Santa Clara University admissions are offered in the terms of Fall and Winter. In Fall 2021, around 17,761 freshmen applied for Santa Clara University admissions. Out of this, 9,709 got enrolled to Santa Clara University and 1,784 enrolled. The university boasts an acceptance rate of 55% (Fall 2021). This reflects a 4% increase in acceptance rate in comparison to 51% in 2020.
- Enrollments: Santa Clara University is home to more than 9,000 undergraduate and graduate students from all over the world. The university houses over 3,000 international students hailing from over 31 countries. Check: Reviews Santa Clara University Student Reviews
- Admission Deadlines: Santa Clara University admissions are open for Fall, Summer, and Spring sessions. The upcoming deadline marked for admission is Early decision and regular decision for January 7.
- Application Process: Students planning to secure admission to one of the 140 programs at Santa Clara University are required to submit an online application with a fee of 60 USD.
- Admission Requirements: International students need a cumulative GPA of 3.4 to 3.8 (90-93%) on a 4.0 scale for admission to SCU. Students need a TOEFL score of 90 or equivalent for admission to the undergraduate programs at SCU. For graduate programs, the minimum TOEFL score requirement varies from 79 to 100.
- Acceptance Rate: Santa Clara University'sacceptance rate is 48.2% students due to which the university follows a competitive admission process.
- Programs: Santa Clara University offers 3 undergraduate degrees across arts, science, and commerce. The university offers more than 50 graduate programs in law, business, engineering, counseling psychology and other disciplines. Also Check: Santa Clara University Graduate Programs
Santa Clara University Admission Deadlines
The application deadlines at Santa Clara University The admission deadlines for the undergraduate programs at Santa Clara University are tabulated below:
Semester | Deadline |
---|---|
Early Decision I | November 1 |
Early Decision II | January 7 |
Winter First-Year | October 1 |
Early Action | November 1 |
Regular Decision | January 7 |
Santa Clara University Undergraduate Admissions
International students can choose from various undergraduate courses at Santa Clara University. The university witnessed consecutive increases in applications and acceptance rate each year. The international aspirants are supposed to mail transcripts directly from the institution to the university within the mentioned deadline only.
Application Portal: Common Application
Application Fee: 70 USD (5,550 INR)
Undergraduate Admission Requirements:
- Official high school transcripts (from grade nine to recently completed term)
- GPA of 3.4 to 3.8 (90-93%) on a 4.0 scale
- One academic teacher evaluation
- Secondary school report form
- Mid-year report (due at the end of January)
- Proof of English proficiency
- SCU Financial Resource Statement
Supplemental Requirements:
International students can give an optional interview. Though not compulsory, it gives them a chance to exhibit their interests, language skills, and professionalism. These interviews do not happen off-campus or in person. Interested students can apply through InitialView, Duolingo, and Vericant.
Santa Clara University Graduate Admissions
The international students can pursue a degree from one of SCU’s graduate programs. The application process is different for each program. The graduate schools at the university include the School of Education and Counseling Psychology, School of Engineering, School of Law, etc.
Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) waivers are available for some qualified candidates. The students are suggested to contact the MBA Admissions Office to avail the waiver. Beneath is the standard academic requirement for graduate programs offered by the university.
Application Portal: Common Application
Application Fee: 70 USD (5,550 INR)
Admission Requirements: The applicants need to submit the below-mentioned documents at the time of admission:
- Official college transcripts (if not in English, then with translations)
- SCU Financial Resource Statement
- GMAT/GRE scores (Average GMAT score: 650, average GRE score: 306-309)
- Personal statement
- 2 LORs
- Resume/CV
- Proof of English proficiency
Santa Clara University Engineering Admissions
Students seeking admissions to graduate engineering programs must complete the online application with an application fee of 90 USD (~7,136 INR).
Engineering Admission Requirements:
- Completed application
- Bachelor’s degree
- One transcript from each institution
- GRE scores (Average GRE score: 309)
- English proficiency scores
- IELTS: 6.5
- Duolingo: 110
- TOEFL iBT: 79-80
- Engineering Application Deadline: The deadline for Winter Quarter 2023 is September 30, 2022. For the Spring Quarter of 2023, the deadlines are February 10, 2023.
