Santa Clara University Tuition and Fees

Santa Clara University Tuition and Fees

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    By Susan Guillory

    (Last Updated – 01/2025)

    Total Cost of Attendance

    Santa Clara University, located in the heart of Silicon Valley in Santa Clara, California, is a private Jesuit university. It consistently ranks on top universities lists for its teaching, innovation, and ethnic diversity.

    In 2023-24, Santa Clara University tuition and fees were $59,241. This is higher than the national average for private college tuition of $43,350. In-state and out-of-state students pay the same tuition.

    Costs for 2023-2024

    Tuition & Fees

    $59,241

    Books & Supplies

    $939

    Room & Board

    $18,984

    Other Expenses

    $3,978

    Total Cost of Attendance

    $83,142

    Financial Aid

    A full 75% of students rely on financial aid to help cover the cost of Santa Clara tuition and fees. Eleven percent of SCU students receive Pell Grants, which is a federal student loan program for students who demonstrate an exceptional financial need. The average Pell Grant award at SCU was $5,551.

    Learn more about student loan and scholarship options before applying to college.

    Explore financial aid options: Massachusetts Student Loan & Scholarships.

    Generally, financial aid is monetary assistance awarded to students based on personal need or merit. Students that qualify for financial aid can use it to pay for college costs like tuition, books, and living expenses.

    The federal government is the largest provider of student financial aid. However, aid can also be given by state governments, colleges and universities, private companies, and nonprofits. The different types include:

    •  Scholarships: TThese can be awarded by schools and other organizations based on students’ academic excellence, athletic achievement, community involvement, job experience, field of study, or financial need.

    •  Grants: Generally based on financial need, these can come from federal, state, private, and nonprofit organizations.

    •  Work-study: This federal program provides qualifying students with part-time employment to earn money for expenses while in school.

    •  Federal student loans: This is money borrowed directly from the U.S. Department of Education. It comes with fixed interest rates that are typically lower than private loans.

    Colleges, universities, and state agencies use the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to determine financial aid eligibility. The FAFSA can be completed online, but note that state, federal and school deadlines may differ.

    You can find other financial aid opportunities on databases such as:

    •  US Department of Education – Search for grants from colleges and universities by state

    •  College Scholarship Service Profile (CSS) – A global college scholarship application used by select institutions to award financial aid

    Recommended: The Differences Between Grants, Scholarships, and Loans

    Private Student Loans

    A full 75% of students rely on financial aid to help cover the cost of Santa Clara tuition and fees. Eleven percent of SCU students receive Pell Grants, which is a federal student loan program for students who demonstrate an exceptional financial need. The average Pell Grant award at SCU was $5,551.

    Learn more about borrowing money for school with this student loans guide.

    Private loans are funded by private organizations such as banks, online lenders, credit unions, some schools, and state-based or -affiliated organizations. While Federal student loans have interest rates that are regulated by Congress, private lenders follow a different set of regulations so their qualifications and interest rates can vary widely.

    What’s more, private loans have variable or fixed interest rates that may be higher than federal loan interest rates, which are always fixed. Private lenders may (but don’t always) require you to make payments on your loans while you are still in school, compared to federal student loans, which you don’t have to start paying back until after you graduate, leave school, or change your enrollment status to less than half-time.

    Private loans don’t have a specific application window and can be applied for on an as-needed basis. However, if you think you may need to take out a private loan, it’s a good idea to submit your FAFSA first to see what federal aid you may qualify for, since it generally has better rates and terms.

    If you’ve missed the FAFSA deadline or you’re struggling to pay for school during the year, private loans can potentially help you make your tuition payments. Just keep in mind that you will need enough lead time for your loan to process and for your lender to send money to your school.

    Recommended: Guide to Private Student Loans

    Projected 4-Year-Degree Price

    The projected price of a four-year degree from Santa Clara University is $332,568, based on 2023-24 tuition prices using the National Center for Education Statistics multi-year tuition calculator. For comparison, the national average cost of a four-year bachelor’s degree at a private institution is $241,680, according to CollegeData.com.

    This student loan and scholarship information may be valuable as you research schools and costs.

    Repay student loans your way.

    Find the monthly payment & rate that fits your budget.

