Payback
EarningsPlus
Economic score
Santa Clara University is a private national university located in Santa Clara, California. Santa Clara University is moderately inclusive in their admissions.
Return on educational investment at Santa Clara University is in the top 25% of all ranked schools. The median student earns $93,291 10 years after enrolling, 7th in California, and in the top 5% nationally. When adjusted for earning differences by major, Santa Clara University bachelor students earn 34% more than the national average. Santa Clara University is ranked 30th in California.
Santa Clara University’s median net annual cost of $42,614 and average years to graduate of 4.1 are reported only at the school level. We assume these same costs and graduation time for all programs.
The top 6 programs at Santa Clara University sorted by number of graduates - Finance, Comms & Media Studies, Accounting, Psychology, Marketing, Economics - are shown below. To see more programs, click on "see additional programs".
Annual net cost
$42,614
Average years to graduate
4.1
Computer Engineering
Rank: #37
Economic score: 1.02
Mechanical Engineering
Rank: #174
Economic score: 2.02
Information Systems Mgmt.
Rank: #58
Economic score: 2.39
Mathematics and Computer Science.
Rank: #7
Economic score: 2.52
Biomedical/Medical Engineering
Rank: #90
Economic score: 4.69
Poli Sci/Government
Rank: #208
Economic score: 4.86
Biology
Rank: #226
Economic score: 5.25
Public Health
Rank: #92
Economic score: 7.35
HR Management
Rank: #112
Economic score: 9.49
Natural Resource Conservation
Rank: #170
Economic score: 12.17
EarningPlus compares the three-year post graduate earnings to the median earnings of the same graduating class, with the same graduate degree. These 2 metrics, debt-to-earnings and EarningsPlus, are combined into an economic score. The lower the economic score the better.
The most popular 6 graduate programs at Santa Clara University - Business Administration, Computer Engineering, Education, Clinical / Counseling Psych, Educ. Administration, Mechanical Engineering - are shown below.
The average full-time graduate completes their degree in 4.1 years. 91% of all students graduate within 8 years including part-time students. The graduation rate at Santa Clara University is 24% higher than the state average, and 23% above the average for all national universities in the country.
At Santa Clara University, Pell Grant recipients represent 11% of the measured graduating class, 24% lower than the national average of 35%. The average Pell Grant recipient at Santa Clara University graduates within 4.1 years.
Santa Clara University is in the bottom 10% of schools for graduating Pell recipients.
We calculate this performance by adjusting the graduation rate of Pell students by their percentage of the student body. This adjustment is made to prevent schools with large numbers of Pell students from underperforming in comparison to schools with few Pell students but high graduation rates.
Santa Clara University’s economic mobility score of 10.2 is calculated by adjusting the 0.91 economic score of lower-income students by the 11% pell grant recipients within the student body. Santa Clara University’s EMS of 10.2 ranks in the bottom 50% nationally.false
Economic Mobility
To calculate economic mobility of low-income (household earnings below $30,000) students, we adjust each institution’s economic score by their percentage of Pell Grant students. The logic of this Pell-adjusted calculation is derived from Third Way’s Economic Mobility Index (EMI).
Bottom 50%
The average Title IV recipient at Santa Clara University pays $42,614 a year, $30,370 less than the $72,984 advertised. See below the cost breakdown for students who receive Title IV grants, broken down by income level.
Average net price
The average net price shown by income level for all students that receive Title IV aid. Calculated by deducting the average grant and scholarship aid from tuition, fees, books, and room and board. Limited to first-time, full-time students. Public institution figures are calculated using in-state tuition figures.
Median net price $42,614
Much of the gap between net price and sticker price is filled by institutional and government grants. At Santa Clara University, 73% of students receive some grants and scholarships, compared to the national average of 87% for all colleges and universities. The average amount of federal, state, and institutional grants that students receive is shown on the right.
This leaves a total of $42,614 on average to be covered by the student – be it through loans or out of pocket. In total, 25% of students take out loans, federal or private, at an average amount of $7,300. This is 29% less than the national average.
Federal grants
$5,138
Pell grants
$4,814
State grants
$9,129
Institutional grants
$22,276
Santa Clara University's moderately inclusive admissions are indicated by their 54% acceptance rate. In 2021, the school had 16,848 applicants, of which 9,095 were admitted and 1,549 enrolled. Santa Clara University doesn't have a rolling admissions policy, which means applications are reviewed after a hard admissions deadline.
Full time
100%
83%
Female
54%
59%
First time
87%
59%
In-state
54%
68%
1st generation
17%
35%
White
44%
52%
Black
3%
14%
Hispanic
18%
15%
Asian
19%
5%
American Indian
N/A
1.6%
Pacific Islander
N/A
0.3%
Other
16%
12%