Santa Clara University MBA Admissions
Santa Clara University ranks 13th for Executive MBA and 19th nationwide for Part-Time MBA Program. SCU MBA intakes are due for Fall, Winter, and Spring semesters. STEM focus relies on DSBA MBA concentration and all MS programs.
MBA Admission Requirements:
- Academic records
- Cumulative GPA of 3.3 (86-89%) on a 4.0 scale or above
- Resume/CV
- Personal statement
- 3 business essays
- GMAT/GRE scores (Average GMAT score: 620, average GRE score: 306)
- English language proficiency scores
- TOEFL: 100
- IELTS: 7.0
- Duolingo: 120
- 2 LOR
- Professional work experience
- Personal admissions interview
Students can use SPANTRAN for equivalency evaluation. The deadlines for the Evening and Executive MBA are June 21st; and MSIS, MSBA, and MSFA are May 20th.
English Proficiency Requirements
All the international students must demonstrate their proficiency in the English language for admission to Santa Clara. Scores of TOEFL or IELTS need to be uploaded while applying at the university. Test scores should be sent to SCU directly from the testing agency. The scores should be not more than two years old.
The following scores can be used to display English language proficiency for undergraduate programs:
Test | Minimum Scores Required |
---|---|
IELTS | 6.5 |
TOEFL -iBT | 90 |
TOEFL-PBT | 575 |
Duolingo English Test | 115 |
Students pursuing the graduate programs at SCU can submit the following English proficiency test scores:
Graduate Program | TOEFL iBT | Duolingo English test | IELTS |
---|---|---|---|
Business | 100 | 120 | 7 |
Engineering | 80 | 105 | 6.5 |
Education and Counseling Psychology | 90 | 110 | 6.5 |
Theology | 79 | 105 | 6.5 |
Arts & Sciences - Graduate Program in Pastoral Ministries | 90 |
- |
6.5 |
Law- JD | 90 |
- |
6.5 |
Law- LLM | 90 |
- |
6.5 |
Researcher/ Scholars | 80 | 110 | 6.5 |
US Visa Application Process
The international applicants planning to pursue a course at a US-based university need to apply for a US student visa once their application has been accepted by the university.
To get an F-1 visa, international students need to complete the following steps.
- Valid passport
- Complete an Immigration and Financial Declaration Form
- Schedule an F-1 Student Visa appointment
- Get your visa interview
- Pay your I-901 SEVIS Fee
- Apply for your F-1 Visa Stamp
- Enter the United States
- Arrive at Santa Clara University
- Attend ISW and complete Immigration Check-in
All international students must pay the I-901 SEVIS Fee before visa issuance or Change of Status application.
Santa Clara University Admission Decision
Santa Clara University will confirm the application receipt by sending an email notification to the applicants. Students can check the status of their application by using the unique ID and password shared through email. The university takes up to 2-4 weeks to complete the admission process.
The Graduate School of Engineering at Santa Clara University now accepts applications for graduate programs. SCU Engineering has one of the best graduate programs across the country because it has a team of highly dedicated professors, and gives the flexibility to get a degree while working as well.
FAQs
Ques. How can I check application status at Santa Clara University?
Ans. For graduate admissions, international students can use the ecampus ID# and password provided at the time of applying.
Ques. Do Santa Clara University offer financial aid?
Ans. International students are not eligible for federally funded financial aid support like loans, grants, etc at Santa Clara University.
Ques. How my admission will be confirmed at Santa Clara University?
Ans. Santa Clara University will confirm receipt of the application by sending a notification to the email address of the applicants. All applicants will also be provided a unique ID and password through which they can check their application status on their application status portal.
Ques. Should international students request I-20s and will they be able to apply for a visa for the fall quarter?
Ans. International Students and Scholars (ISS) issues immigration documents (I-20s) to the students who will join SCU in fall 2020. Make sure that you request your I-20 at the earliest but no later than the July 1 deadline.
