Santa Clara University is a private Jesuit university located in Santa Clara, California, in the San Francisco Bay Area. It is a mid-sized school with around 5,700–6,000 undergraduate students. Admissions is highly competitive, with an acceptance rate of around 43.8%. Business, Engineering, Social Sciences, Biology, and Communication are popular majors. The six-year graduation rate is around 92%, and SCU alumni have a median income of around US$109,183 ten years after entering college.
University of San Francisco (USF) is a Jesuit private university in San Francisco, California, with an urban location. It is a mid-sized university with approximately 7,900 undergraduates. The admissions are competitive, with an approximately 50-52% acceptance rate (although specific recent figures fluctuate). The popular majors include Business, Health Professions, Social Sciences, Communication, and Biology. Six-year graduation rate is roughly 76-77%, and USF alumni have a median salary of around US$89,812 after ten years of starting college.
| University of San Francisco | Santa Clara University | |
|---|---|---|
| Collegedunia Score | 4.1 Out of 10 | 4.1 Out of 10 |
| ranking (overall) | # 1201 QS World University 2026 # 1201 QS World University 2025 # 1417 Center for World University Rankings 2025 | # 1307 Center for World University Rankings 2025 # 60 US News 2024 # 1631 US News 2024 |
| Subject Strength | # 551 for Medicine by QS World University 2020 # 165 for Law by US News 2024 | # 181 for Engineering by US News 2025 # 156 for Law by US News 2025 |
| Programs | UG Programs -45 PG Programs -33 | UG Programs -31 PG Programs -22 |
| Acceptance Rate | 51.0 % | 44.0 % |
| Exam Score | IELTS-6 SAT-1100 TOEFL-65 | IELTS-6.5 SAT-1270 TOEFL-90 |
| Cost to Study | Average Tuition Fees 52920 [For UG Program] Average Tuition Fees 38520 [For PG Program] Hostel + Meal - 31960 Per Year | Average Tuition Fees 52998 [For UG Program] Average Tuition Fees 25185 [For PG Program] Hostel + Meal - 32064 Per Year |
| placement (average package) | Some of the programs and the average salary are as follows: MBA: $117,000 Masters in Science: $77,000 Executive Masters: $72,000 Bachelor of Science: $70,000 Master (Other): $54,000 Bachelor of Arts: $52,000 | Some of the programs and the average salary are as follows: MBA: $137,000 Masters in Science: $130,000 Bachelor of Science: $123,000 Bachelor of Arts: $70,000 |
| application requirements | Submit official transcripts Submit LORs Submit personal statement Submit English language scores Check program specific requirements | Submit official transcripts Submit LORs Submit English language proficiency scores Check program specific requirements |
| CollegeDunia Reviews | 7.0/10 Read 9 reviews | 7.5/10 Read 11 reviews |
Top Courses Comparison
| ranking | # 122 for Business by US News 2025 | # 151 for Business by Academy Ranking of World Universities 2021 |
| exam scores | Duolingo - 120/160IELTS - 6.5/9PTE - 61/90TOEFL - 90/120 | Duolingo - 110/160GMAT - 650/800GRE - 309/340IELTS - 6.5/9TOEFL - 90/120 |
| cost to study | Total Cost (Tuition + Living) -39600 | Total Cost (Tuition + Living) -40250 |
| application dates | Jan 15, 2025 (Round 2 Application Deadline For Fall Intake) Mar 15, 2025 (Round 3 Application Deadline For Fall Intake) May 15, 2025 (Round 4 Application Deadline For Fall Intake) Jun 15, 2025 (Round 5 Application Deadline For Fall Intake) | Jun 1, 2025 (Application Deadline For Fall 2026 Intake) Oct 1, 2025 (Application Deadline For Winter 2026 Intake) Jan 1, 2026 (Application Deadline for Spring 2026 Intake) |
Other Popular Comparisons
| General Facts | University of San Francisco | Santa Clara University |
|---|---|---|
| Type of University | University | University |
| Established | 1912 | 1851 |
| Student:Faculty Ratio | 13:1 | 11:1 |
| Male:Female | 38% Male, 62% Female | 50% Male, 50% Female |
| Location Facts | The University of San Francisco has its main campus at the Hilltop Campus. There are several other campus located at USF Downtown San Francisco Campus, The Orange County Campus, The Pleasanton Campus, The Presidio Campus, The Sacramento Campus, The San Jose Campus, The Santa Rosa Campus. | The university address is in Santa Clara, California, though a significant part of the campus lies over the border into San Jose, California. |
| Library | The Library provides the resources, services, and spaces to develop the whole person, and actively engages the USF community in its educational, social, and scholarly activities. The library provides access to 1.5 million book on shelf and online. 57,000 streaming videos are available on the website, 2 billion articles are available for the students. | SCU’s libraries are much more than book repositories; they’re inspiring spaces for research, collaboration, and reflection. Spanning 194,000 square feet on four levels, the university library features energy-efficient lighting, light-filled public spaces, three open-air terraces, wireless networking, an art gallery, more than a million books, and over 200 new computers. |
| Campus Life | At USF, students take part in a broad range of academic, cultural, social, and political organizations. They also write for the school newspaper, work with university leaders through student government, work with visual and performing arts groups, and lend a hand in community service. Student clubs are a great way to empower and enrich yourself while meeting fellow Dons who share the same passion. Once you’re on campus, you’ll have more than 100 student clubs and organizations to join. Student Leadership and Engagement understands that you seek out involvement and leadership for a variety of reasons, including serving others, networking, building skills, discovering yourself, making new friends, and creating change. The Cultural Centers include the Gender & Sexuality Center and the Intercultural Center. The centers serve as both physical spaces on campus where students build community, and as outlets for student run programs that explore social issues and identity. | Santa Clara offers its students the opportunity to engage in over 125 registered student organizations (or clubs).[65] RSO's are partially funded by the university via the student government, ASG. These Organizations span from Athletic/Recreational, Careers/Pre-professional, Community Service, Ethnic/Cultural, Business Fraternities, Health/Counseling, Media/Publications, Music/Dance/Creative Arts, Political/Social Awareness to Religious/Philosophical. The Associated Student Government of Santa Clara University (ASGSCU) is Santa Clara University's student government, an elected representative body for undergraduate students. Santa Clara participates in NCAA's Division I and is a member of the West Coast Conference. Sports include boxing, cycling, equestrian, paintball, men's lacrosse, women's lacrosse, men's rugby, women's rugby, men's Ultimate, women's Ultimate, men's volleyball, women's volleyball, men's ice hockey, sailing, Shotokan karate, swimming, triathlon, and women's field hockey. |
