Is Santa Clara test optional?

We haven't confirmed Santa Clara's test policy for 2026–27. Check their admissions site; many colleges have changed their policy since 2020.

What is Santa Clara's acceptance rate?

48% of applicants were admitted in 2024–25, according to the college's Common Data Set or, where that's missing, IPEDS, the federal college survey. In fall 2024, 9,105 of 18,970 applicants were admitted. Applications rose 27%, from 14,899 in 2015 to 18,970 in 2024, and Santa Clara's admit rate went from 49% to 48%.

What ACT score do you need for Santa Clara?

10% of first-year students sent an ACT, and they scored 31–33, with a median of 32. On the official ACT–SAT concordance, their SAT range of 1360–1480 works out to about 30–33.

What GPA do you need for Santa Clara?

There's no published cutoff. First-year students averaged a 3.72 high school GPA, and 35% of those who reported a class rank were in their top 10%, per the Common Data Set 2024–25. Colleges compute GPA differently, so compare it loosely.

Does applying early decision help at Santa Clara?

80% of early decision applicants were admitted (488 of 609), against 48% of all applicants. Early pools often include recruited athletes and other strong applicants, so the real edge is smaller than the gap.

How many students get off the waitlist at Santa Clara?

197 of the 3,312 students who stayed on the waitlist were admitted, or 5.9%, per the Common Data Set 2024–25.

All colleges

What SAT score do you need for Santa Clara? (Middle 50%: 1360–1480)

First-year students at Santa Clara who sent an SAT scored 1360–1480, with a median of 1410 (Common Data Set 2024–25). Santa Clara admits 48% of applicants.

Santa Clara University · Santa Clara, CA

Where your score lands at Santa Clara

First-year students who sent an SAT: 1360–1480, median 1410

Your score

Middle 50% of admitted students Median

Enter your SAT or ACT to see which tier Santa Clara is for you and whether to send your score.

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Santa Clara by the numbers

Admit rate: 48%
Middle 50% SAT: 1360–1480
Median SAT: 1410
About on the ACT: 30–33
Sent an SAT: 24%

Test policy not confirmed for 2026–27 · SAT range from the Common Data Set, 2024–25; admit rate from it or IPEDS

Santa Clara admit rate over 10 years

Applications rose 27%, from 14,899 in 2015 to 18,970 in 2024, and Santa Clara's admit rate went from 49% to 48%.

Show the numbers

Fall	Applied	Admitted	Admit rate
2024	18,970	9,105	48%
2023	18,843	8,261	44%
2022	16,650	8,677	52%
2021	16,848	9,095	54%
2020	16,488	8,362	51%
2019	16,300	7,958	49%
2018	16,242	8,107	50%
2017	15,061	8,067	54%
2016	15,834	7,648	48%
2015	14,899	7,270	49%

In fall 2024, 1,611 of the 9,105 admitted students enrolled. Applicants and admits from IPEDS, the federal college survey, by fall of entry.

What each SAT score means at Santa Clara

Which tier your score puts them in, and whether it's worth sending.

Your SATTierSend it?*

Under 1310Far reachHold
1310–1350ReachHold
1360–1400TargetHold
1410 and upTargetSend

12001300140015001600

Tiers here use only your SAT and their admit rate. Essays, activities and recommendations still decide most admissions at selective colleges. *Send it? assumes they're test optional; we haven't confirmed their policy.

Santa Clara SAT sections, ACT, GPA and class rank

Scores of enrolled first-year students who sent one, by percentile.

Test	25th	Median	75th
SAT Math	680	720	760
SAT Reading and Writing	670	700	730
SAT total	1360	1410	1480
ACT composite	31	32	33

Of enrolled first-year students, 24% sent an SAT and 10% sent an ACT. Common Data Set 2024–25.

Average high school GPA: 3.72; 100% of new students reported one
Top 10% of their class: 35%; of new students who reported a rank

Santa Clara early decision and waitlist

Early decision

488 of 609 early decision applicants were admitted.

Early decision80%
All applicants48%

Early pools often include recruited athletes and other strong applicants, so the gap overstates how much applying early helps on its own.

Waitlist

5,871 applicants were offered a spot, 3,312 took it, and 197 were admitted from it.

5.9%of students who stayed on the waitlist got in

Common Data Set 2024–25.

Santa Clara cost and outcomes

What students pay after grants, how many finish, and what they earn.

Average net price: $50,062; per year, after grants
Graduate in 6 years: 88%
Median earnings: $109,183; 10 years after starting
Undergraduates: 6,851

College Scorecard, 2022–23, from the US Department of Education. Net price averages federal-aid students across family incomes.

Colleges like Santa Clara

Similar SAT ranges and admit rates.

Sources

Santa Clara Common Data Set 2024–25
SAT and ACT ranges, early decision, waitlist, GPA and class rank, as the college reported them.
College Navigator (IPEDS)
Applications, admissions and enrollment by year, from the federal college survey.
College Scorecard
Net price, graduation rate and earnings, from the US Department of Education.
Santa Clara website
Santa Clara University

Updated Nov 9, 2026. Spot a number that's off? Email support@tryashore.com and we'll check it against the source.

Questions

Still have a question? support@tryashore.com

There's no cutoff. The middle 50% of first-year students who sent an SAT scored 1360–1480, and the median was 1410. At 1410 or higher you're above half of them. Santa Clara admits 48% of applicants.

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SAT Math · 1 of 5

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A jacket's price is increased by 20% and then the new price is decreased by 20%. The final price is what percent of the original price?

A $96\%$
B $100\%$
C $104\%$
D $80\%$