College Student Profiles
Santa Clara University Program Fees & Deadlines
Program | Important Dates | Fees | Application Fees | Eligibility | Financial Aid |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Application Deadline for Spring 2026 Intake (1st Jan 2026) | USD 27,738 /Yr | 95 | GPA: 2.75, IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL iBT: 80, Duolingo-110 | ||
M.Sc Business Analytics 16 months | Application Deadline for Spring 2026 Intake (1st Jan 2026) | USD 31,920 /Yr | 95 | GPA: 3.48, IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL iBT: 90, Duolingo-110 | |
M.S. Information Systems 2 years | Application Deadline for Spring 2026 Intake (1st Jan 2026) | USD 33,144 /Yr | 95 | GPA: 3.30, IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL iBT: 90, Duolingo-110 | |
M.S Financial Analytics 1 year | Application Deadline for Spring 2026 Intake (1st Jan 2026) | USD 52,632 /Yr | - | Duolingo-110 | - |
Application Deadline for Spring 2026 Intake (1st Jan 2026) | USD 28,842 /Yr | 95 | GPA: 3.0, IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL iBT: 80, Duolingo-110 | ||
M.S Robotics and Automation 2 years | Application Deadline for Spring 2026 Intake (1st Jan 2026) | USD 28,842 /Yr | 95 | GPA: 2.75, IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL iBT: 80, Duolingo-110 | |
M.A Teaching 1 year | Application Deadline for Spring 2026 Intake (1st Jan 2026) | USD 21,780 /Yr | - | Duolingo-110 | - |
M.B.A 2 years | Application Deadline for Spring 2026 Intake (1st Jan 2026) | USD 46,480 /Yr | - | Duolingo-110 | - |
Application Deadline for Spring 2026 Intake (1st Jan 2026) | USD 46,480 /Yr | - | Duolingo-110 | - | |
Application Deadline for Spring 2026 Intake (1st Jan 2026) | USD 36,180 /Yr | - | Duolingo-110 | - |
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Reviews
11 Reviews Found
Likes
- Teaching
- Assignments that are thoughtfully designed to gauge the students
- Preparing for uk workforce through campus drives and cv workshops
Dislikes
- Small campus unlike its counterparts, the area of campus is small unlike other universities which spewed over vast acres of land with its own ecosystem, due its location, it is situated in city centre
Scholarship
- There were lot of scholarships awarded at the university I studied at; for example, the vice chancellor's scholarship for 12,000 pounds
- £7000, I received a scholarship.
- Yeah, most of them, but I can't exactly pinpoint the number.
- On average it is £2000-3000, and I can't roughly say the number of students who have received scholarships.
Likes
- The beautiful campus especially the library and the mission gardens. The mission gardens was a relaxing place.
- Proximity to big tech companies especially the company where I was interning.
- The location - San Francisco Bay Area, which has a pleasant weather throughout the year, cool breeze and top notch AQI compared to all Indian metro cities.
Dislikes
- Curriculum - Everyone had to take some core courses despite what their background was. For people who had already studied those, there was some repetition and unnecessary expenditure.
- Large intakes - The university had a huge intake for Computer Science and related branches which made most lectures Indian heavy in terms of student composition. So, the opportunity to interact with students of other backgrounds reduced.
- High expenditure - Being in the Bay Area, the university tuition fees and even the housing was quite expensive compared to other universities like Indiana University Bloomington, SUNY Buffalo and University of Florida.
Scholarship
- I did not receive any scholarship for this course and don’t know of people who received one. Although I am sure some of them might have received it. Scholarships are usually provided by professors who also expect that student to work as their assistant and lab technician. But I know for sure that very few people receive scholarships at US universities.









Likes
- This college is located in the Silicon Valley which is the best place to be right now given the current job market. There are a lot of companies, startups which located within a few miles of the college.
- The Bay Area weather , is something that feels just like home.
- Can take pretty much any course without much pre requisites which in contrast to other colleges required me to go through a strict pre req courses list.