    Undergraduate Tuition and Fees

    The cost to attend Santa Clara University for an undergraduate degree, including tuition, fees, books, and supplies, was $60,180 in 2023-24. In-state and out-of-state undergraduate students pay the same amount. For comparison, the average cost to attend a private nonprofit institution is $43,350, according to the College Board.

    Costs 2023-24

    Tuition & Fees

    $59,241

    Books & Supplies

    $939

    Total

    $60,180

    Graduate Tuition and Fees

    SCU offers seven graduate programs in a variety of areas including business, law, theology, and engineering. The average cost of Santa Clara University graduate tuition and fees was $25,873 for one year of a two-year program. For comparison, the average cost of a master’s degree is $15,100 per year at a private university.

    Graduate students can explore graduate loans to help cover this cost.

    Costs 2023-24

    Tuition

    $25,873

    Fees

    $0

    Cost per Credit Hour

    For the 2023/24 school year, the annual tuition at Santa Clara is $59,241, which covers the cost of 12 or more units per quarter (which is considered full-time). For SCU undergraduate students enrolled in fewer than 12 units, the cost per unit is $1,627. Students are required to complete a minimum of 175 units in order to graduate with a bachelor’s degree from SCU.

    Certificates

    Santa Clara University offers a number of online graduate and certificate programs, including an online MBA, graduate certificate in restorative justice and chaplaincy, and a certificate in applied bioengineering. Prices vary depending on the program, ranging from $351 per unit for the School of Education to $1,160 per unit in the School of Engineering.

    Recommended: How to Pay for a Grad Certificate Program

    Campus Housing Expenses

    Freshmen are required to live on campus at Santa Clara University. Both freshmen and most sophomores live in Residential Learning Communities that are found in eight of the 10 campus residence halls. These RLCs are focused on a theme like contemporary world issues or community service. Juniors and seniors who choose to stay on campus typically live in the University Villas, a townhouse-style complex close to campus.

    Those who opt to live off campus can choose from SCU-owned apartments and private rentals available near campus. For more information, visit the SCU off-campus website.

    Costs for 2023-24

    Student Type

    On-Campus

    Off-Campus

    Room & Board

    $18,984

    $19,431

    Other Expenses

    $3,978

    $6,192

    Santa Clara Acceptance Rate

    Santa Clara University acceptance rate is 44%, making it a somewhat competitive school. Nearly 19,000 students applied to attend SCU for fall 2023, and 8,291 were accepted.

    Fall 2023

    Number of applications

    18,843

    Number accepted

    8,291

    Percentage Accepted

    44%

    Admission Requirements

    The deadline for applying to Santa Clara University undergrad Early Decision I and Early Action is November 1, with a decision given by late December. The deadline for Early Decision II is January 7, with a decision given by mid-February. The deadline for Regular Decision is January 7, with a decision given by late March.

    Here’s what you’ll need if you apply to SCU:

    Required:

    •  High school transcript

    •  Academic teacher evaluation

    Not required but considered:

    •  SAT or ACT scores

    SAT and ACT Scores

    Prospective students don’t have to submit SAT or ACT scores as part of their SCU application, and they won’t be disadvantaged if they choose not to.

    Here are the average standardized test scores of admitted students who applied to Santa Clara University for fall 2023.

    Subject

    25th Percentile

    75th Percentile

    SAT Evidence-Based
    Reading/Writing

    660

    730

    SAT Math

    680

    770

    ACT Composite

    30

    33

    ACT Math

    27

    33

    Graduation Rate

    The majority of SCU undergrads finish their degrees within four years. The graduate rates at Santa Clara University for students who began their studies in the fall of 2017 are as follows:

    •  4 years: 83%

    •  6 years: 88%

    Post-Graduation Median Earnings

    Ten years after starting at Santa Clara University, students earn a median wage of $109,183, which is nearly 60% higher than the U.S. average for the class of 2024 of $68,516.

    Bottom Line

    With a campus that sits in the shadow of Silicon Valley, Santa Clara University is a well-connected institution that offers students strong academics in a beautiful setting. And while SCU tuition is higher than average for private universities, you have many student loan options to help with those costs.

    SoFi private student loans offer competitive interest rates for qualifying borrowers, flexible repayment plans, and no origination fees.

    View Your Rate

    Photo credit: iStock/Rebecca Todd
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