Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Santa Clara University #318 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $108,517, placing Santa Clara University in the 99.3 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, and Santa Clara University sits in the 97.4 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Computer Engineering #6 among nonprofit four-year institutions for median earnings four years after enrollment, with graduates earning $163,765 — a program-level anchor that reflects Santa Clara University's strength in business and applied fields. --- Students at Santa Clara University earn meaningfully more than similar students at comparable institutions, with median 4-year earnings that place the university near the top of nonprofit four-year institutions for both absolute earnings and earnings beyond expectations. Computer Engineering stands out as a nationally ranked program, reinforcing the institution's return-on-investment profile across its business-dominant curriculum.
Azimuth ranks Santa Clara University #318 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private university in Santa Clara, CA, Santa Clara University enrolls roughly 6,552 undergraduates. Freshman retention runs at 93.9% and the six-year graduation rate is 87.9%, reflecting strong degree-completion momentum relative to most institutions in the Azimuth coverage set. Where Santa Clara University performs strongest is return on investment. Azimuth ranks Santa Clara University #18 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median four-year earnings of $108,517, and earn about $23,786 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Santa Clara University in the 97.4 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution's Business-leaning program mix, anchored in Santa Clara's technology and finance corridors, helps drive these outcomes. Access and affordability sit lower in the composite. Santa Clara University admits about 48.0% of applicants — a selectivity level that limits the size of each entering class and the share of low-income students the institution enrolls (11.3% Pell, 16.5% first-generation). Affordability sits in the 1.9 percentile and access in the 39.2 percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions, reflecting a high sticker price that need-based aid reshapes for qualifying families. Mobility sits in the 73.6 percentile, supported by strong graduate earnings and the institution's proximity to one of the country's most active regional labor markets.
Santa Clara University's published cost of attendance is $82,026. Need-based financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $22,985, middle-income families pay around $26,531, and higher-income families pay approximately $60,678. Azimuth ranks Santa Clara University #1398 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. Santa Clara's aid structure is need-based, with financial aid packages combining grants, loans, and work-study. The university participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs. Families apply using the FAFSA and CSS Profile. The gap between published cost and net price reflects the institution's commitment to meeting demonstrated financial need, though the depth of that commitment varies by income band. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $19,162, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $56,271; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $108,517, median federal debt of $19,162 projects to a monthly payment of about $217 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Santa Clara University is a strong fit for students drawn to business, technology, and applied professional fields who want a private research university experience in the heart of Silicon Valley — and who are prepared for a selective admissions process, with an acceptance rate of 48.0%. The earnings case is compelling. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $108,517, placing Santa Clara University in the 99.3 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates also earn about $23,786 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Santa Clara University in the 97.4 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions — a strong signal that the institution's outcomes exceed what student backgrounds alone would predict. The aid structure matters here. Net price for higher-income families runs around $60,678, and typical federal student debt at graduation is about $19,162. 11.3% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 16.5% are first-generation students — a narrower access profile than many public institutions, though need-based aid can meaningfully reduce costs for qualifying families. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the program mix is concentrated in Business and adjacent fields, so students whose interests align with business, finance, engineering, and technology will find the strongest outcomes. Students seeking broad liberal arts depth or lower sticker prices will find better matches elsewhere.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
Financial GPS Tool
Personalized cost and earnings calculator
This is the Santa Clara University hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Santa Clara University's published cost of attendance is $82,026. Need-based financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $22,985, middle-income families pay around $26,531, and higher-income families pay approximately $60,678.
Azimuth ranks Santa Clara University #1398 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.
Santa Clara's aid structure is need-based, with financial aid packages combining grants, loans, and work-study. The university participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs.
Families apply using the FAFSA and CSS Profile. The gap between published cost and net price reflects the institution's commitment to meeting demonstrated financial need, though the depth of that commitment varies by income band.
Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $19,162, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $56,271; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $108,517, median federal debt of $19,162 projects to a monthly payment of about $217 under standard ten-year repayment.
For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of Santa Clara University earn median 4-year earnings of $108,517, placing Santa Clara University in the 99.3 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. That figure runs well above the $67,139 median at comparable institutions (same control and size band).
