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Santa Clara University Acceptance Rate

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Dark Clock Icon Last updated on 12 Dec '24, by Akansha katariya (Study Abroad Expert)

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Established in 1851, Santa Clara University is a private Jesuit university and the oldest operating institution of higher learning in California. The university is classified as a Doctoral/ Professional university and is renowned for offering bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees via six colleges.

According to an unofficial source, Santa Clara University ranked #63 among National Universities, #124 in Best Value School, and #139 for offering the best Undergraduate Engineering Programs.

International students from diverse countries are compelled to take Santa Clara University admission because of its inclination toward new technology, creativity, engaging communities, and entrepreneurial mindset. The university’s goal is to make its students, leaders, and global thinkers.

Santa Clara University Acceptance Rate 2025

According to Santa Clara University enrollment 2023-2024, over 9,000 students enrolled in the university. Out of the total, over 6,000 students were undergraduates and more than 3,000 were graduates. Thus, the Santa Clara University acceptance rate is 44%. International students can check the Santa Clara University enrollment statistics for fall 2023-2024 below:

Particulars

Statistics 2023-2024

Total Enrollment

9,326

Undergraduate Enrollment

6,249

Graduate Enrollment

3,077

Acceptance Rate

44%

Santa Clara University Acceptance Rate for International Students

As per the official source, 6,249 undergraduates and 3,077 graduate international students were admitted to SCU. Along with the international students, students from other ethnicities participate in UG or PG programs. The total number of international students was 484, which is 7.74% of the total UG enrollment. International students can check the below table for the SCU headcounts of students coming from diverse backgrounds:

Ethnicity/Race

Undergraduate Headcount 2024

Nonresident aliens

484

Hispanic/Latino

1,168

Black or African American, non-Hispanic

218

White, non-Hispanic

2,339

American Indian or Alaska Native, non-Hispanic

2

Asian, non-Hispanic

1,339

Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, non-Hispanic

15

Two or more races, non-Hispanic

554

Race and/or ethnicity unknown

116

Total

6,249

Santa Clara University Acceptance Rate Trends

According to the Santa Clara University enrollment data over the years, the university acceptance rate has decreased compared to the previous year's data. The university acceptance rate was between 50% and 53% which has reduced to 44%. However, there is an increase in the number of applications, earlier it was over 16k which has increased to over 18K. International students can check the table below for Santa Clara University enrollment and acceptance rate data over the years:

Year

Application Received

Application Enrolled

Acceptance Rate

2023-2024

18,843  

1,552

43.84%

2022-2023

16,650  

1,641

52.11%

2021-2022

16,848      

1,449

53.98%

2020-2021

16,488     

1,259

50.72%

2019-2020

16,300  

1,391

48.82%

Santa Clara University Requirements for International Students

International students must fulfill the basic eligibility including a bachelor’s degree from a recognized organization or equivalent and submit the required documents asked by the university. The Santa Clara University requirements for international students are given below:

  • Official high school transcripts
  • Academic teacher evaluation or counselor recommendation
  • Secondary school report
  • Mid-year report
  • Non-refundable application fee (USD 70)
  • ACT/SAT scores (optional)

Tips to get selected at Santa Clara University

It's quite difficult to get into Santa Clara University, with an acceptance rate of 44%. To increase their chances of being chosen, students should abide by the following advice:
• Obtain a high GPA: The institution takes into account students who have high GPAs. On a 4-point system, students must aim for a minimum GPA of 3.7.
• Participate in extracurricular activities: The university gives preference to students who excel in other subjects. Extracurricular activities can include personal interests in the Arts, Music, Global Studies, or any other relevant field.

Class Rank: One important deciding factor is class rank. Pupils must work hard to earn good grades to place highly in the class.

Santa Clara University Acceptance Rate vs. Kent State University Acceptance Rate

The Kent State University acceptance rate is 88% which is double the acceptance rate of Santa Clara University, whose acceptance rate ranges 44%. The low percentage of acceptance rate shows quite a tough selection approach during admission and high competition.

Both universities are renowned irrespective of their acceptance rates and criteria. In both cases, students must perform extremely well in academics and take part in extracurricular activities to improve their selection criteria.

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FAQs

Q:   How hard is it to get into Santa Clara University?

A: 

Getting into Santa Clara University is quite tough, with an acceptance rate of 44%. The low acceptance rate indicates that the university has a stringent admissions policy and uses a tough selection process. This does not imply that the university is impossible to get into. In addition to submitting the necessary paperwork, including transcripts, English language proficiency scores, and GPA scores, the students must meet the qualifying requirements.

Q:   What GPA do you need to get into Santa Clara University?

A: 

Santa Clara University expects a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.73 on a 4-point scale from international students. Students must provide authentic transcripts from each school or college they attended in addition to their GPA. Students from other nations or backgrounds must demonstrate their English language ability by achieving the minimum score needed on the TOEFL, IELTS, PTE, and Duolingo tests.

Q:   Is Santa Clara a prestigious university?

A: 

Santa Clara University is one of the most prestigious universities in the USA. SCU is California's the oldest university still in operation. The university is known for providing bachelor's, master's, and doctorate degrees through its six colleges and is categorized as a doctorate/Professional university.
An unauthorized source claims that Santa Clara University is ranked #139 for providing the finest undergraduate engineering programs, #124 for the finest Value School, and #63 for National Universities.
Due to its emphasis on cutting-edge technology, creativity, active communities, and an entrepreneurial spirit, the university attracts international students from a wide range of nations.

Q:   What is the acceptance rate for Santa Clara University for international students?

A: 

Santa Clara University has a 44% acceptance rate for international students, making admission extremely difficult. The university maintains a strict admissions policy and employs a rigorous selection procedure, as seen by the low acceptance rate. This does not mean that admission to the university is impossible. The students must fulfill the qualifying conditions and submit the required documentation, which includes transcripts, English language proficiency scores, and GPA scores.

Q:   What are the requirements to get into Santa Clara University?

A: 

A bachelor's degree from an accredited institution or its equivalent is one of the prerequisites for international students, as is submitting the necessary paperwork as requested by the university. The following are the prerequisites for overseas students at Santa Clara University:

  • Official high school transcripts
  • Academic teacher evaluation or counselor recommendation
  • Secondary school report
  • Mid-year report
  • Non-refundable application fee (USD 70)
  • ACT/SAT scores (optional)
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Akansha katariya

Study Abroad Expert

Akansha katariya is a content creator at shiksha.com, creating content for study abroad. Having pursued B tech. in Electronics and communication from RGPV University, she has been creating content across diverse domains. When not guiding students, sh...Read Full Bio

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Santa Clara University
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University CitySanta Clara, California, USA
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Santa Clara University
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500 El Camino Real Santa Clara, CA 95053
Santa Clara ( California)

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