Dislikes
- The campus size is not that big as compared to other universities (like UC’s ) in California.
- Limited number of on campus jobs.
- No financial support for international students since this is a private university.
Scholarship
- During the time of first enrolment of courses for the fall 2024 quarter, based on my undergrad grades, I was awarded a merit scholarship of $2,000, which was processed during the fee payment of the first quarter.
- Some of my batchmates have received the same merit-based scholarships, but there is no other financial aid given to international students. Around 20%–30% of students receive one-time merit-based scholarships.


Likes
- Beautiful campus
- Great opportunities for getting an on-campus job (95% of us eventually get one)
- Private university which means having a good teacher to student ratio
Dislikes
- The tuition can be quite expensive as compared to public universities
- Financial aid isn't usually provided by the department (school of engineering)
- The quarter system leads to having only 11 weeks for a course which can be less
Scholarship
- Unfortunately, no scholarships provided by school of engineering (that I have heard of)
- There is a possibility of you receiving a tuition-cover from a professor if you can get a research assistant position but it can be super rare
- I have received financial aid from my professor (which is different from a scholarship provided by the university)
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Likes
- Campus is very good and scenic
- Can get a part time job easily in the cafe which is in the campus
- Curriculum is easy 2 hrs lec for 4 days a week
Dislikes
- No table tennis club as such
- Less diversity in cs mostly indian students
- Adjunct faculties
Scholarship
- Scholarships are very rare as this is a private institution
- I didn’t receive any scholarships
- Some of my friends have scholarships, which is 2000–3000 dollars on average
- But I have heard students getting scholarships worth $10,000; that is the maximum I know of
- I don’t think there is a criteria to get a scholarship but it might be based on gre score












Likes
- The campus of this university is too pretty yet very big, from cafe to libraries every class is air conditioned so that's the plus point.
- The college provides groceries and essential toiletries which really helps the student.
- Every person including the faculty members and students are really helpful.
Dislikes
- Can't really find anything which I didn't like but its too expensive for a private university.
Overview
I opted this university because of the area it was situated in. Bay area is known for its technology industry so it was easier for me to settle down here. The admission process was purely online. Once you meet the requirements provided by the university which is IELTS and your score in bachelors degree, then you are set to get into the university.
Likes
- Amidst Silicon Valley, professors are CEOs & VPs of MNCs in the valley.
Overview
Overall I would say it’s a win win situation as my university is very well recognised here in the Silicon Valley & the alumni’s help a lot! The location is pretty good with almost similar weather conditions as in India, it is a bit exorbitant in terms of location but other than that everything seems to be fine.
Scholarship
Yes, 5k$.
Likes
- University Location, university Rating, Alumni and networking, course work, reviews.
Overview
It's a nice university but little bit on an expensive side. but location wise and reviews it's good. can consider and get ROIs.
Likes
- I had personal reasons that made me choose this school, I wanted to stay in Silicon Valley, for a private school, SCU fees is affordable for a foreign student, they had good placement history.
Overview
My overall experience is good so far, there’s a good learning curve- both personally and professionally, when you are in a foreign country with limited resources at your disposal. This makes us creative, hard-working and pro-active. The approach to education in USA is different than what I experienced in India, in the way that it’s more practical, can be tailored to your interest and fun indeed.
Scholarship
I hadn’t applied for scholarships but I was given one anyway, the scholarship didn’t have a name and amounted to $4000 for 2 years.
Likes
- The main factor for me to choose Santa Clara University was the location. Because it is bay area I thought it will help me with the placement and it surely did help a little but did not play a major role as I expected. But the weather conditions in Bay area makes it bearable.
Overview
Overall experience at the university was great. I learned a lot and the faculty and staff was also very helpful. The university has the best infrastructure compare to other universities. There are many clubs and events to support students coming in every quarter.
Scholarship
I haven't receive any scholarship but once you enroll in the university you can enroll in Teaching Assistance program which then pays for your tuitions.
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