National university
#23 Best colleges for marketing in AmericaSanta Clara University
Santa Clara, CA · Private nonprofit · 4-year
Your real cost
Average price after aid $50,062 a year
Median debt at graduation: $19,162 (all students)
Estimate your own price · the college’s net price calculator
Campus tour
Santa Clara University 360 Virtual Tour · From the college’s official YouTube channel. Plays from YouTube when you tap it.
Rankings
Where this college places on our top lists. Lists are worked out from official data and our own research; places in the top quarter of each list are shown. See every list
In America
- Best colleges for accounting in America#31 of 1,132
- Best colleges for marketing in America#23 of 834
- Best colleges for finance in America#25 of 744
- Best colleges for business in America#61 of 1,563
- Best colleges for communications and journalism in America#56 of 1,238
- Colleges with the highest graduation rates in America#95 of 1,829
Show 21 more
- Best colleges in America#106 of 1,829
- Best colleges for psychology in America#90 of 1,418
- Best test-optional colleges in America#96 of 1,481
- Best colleges for biology and pre-med in America#92 of 1,358
- Best colleges for English in America#92 of 1,283
- Best colleges for history in America#95 of 1,247
- Best colleges for art and design in America#92 of 1,187
- Best colleges for mathematics in America#95 of 1,215
- Best colleges for chemistry in America#95 of 1,162
- Best mid-size colleges in America#56 of 667
- Best colleges for political science and pre-law in America#95 of 1,116
- Best colleges for music in America#91 of 1,063
- Best colleges for engineering in America#70 of 749
- Best colleges for economics in America#94 of 788
- Best colleges for NCAA Division I athletes in America#52 of 367
- Colleges where the most freshmen return in America#103 of 693
- Best colleges in the San Francisco Bay Area area#3 of 18
- Colleges that spend the most on teaching in America#133 of 704
- Colleges that pay for themselves fastest in America#122 of 598
- Colleges with the lowest student debt in America#148 of 684
- Most selective colleges in America#169 of 683
In California
- Best colleges for finance in California#1 of 22
- Best colleges for marketing in California#1 of 22
- Best mid-size colleges in California#2 of 36
- Colleges with the highest graduation rates in California#15 of 128
- Best colleges in California#16 of 128
- Best colleges for business in California#12 of 88
Show 14 more
- Best colleges for accounting in California#6 of 42
- Best test-optional colleges in California#15 of 100
- Best colleges for psychology in California#12 of 74
- Best colleges for art and design in California#13 of 75
- Best colleges for communications and journalism in California#13 of 70
- Best colleges for music in California#13 of 70
- Best colleges for English in California#13 of 68
- Best colleges for biology and pre-med in California#14 of 69
- Best colleges for history in California#14 of 68
- Best colleges for political science and pre-law in California#14 of 67
- Best colleges for mathematics in California#14 of 65
- Best colleges for chemistry in California#14 of 63
- Best colleges for engineering in California#14 of 56
- Best colleges for economics in California#14 of 54
Academic Excellence
Each measure counts for the share shown.
- Graduation rate 35% of scoreThis measure counts for 35% of the Academic Excellence score.88%
- First-year retention 20% of scoreThis measure counts for 20% of the Academic Excellence score.94%
- Entering students' test scores 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.SAT 1,426 · ACT 32
- Student-to-faculty ratio 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.11 to 1
- Instructional spending per student 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.$22,421
Bars show points on each measure’s scale. How Academic Excellence is computed.
Source: College Scorecard (College Scorecard, most recent cohorts (data release 06/10/2026))
What families pay, by income
Average yearly price after grants and scholarships, for students who receive federal aid.
| Family income | Price after aid |
|---|---|
| Up to $30,000 | |
| $30,001–$48,000 | |
| $48,001–$75,000 | |
| $75,001–$110,000 | |
| Over $110,000 |
Full cost of attendance before aid: $82,026 a year.
Use the college’s net price calculator for your own estimate.
Cost and value
Federal data: what families pay after aid, what graduates earn, and what they owe.
| Undergraduate students Fall enrollment (IPEDS) | 6,249 |
|---|---|
| Men and women Undergraduates, fall 2023 (College Scorecard) | Men 51% · Women 49% |
| First-generation students Share of students who are first-generation, by the College Scorecard’s definition | 17% |
| Total students | 9,340 |
| Average net price (per year) After grants and scholarships, for students receiving federal aid | $50,062 |
| Cost of attendance (per year) | $82,026 |
| Median federal debt at graduation | $19,162 |
| Graduation rate First-time, full-time students finishing within 150% of normal time | 88% |
| Graduation rate for Pell grant recipients Finishing within 6 years (College Scorecard) | 86% |
| Graduation rate for first-generation students Finishing within 6 years (College Scorecard) | 81% |
| Borrowers paying down their loans within 3 years Borrowers who repaid at least $1 of principal within 3 years (College Scorecard) | 88% |
| First-year retention | 94% |
| Median earnings 10 years after entry | $109,183 |
| Admission rate | 48% |
| Application fee Undergraduate application fee, 2023–24 (IPEDS) | $70 |
| Students receiving Pell grants | 11% |
| Average SAT | 1426 |
|---|---|
| SAT reading & writing | 670–730 |
| SAT math | 680–760 |
| ACT composite | 31–33 |
| Test policy | Considered but not required |
Value: Good (how it’s computed)
Sources: College Scorecard · IPEDS College Navigator · Net price calculator
College Scorecard, most recent cohorts (data release 06/10/2026); IPEDS 2024-25 directory and institutional characteristics; fall 2023 enrollment.
