Santa Clara University

Santa Clara, CA

Santa Clara University admitted 9,592 of 20,032 applicants for the fall 2025 entering class (47.9%).

Every figure on this page is published by the college or a federal survey, and carries the source it came from. They describe the fall 2025 entering class, a read on the school, not a prediction about any one applicant.

What stands out at Santa Clara University

Three things Santa Clara University published, ranked by how much each could change what you actually do, not by how impressive it looks. Every one describes a class that has already enrolled.

Early round1 of 3

Early Decision admitted 76.4%. The regular round admitted 47%.

1.6×

the regular-round rate

A ratio between two rates the school published. Not a change in anyone’s odds.

Early Decision76.4%
Regular round47%

467 of 611 early applicants were admitted, against 9,125 of 19,421 in the regular round. Early Decision is binding, and you can only use it at one school, which is exactly why the gap is worth knowing before you choose where to spend it.

Source: their Common Data Set, fall 2025

Waitlist2 of 3

263 admitted from a waitlist of 405.

268 students accepted a place on that list, and 263 were admitted from it, 98.1% of the students who waited. A waitlist offer here is not a near-miss anyone can plan around.

Source: their Common Data Set, fall 2025

Scores sent3 of 3

29% of the enrolled class sent an SAT.

The SAT band on this page describes that share of the class, not all of it. Another 9% sent an ACT. Santa Clara University files test scores under “considered”.

Source: their Common Data Set, fall 2025

Every figure, in full

The same measured fields on every one of these pages. Nothing is filled in where the school published nothing.

Acceptance rate

47.9%

9,592 admitted of 20,032 applicants

Source: their Common Data Set, fall 2025

SAT, middle 50%

1330–1470

Source: their Common Data Set, fall 2025

ACT, middle 50%

29–33

Source: their Common Data Set, fall 2025

Average GPA of admitted students

3.72

Source: their Common Data Set, fall 2025

Enrolled students who sent an SAT

29%

Counted per test: a student may send both.

Source: their Common Data Set, fall 2025

Enrolled students who sent an ACT

9%

Counted per test: a student may send both.

Source: their Common Data Set, fall 2025

Where do you actually stand at Santa Clara University?

The figures above describe a class that already enrolled. GoodGoblin reads them against your own transcript, scores and activities, then builds the balanced list, the essay plan and the deadline calendar around what it finds.

See where I stand ›

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What Santa Clara University says it weighs

The school's own words, from the form it fills in every year. Ranked as it ranks them.

  • Essayrequired

    Source: the federal IPEDS survey, fall 2023

  • Course rigorrequired

    Source: the federal IPEDS survey, fall 2023

  • GPArequired

    Source: the federal IPEDS survey, fall 2023

  • Recommendationsrequired

    Source: the federal IPEDS survey, fall 2023

  • Test scoresconsidered

    Source: the federal IPEDS survey, fall 2023

  • Class rankconsidered

    Source: the federal IPEDS survey, fall 2023

The early round, in counts

Two published rates side by side. Early applicants are a different group of students, so the gap is a fact about those pools, not a lever anyone can pull.

Early Decision

1.6× the rate

Early Decision admitted 76.4% (467 of 611), against 47% in the regular round.

9,125 of 19,421 in the comparison pool.

Source: their Common Data Set, fall 2025

The waitlist, as the school reported it

Published counts, including the ones schools rarely lead with.

Offered a waitlist place
405
Accepted the place
268
Admitted from the waitlist
263

Source: their Common Data Set, fall 2025

What students actually pay

Net price after grants and scholarships: not the sticker price.

Average net price: $50,062 a year.

Family income under $30k
$22,985
$30k–$48k
$19,154
$48k–$75k
$26,531
$75k–$110k
$37,219
Over $110k
$60,678

Source: the College Scorecard

Essays on this application

4 essay prompts on the application: 2 you would write, 1 optional, 1 not yet confirmed.

A prompt we have not yet confirmed is counted on its own rather than called optional, treating an unconfirmed prompt as optional is how a student skips an essay their college expects.

Published deadlines

Each date is read from the college's own materials and re-checked on a schedule.

  • Early ActionNovember 1, 2026

    Verified September 5, 2026 · Source

  • Early DecisionNovember 1, 2026

    Verified September 5, 2026 · Source

  • Early Decision 2January 7, 2027

    Verified September 5, 2026 · Source

  • Regular DecisionJanuary 7, 2027

    Verified September 5, 2026 · Source

Guides for Santa Clara University applicants

More colleges on the record

Every one of these carries the same measured figures, with the same sources.

Other colleges in California

The pages nearest this one on acceptance rate, in the same state.

Colleges with a nearby acceptance rate

Anywhere in the country, ordered by how close the published rate is to this one. A selection rule, not a ranking.

Build the list this school belongs on.

The figures above describe a class that already enrolled. GoodGoblin reads them against your own transcript, scores and activities, then builds the balanced list, the essay plan and the deadline calendar around what it finds.

See where I stand ›

3 days free · $0 today · cancel anytime

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University names and marks are the property of their respective institutions and are shown only to illustrate where students we've supported have been admitted. They do not imply any affiliation with or endorsement by GoodGoblin.