Santa Clara University tuition, cost & net price

The sticker price at Santa Clara University is $82,026 a year. After grants and scholarships, students receiving federal aid pay $50,062 on average, and what your family pays depends mostly on income. Choose yours below.

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What your family pays
$50,062 /yr

Average after grants for all families receiving federal aid. Pick your income above.

Sticker price $82,026. College Scorecard.

Net price by family income

Average after grants and scholarships for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.

College Scorecard, latest reported year

Sticker price, line by line

Per year, living on campusAll students
Tuition & fees$61,293
Housing & meals$18,984
Books & supplies$939
Personal & travel$3,978
Living-at-home adjustment−$3,168
Total cost of attendance$82,026

Cost items: IPEDS 2023-24, on-campus budget. Total: College Scorecard, which averages students living on and off campus; the adjustment row reconciles the two.

Debt after graduation

Median federal loan debt$16,845
Loan default rate0.7%3-year rate, 2017 repayment cohort
Debt as a share of earnings 10 years out15%

College Scorecard; Urban Institute Education Data Portal

Who gets aid

Students with Pell Grants11%Federal grants for lower-income students
Grants for the average aided student$31,964Sticker price minus average net price

State aid: California residents who meet income, asset and GPA standards may receive a Cal Grant (California Student Aid Commission); apply with the FAFSA or California Dream Act Application. Not included in the prices above. California Student Aid Commission

College Scorecard

SCU net price compared with other California colleges

SCU has the 112th-lowest average net price of 115 California colleges we cover. Schools around it:

RankCollegeAvg. net priceGraduationEarnings, 10 yrs
107Southern California University of Health Sciences$45,84850%$70,649
108California Institute of the Arts$46,08067%$41,198
109Chapman University$46,55582%$70,070
110Loyola Marymount University$48,38179%$78,349
111Art Center College of Design$48,66179%$71,958
112Santa Clara University$50,06288%$109,183
113Otis College of Art and Design$51,24866%$58,152
114California College of the Arts$53,90961%$49,414
115Pepperdine University$58,09883%$82,939

College Scorecard, latest year. Average for all aided students; your price depends on income. All California colleges →

Why SCU costs more or less than similar schools

SchoolAcceptanceYou'd payGraduationEarnings, 10 yrsPrice gap
Santa Clara University48%$50,06288%$109,183This school
University of San Diego52%$30,36584%$86,522
Loyola Marymount University45%$48,38179%$78,349
Chapman University65%$46,55582%$70,070
University of San Francisco62%$41,43170%$89,812

College Scorecard, latest reported year. “You'd pay” follows your residency and income choices above.

Why the price is different

Santa Clara University would cost you $19,697 more per year than University of San Diego, on average.

  • Higher sticker price at Santa Clara University, mostly from higher tuition & fees (+$1,807).
  • University of San Diego gives aided families $16,391 more in grants, on average.
Per year, California residentSCUUSDDifference
Tuition & fees$61,293$59,486+$1,807
Books & supplies$939$938+$1
Housing & meals$18,984$18,084+$900
Personal & travel$3,978$3,978$0
Living-at-home adjustment−$3,168−$3,766+$598
Sticker price$82,026$78,720+$3,306
Average grants−$31,964−$48,355+$16,391
You pay$50,062$30,365+$19,697

“+” means SCU costs more; “−” means it costs less. Grants are the sticker price minus the net price. Cost items: IPEDS, on-campus budget. Sticker and net price: College Scorecard, latest reported year; the adjustment reconciles the two. Net price is an average for first-time, full-time students receiving federal aid, not a quote.

SCU cost questions

How much is tuition at SCU?

Tuition and fees are $61,293 a year.

What is the total cost of attending SCU?

The total cost of attendance, including housing, meals, books and personal costs, is $82,026 a year.

What do families actually pay at SCU?

After grants and scholarships, students receiving federal aid pay $50,062 a year on average. Families earning $0–30k pay $22,985; $48–75k pay $26,531; $110k+ pay $60,678.

How much debt do SCU graduates have?

The median federal loan debt at graduation is $16,845, and 0.7% of borrowers defaulted within three years of entering repayment (2017 cohort).

Is SCU the right fit for your family?

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Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS; Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-By). Net price is an average for first-time, full-time students receiving federal aid, not a quote; confirm with the school's net price calculator. Back to Santa Clara University overview