Admission & test scores

Santa Clara University SAT scores and acceptance rate

Admitted students scored 1350–1490 on the SAT, with an ACT midpoint of 32. Santa Clara University admits 48% of applicants — moderately selective. 94% of first-year students return for a second year.

SAT range1350–1490middle half of admits
ACT midpoint32admitted students
Acceptance rate48%moderately selective
First-year retention94%return for year two

Reading the score band These are the scores admitted students had — not a cut-off.

25th percentile
1350
Average
1426
75th percentile
1490

A quarter of admitted students scored below 1350 and a quarter above 1490. Being under the lower figure does not rule you out — it means the rest of the application has to carry more weight — and being above the upper one does not secure a place at a selective university. This intake sits inside a student body of about 6,552.

Universities with similar scores Useful for building a realistic application list.

UniversityAvg SATACTAcceptanceIn-state tuition
Yeshiva University New York, New York 1426 — 56% $51,800
University of Wisconsin–Madison Madison, Wisconsin 1427 29 45% $11,603
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology Terre Haute, Indiana 1427 31 77% $58,649
Southern Methodist University Dallas, Texas 1428 33 63% $67,040
Lafayette College Easton, Pennsylvania 1424 32 31% $65,398
University of Massachusetts Amherst Amherst, Massachusetts 1423 31 60% $17,772

Getting in is the first question, not the last

Admission data says nothing about what the degree costs or returns. Before accepting an offer, read the net price for your family's income and the earnings of previous graduates — a place at a selective university financed with heavy borrowing can be a worse outcome than a place at a less selective one that costs little.

Santa Clara University admission: common questions

What SAT score do you need for Santa Clara University?
The middle half of admitted students scored between 1350 and 1490 on the SAT, with an average of 1426. A score inside that band is competitive; below it you would be relying on the rest of the application.
What ACT score does Santa Clara University require?
The ACT midpoint of admitted students is 32.
How hard is it to get into Santa Clara University?
Santa Clara University admits 48% of applicants, which is moderately selective. Of those who enrol, 94% return for a second year.
Does Santa Clara University require SAT or ACT scores?
This page reports what admitted students scored, not what the university requires. Many US universities went test-optional and have not returned to a requirement — always check the admissions page before deciding to skip a test.
What it costs Student loan record Debt vs graduate salary Highest SAT universities Highest acceptance rates SAT & ACT preparation

Source: US Department of Education College Scorecard — SAT/ACT scores of admitted students, acceptance rate and first-year retention as most recently published. Scores describe past intakes and are not an entry requirement.