Santa Clara University

At Santa Clara we select our admitted class from among many qualified candidates. While we pay close attention to the rigor of the classes you've taken, the grades you've earned, and the work you've accomplished, we review applications in a holistic way. No single grade, factor, or score will automatically gain or deny you admission to SCU.

Applicants are admitted as full-time, degree-seeking students. Santa Clara does not have a part-time undergraduate program option.

Santa Clara University exclusively uses the online Common Application with a required supplement form. All materials must be submitted before the deadlines.

For a list of important admission and financial aid deadlines, visit our Key Deadlines page.

Choosing a Program

Santa Clara University's three schools include the College of Arts and Sciences, the Leavey School of Business, and the School of Engineering. During the application process, applicants will be asked to select their school and major of interest. It does not hinder a student's application to be undeclared, but since transferring to another school within SCU is not guaranteed once enrolled, is important that the applicant discern which school is of greatest interest. Students who wish to pursue two majors in more than one school at Santa Clara should default to one of the professional schools (business or engineering) on the application.

Applicants are evaluated for the school and program to which they have applied at Santa Clara University. While the selectivity between our schools and programs does not vary greatly, academic readiness for the program of interest will be gauged. For business and engineering applicants, readiness at the level of Calculus is expected.

Early Action vs. Regular Decision

If you believe that Santa Clara University might be a great fit, you have the option of applying under our Early Action (EA) program. If you decide to apply under EA, please note that you must submit all required documents by November 1.

If you are an EA applicant, three decision outcomes could occur by the end of December: admitted, denied, or deferred. Being admitted is nonbinding so you can still consider other college options and have until May 1 to make your enrollment decision. If you are denied admission, you cannot reapply. If you are deferred from EA, you are given the opportunity to be reevaluated during the Regular Decision (RD) process, and we ask that you submit your mid-year grades.

Regular Decision is the standard method of applying to a university and is the way to go if you are counting on your first semester or second trimester senior-year grades to significantly improve your academic profile. Our Regular Decision application deadline is January 7.

When it comes down to it, deciding between EA or RD is a personal choice. The main difference is the notification time.

AP/IB Credit Evaluation

Santa Clara University accepts Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate examinations as credit from incoming students. Typically, a score of 4 or 5 on an AP exam or a score of 6 or 7 on an IB exam will earn a student credit and/or exemption.

Students must designate Santa Clara University as a recipient of official AP/IB scores. Final decisions on academic credit for some tests are made individually by the appropriate academic departments.

To see how your credits will transfer to Santa Clara University, download the AP chart or IB chart for reference. For detailed policies and procedures see the Undergraduate Bulletin.