Santa Clara University Acceptance Rate
Santa Clara, California · Private not-for-profit · 4-year or above
- Applicants
- 18,843
- Admitted
- 8,261
- Yield
- 18.8%
- Test policy
- Test-optional
Latest official IPEDS 2023–24 · Updated July 2026
Acceptance rate & applications over time
Hover or tap the chart to read any year.
Over the 10 years of federal data, Santa Clara University's acceptance rate has fallen from 49.3% in 2014–15 to 43.8% in 2023–24. Applications grew from 14,985 to 18,843 (+26%) over that period.
Its 43.8% rate makes Santa Clara University more selective than about 87% of the 1,419 schools tracked here. Among 84 tracked California schools, it is more selective than about 68%.
In 2023–24, women were admitted at a higher rate (47.3% for women vs 40.2% for men, a 7.1-point gap). Santa Clara University has been test-optional since 2021–22. Of admitted students, 18.8% enrolled (the yield rate) in 2023–24.
Full year-by-year table
| Year | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance | Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014–15 | 14,985 | 7,395 | 49.3% | 1,319 |
| 2015–16 | 14,899 | 7,270 | 48.8% | 1,261 |
| 2016–17 | 15,834 | 7,648 | 48.3% | 1,317 |
| 2017–18 | 15,061 | 8,067 | 53.6% | 1,404 |
| 2018–19 | 16,242 | 8,107 | 49.9% | 1,391 |
| 2019–20 | 16,300 | 7,958 | 48.8% | 1,391 |
| 2020–21 | 16,488 | 8,362 | 50.7% | 1,259 |
| 2021–22 | 16,848 | 9,095 | 54% | 1,549 |
| 2022–23 | 16,650 | 8,677 | 52.1% | 1,641 |
| 2023–24 | 18,843 | 8,261 | 43.8% | 1,552 |
Acceptance rate by gender
| Group | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Women | 9,720 | 4,598 | 47.3% |
| Men | 9,123 | 3,663 | 40.2% |
SAT / ACT ranges & policy
Test-optional (considered if submitted).
| Test | 25th–75th percentile | % submitting |
|---|---|---|
| SAT EBRW | 660–730 | 25% |
| SAT Math | 680–770 | |
| ACT Composite | 30–33 | 12% |
How Santa Clara University compares
Where this school sits among peers of similar selectivity — each dot is a school's current acceptance rate on the same scale.
Frequently asked
What is Santa Clara University's acceptance rate?
Santa Clara University's acceptance rate is 43.8% for 2023–24, the most recent year of federal IPEDS data (8,261 admitted of 18,843 applicants).
Is Santa Clara University test optional?
Santa Clara University is test-optional: SAT/ACT scores are considered if submitted but not required.
How many people apply to Santa Clara University?
Santa Clara University received 18,843 applications in 2023–24 and admitted 8,261.
What SAT score do you need for Santa Clara University?
Admitted students at Santa Clara University typically scored 660–730 on SAT Reading/Writing and 680–770 on SAT Math (middle-50% ranges).
Is Santa Clara University getting harder to get into?
Santa Clara University has become harder to get into: its acceptance rate went from 49.3% in 2014–15 to 43.8% in 2023–24.
How this is calculated
Acceptance rate = admitted ÷ applicants, first-time degree-seeking undergraduates, from the U.S. Department of Education's IPEDS Admissions (ADM) survey; institution details from the IPEDS Institutional Characteristics (HD) survey. Data span: 2014–15 to 2023–24. Official site: www.scu.edu/.