcomes (IPEDS-derived).
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) — the underlying federal data collection that all U.S. accredited institutions report into annually.
- Santa Clara Common Data Set — the standardized annual data document published by the school.
Last verified May 2026. Stats reflect Santa Clara's most recent publicly published admit cycle.