Earnings by major
Median earnings of bachelor’s graduates a few years after finishing, by major (College Scorecard).
| Major | Median earnings |
|---|---|
| Computer engineering | |
| Management information systems | |
| Mathematics and Computer Science | |
| Accounting | |
| Mechanical engineering | |
| Economics | |
| Finance | |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | |
| Civil engineering | |
| Marketing | |
| Political science | |
| Communication studies | |
| Psychology | |
| Human resources | |
| Natural resources and conservation |
Also offered (no earnings published yet): Anthropology, Biochemistry, Biology, Business (general), Chemistry, Classical and Ancient Studies, Classics, Electrical engineering, Engineering (general), Engineering Physics, English, Ethnic and gender studies, Family and human development, Fine arts, German, History, Liberal arts, Managerial economics, Mathematics, Music, Natural Sciences, Neuroscience, Philosophy, Physics, Public health, Religious studies, Romance languages, Sociology, Software and media applications, Theatre.
What students study most
Share of bachelor’s degrees by field, first majors in 2023–24 (IPEDS).
| Field | Share of degrees |
|---|---|
| Business | |
| Engineering | |
| Social sciences | |
| Communication | |
| Psychology |
Campus life
| School colors | |
|---|---|
| Setting | City |
| Part-time undergraduates | 2% |
| Undergraduates aged 25 and older | 1% |
| On-campus room and board (per year) | $19,893 |
| Sports | NCAA Division I · West Coast Conference |
| ROTC | Army · Navy · Air Force |
| Study abroad | Offered |
| Students per faculty member | 11 to 1 |
| Faculty who are full-time | 72%Of instructional faculty, fall 2023 (College Scorecard) |
| Endowment per student | $172,756Endowment at the end of fiscal year 2023, per full-time-equivalent student (IPEDS) |
| Dorm space | For about 61% of studentsCampus beds divided by undergraduate enrollment. Not how many students live on campus (IPEDS) |
| Nearest airport with scheduled flights | Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC)About 1 miles away in a straight line (OurAirports) |
| Town population | 130,2562020–2024 five-year estimate (U.S. Census Bureau) |
| Nearest city of 250,000 people or more | San JoseAbout 8 miles away in a straight line (U.S. Census Bureau) |
| Average temperature in January | 51°F1991–2020 normal, from SAN JOSE, CA US, about 1 miles away (NOAA) |
| Average temperature in July | 70°F1991–2020 normal, from SAN JOSE, CA US, about 1 miles away (NOAA) |
Federal data (IPEDS and College Scorecard), except school colors.
Campus safety reports
On-campus crimes reported in 2024, per 1,000 students.
| Category | This campus | U.S. rate |
|---|---|---|
| Rape | 0.15 | 0.07 |
| Robbery | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Aggravated assault | 0.10 | 0.04 |
| Burglary | 0.10 | 0.08 |
| Motor vehicle theft | 0.31 | 0.15 |
Numbers reflect what each campus reported. They differ with campus size and how reporting is done, so compare with care. U.S. rate: total reported offenses divided by total students at every institution in the report.
Questions families ask
- What is Santa Clara University’s Compass Score?
- Exceptional (grade A). It ranks in the top 7% of rated colleges. The grade comes from outcomes (40%: graduation, retention and earnings), entering students (40%: test scores and selectivity), cost (15%: debt and price after aid) and teaching (5%: class size), all from federal data.
- How much does Santa Clara University cost after financial aid?
- The average net price is $50,062 a year for students who receive federal aid, after grants and scholarships. What your family pays depends on income; the college’s net price calculator gives your own estimate.
- How hard is it to get into Santa Clara University?
- Santa Clara University admitted 48% of applicants in the most recent federal data.
- How do Santa Clara University’s graduates do?
- 88% of first-time, full-time students graduate within six years; the median earnings of former students ten years after entry are $109,183; the median federal debt at graduation is $19,162.
Ask the school
Something you want to know that isn’t on this page? Ask it here. We send it to the school, and their answer appears on this page. Your name is never shared.
Reviews
Personal experiences from signed-in readers. Reviews are moderated automatically and never change a school’s grades.
No reviews yet.
Sign in to write a review.
My rating and notes
Sign in or create a free account to rate this school privately, keep notes, and save it to your list.
About this school’s data
- IPEDS unit ID 122931
- Carnegie classification: Doctoral/professional university
- Accreditation: WASC Senior College and University Commission (U.S. Department of Education DAPIP)
- Religious affiliation (IPEDS): Roman Catholic
- Report an error or a newer source
- Respond as this school
Colleges like this one
The same kind of school first, then the closest in selectivity, size and cost.
Compare side by side: Santa Clara vs Loyola Marymount · Santa Clara vs Fordham · Santa Clara vs Fairfield · Santa Clara vs University of San Francisco
More in California · California rankings