Graduates earn about $23,786 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Santa Clara University in the 97.4 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Santa Clara University #18 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
The earnings pattern at Santa Clara University is anchored by Business, which accounts for 24% of degrees and consistently drives the institution's strongest financial outcomes. Finance stands out as the highest aggregate-return program, combining substantial cohort scale with strong four-year pay — a combination that shapes the institution's overall earnings profile.
The Finance program graduates 160 students with median earnings of $118,737 four years after enrollment, and Azimuth ranks the program #12 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions [per the program-ranking methodology](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/). Communication and Media Studies and Psychology, General round out the high-earning tier, with graduates earning $84,206 and $75,742 respectively four years after enrollment — both well above the national benchmark for their fields.
Programs in Social Sciences (13% of graduates) and Engineering (12% of graduates) contribute additional breadth, though the institution's earnings signature is most concentrated in its business and professional fields, which align closely with CA's high-demand labor markets in technology, finance, and consulting.
Explore alternatives with comparable outcomes based on location, selectivity, and value:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
California State University Maritime Academy Higher acceptance rate (54.9 percentage points higher) and located 52 miles away; similar graduate earnings | CA | 99% | $94,784 | Compare |
Worcester Polytechnic Institute Higher acceptance rate (14.7 percentage points higher); similar graduate earnings | MA | 59% | $103,470 | Compare |
Rose-Hulman Institute Of Technology Higher acceptance rate (29 percentage points higher); similar graduate earnings | IN | 73% | $101,253 | Compare |
University Of San Francisco Same state (41 miles away) (earnings difference: 17.7%) and similar program focus; same institution type | CA | 51% | $89,812 | Compare |
Stanford University Same state (14 miles away) (earnings difference: 13.6%); same institution type | CA | 4% | $124,080 | Compare |
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Worldwide Similar quality tier (#7536 ranked) | FL | 58% | $84,131 | #7536 | Compare |
Nova Southeastern University Similar quality tier (#8575 ranked) | FL | 73% | $59,209 | #8575 | Compare |
University Of Mount Saint Vincent Similar quality tier (#9615 ranked) | NY | 85% | $65,756 | #9615 | Compare |
Villanova University Similar quality tier (#7010 ranked) | PA | 27% | $100,423 | #7010 | Compare |
George Washington University Similar quality tier (#5985 ranked) | DC | 47% | $90,873 | #5985 | Compare |
Computer Engineering
83 graduates
Management Information Systems and Services
31 graduates
Mathematics and Computer Science
107 graduates
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering
12 graduates
Accounting and Related Services
67 graduates
Santa Clara University's program mix is anchored in business and technology-oriented fields — a signature well suited to its location in Silicon Valley and its identity as a Jesuit research university with strong industry ties. Business forms the core of the institution's degree output, complemented by meaningful concentrations in Social Sciences (13% of graduates) and Engineering (12% of graduates).
Across 36 programs serving roughly 1,570 students annually, 15 meet Azimuth's ranking threshold — a focused portfolio that concentrates outcomes rather than spreading them thin. The strongest program by aggregate return is Finance, which combines meaningful cohort scale with competitive four-year earnings, making it a key economic driver for Santa Clara University graduates.
Among the most popular programs, Finance program graduates 160 students annually with median earnings of $118,737 four years after enrollment, and Azimuth ranks it #12 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Communication and Media Studies and Psychology, General round out the high-enrollment tier, each delivering solid early-career pay that reflects the institution's proximity to one of the country's most active technology and finance labor markets.
For the highest-earning programs, Computer Engineering leads with median earnings of $163,765 four years after enrollment — Azimuth ranks it #6 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Mathematics and Computer Science and Accounting follow closely, both in fields where graduates enter the workforce directly and earnings reflect national labor-market demand rather than graduate-school deferral.
Several programs at Santa Clara University are high-mobility, direct-to-workforce pathways — particularly in engineering, computer science, and finance — where four-year earnings capture the bulk of the career trajectory. Others, including programs in the social sciences and psychology, tend toward graduate-school-dependent paths where early earnings undercount long-run outcomes.
The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides useful context for how Santa Clara University's dominant program families align with national labor-market demand, and the [how Azimuth evaluates programs](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/) methodology explains how rankings weight cohort scale alongside earnings.
