More selective than 68% of California colleges we cover. U.S. median 77%.
College Scorecard, Fall 2024 entering class
25% of enrolled first-years sent SAT scores, 12% sent ACT scores.
IPEDS Admissions, Fall 2023 entering class
Called “yield.” A high yield means many admitted students choose SCU over other offers.
IPEDS Admissions, Fall 2023 entering class
Applicants, admits and enrollment
IPEDS Admissions, Fall 2023 entering class (first-time, degree-seeking undergraduates). Newer counts arrive with the next IPEDS release.
SCU SAT and ACT scores
Scores of enrolled first-year students who submitted them, Fall 2024. A quarter scored below the 25th percentile and a quarter above the 75th. If your score is above the 75th, SCU is likely within reach on scores alone; below the 25th, it is a reach.
| Test | 25th percentile | 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|
| SAT reading & writing | 670 | 730 |
| SAT math | 680 | 760 |
| ACT composite | 31 | 33 |
| SAT total (approx.) | 1350 | 1490 |
College Scorecard, Fall 2024 entering class (reported to IPEDS). SAT total adds the two section scores, an approximation.
SCU admissions year over year
| Entering class | Acceptance | SAT reading | SAT math | ACT | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall 2024 | 48% | 670–730 | 680–760 | 31–33 | College Scorecard |
| Fall 2023 | 44% | 660–730 | 680–770 | 30–33 | IPEDS |
Score ranges are the 25th–75th percentiles. Each year is kept as published; we add a year with every federal release.
How selective is SCU compared with other California colleges?
SCU has the 30th-lowest acceptance rate of 92 California colleges we cover. Schools around it:
| Rank | College | Acceptance | Graduation | Avg. net price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 | Loyola Marymount University | 45% | 79% | $48,381 |
| 27 | California State University-Long Beach | 46% | 69% | $10,440 |
| 28 | The Chicago School at Los Angeles | 46% | 0% | — |
| 29 | Pacific Union College | 47% | 58% | $41,008 |
| 30 | Santa Clara University | 48% | 88% | $50,062 |
| 31 | University of San Diego | 52% | 84% | $30,365 |
| 32 | Latin American Bible Institute | 55% | 33% | $10,030 |
| 33 | San Francisco Conservatory of Music | 55% | 74% | $42,607 |
| 34 | Yeshiva Ohr Elchonon Chabad West Coast Talmudical Seminary | 58% | 12% | $14,959 |
College Scorecard, Fall 2024 entering class. All California colleges →
Who enrolls at SCU
College Scorecard; IPEDS
SCU admissions questions
What is the SCU acceptance rate?
Santa Clara University accepts 48% of applicants, about 1 in 2. For the Fall 2023 entering class, 8,261 of 18,843 applicants were admitted.
Does SCU require the SAT or ACT?
Santa Clara University considers SAT or ACT scores but does not require them (test-optional), according to its federal admissions report for Fall 2023. 25% of enrolled first-year students submitted SAT scores and 12% submitted ACT scores.
What SAT score do you need for SCU?
The middle 50% of Santa Clara University enrolled first-year students scored 1350–1490 on the SAT and 31–33 on the ACT. A score above the upper number puts you in the top quarter of enrolled students; below the lower number puts you in the bottom quarter.
How many admitted students enroll at SCU?
19% of admitted students enrolled in Fall 2023 (1,552 of 8,261).
Is SCU getting harder to get into?
Santa Clara University accepted 48% of applicants for Fall 2024, compared with 44% for Fall 2023.
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Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS Admissions; years shown with each figure. “Colleges we cover” means colleges awarding bachelor's degrees to at least 100 undergraduates. Back to Santa Clara University overview