| Hostel | #On campus - $14330 #Off campus (not with family) - $14330 #Off campus (with family) - $3300 | #Off campus (not with family) - $13293 #On campus - $14487 #Off campus (with family) - $4284 |
| Famous Alumni | Carlos Baena, animator | Andy Ackerman, producer and director, Seinfeld Lawrence A. Fernsworth, journalist and author |
| City Life | A beautiful region filled with iconic landmarks independently owned businesses and trendsetting residents, San Francisco has long followed the beat of its own drum. Morphed and molded by its communities, the California metro area has been the heart of the bohemian lifestyle, the epicenter of the LGBT rights movement and the launching point of the technology era. Today, San Francisco is a complete universe in and of itself: Each neighborhood exudes its own personality, from the historic streets of the Mission District to the grassy hills of the Presidio to the bustling piers along the Embarcadero. Onerous zoning restrictions and residents' desires to stymie population growth have led to a drop in new housing units within city limits, causing San Francisco home prices and rental rates to rise significantly over the past several years. The lack of affordable housing options has caused the region's homeless population to grow. Necessary expenses like food and transportation aren't cheap, either. Basic groceries and gas generally cost noticeably more than the national average. | Santa Clara, California is an idyllic city located in Santa Clara County. With its stunning parks and trails, great shopping and dining opportunities, and plenty of local attractions, Santa Clara has something for everyone. Outdoor enthusiasts will be ecstatic when they explore all that the city has to offer while business owners can take advantage of the many resources available. Education is also top-notch in Santa Clara with numerous schools, universities, and medical centers close at hand. Whether you’re looking for a new home or simply wanting to have some fun, Santa Clara is sure to provide the perfect experience! |
| Weather |
Santa Clara University vs University of San Francisco
Subject Strength & Global Rankings (2025/2026)
SCU and USF are both highly regarded private Jesuit universities. SCU tends to be higher ranked nationally in the major rankings than USF, particularly in engineering, business, and early-career outcomes. Whereas global ranking for SCU indicates strong profiles in some US News / national ranking environments, USF indicates solid strength particularly in social justice, health, and urban education contexts, though less so in engineering/national prestige than SCU. SCU has higher median alumni salary and early career earnings, indicating its strong performance in tech, business, and engineering fields. USF, while lower in international prestige in engineering, is strong in health- and professional-oriented fields.
General Information
SCU has fewer undergraduates compared to USF but SCU's graduation rate and retention rate are higher. SCU's suburban/Silicon Valley campus provides it with access to large tech and business companies, which enhances internships and job placement. USF's location in a city offers advantages in networking in non-profit, health, communication, service industry, and excellent community involvement.
Acceptance Rate & Admissions
SCU's acceptance rate is ~ 43.8%, and it is more selective than USF with a higher acceptance rate (approx. 50-52%). SCU accepts students with excellent academic records; very few of them submit test scores. USF also looks at GPA, essays, etc., but the academic record of accepted students is a little weaker on average along standardized test score scales than SCU's. Both schools have moved or are moving towards test-optional or test flexible policies.
Research Impact & Facilities
SCU has sound facilities, particularly for engineering, computer science, business, and tech alumni outcomes. It spends a lot on facilities, labs, industry collaborations, etc. USF enjoys sound applied research particularly in health, social sciences, public service, and communications, with the urban setting enabling such strengths. SCU's research funding and production are more in technology/engineering disciplines, whereas USF's production is sound in its niche areas but of a lower magnitude overall than SCU.
Cost & Financial Aid
SCU's fees and tuition are some of the higher among private universities. Room and board substantially contribute to the cost. USF is also pricey, but net cost following financial aid is slightly less or more affordable due to the scholarship / philanthropic support. The gap in net price (after scholarships/grants) exists, with SCU often having higher average scholarships for those who qualify, but still the gross cost (tuition + living) tends to be higher at SCU.
Career Outcomes & Alumni Success
SCU graduates show high median earnings (US$109,183 ten years after start) and high employability in business, engineering, technology sectors. SCU's 6-year graduation rate (~92%) is superb and alumni network robust, particularly in Silicon Valley and tech/entrepreneurship fields. USF's graduates fare well, particularly in health, communications, public service, with median income of ~ US$89,812 after ten years, and 6-year graduation ~ 76-77%. SCU seems to have a edge in income outcomes and graduation rate, but USF excels in its urban location, mission, and professional programs.
