Santa Clara U vs University of San Francisco
Santa Clara University and University of San Francisco, both esteemed institutions in the heart of Silicon Valley, offer distinct educational experiences. Santa Clara, a Jesuit university, boasts a lower acceptance rate (54%) compared to USF's (67%), indicating a more selective admissions process. While USF enrolls a larger student body, Santa Clara maintains a smaller student-to-faculty ratio, fostering a more personalized learning environment. In terms of popular majors, Santa Clara excels in engineering, computer science, and business, while USF shines in nursing, biology, and psychology. Both universities boast impressive graduation rates, with Santa Clara's slightly higher at 88% compared to USF's 84%. Explore the detailed comparison table below to discover more key differences and make an informed decision that aligns with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
|
![]() Santa Clara University |
![]() University of San Francisco |
---|---|---|
Overview |
||
Location | Santa Clara, California | San Francisco, California |
Campus setting | City: Midsize | City: Large |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Private (Non Profit) | Private (Non Profit) |
Calendar system | Quarter | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 94.0% | 86.0% |
![]() |
Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | Catholic | Catholic |
|
||
Admission |
||
Acceptance rate | 54.0% | 70.9% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$70
Graduate:
$73
|
Undergraduate:
$70
Graduate:
$55
|
SAT range | 1330 - 1490 | 1190 - 1390 |
ACT range | 30 - 33 | 26 - 31 |
Students submitting SAT score | 23.0% | 17.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 16.0% | 11.0% |
Total number of applicants | 16,848 | 22,372 |
Total number of admissions given out | 9,095 | 15,867 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 1,549 | 1,452 |
Yield rate | 17.0% | 9.2% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Required | Required |
Recommendation letters | Required | Not required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Required | Required |
|
||
Tuition and Fees |
||
Sticker price | $78,999 | $75,232 |
Average net price | $48,469 | $39,825 |
Tuition | $55,224 | $52,920 |
Room & board | $16,533 |
Room/dormitory:
$11,030
Meal plan:
$5,110
|
Available payment plans |
|
|
|
||
Financial Aid |
||
Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
73.0%
Average amount $23,770 |
92.0%
Average amount $31,112 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
24.0%
Average amount $5,138 |
47.0%
Average amount $5,182 |
Students taking out private loans |
2.0%
Average amount $30,446 |
6.0%
Average amount $23,306 |
|
||
Students and Campus |
||
Undergraduate students |
5,895
Men 52.7% Women 47.3% |
5,969
Men 35.6% Women 64.4% |
Graduate students |
3,023
Men 46.0% Women 54.0% |
4,065
Men 34.0% Women 66.0% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Moderate
|
Moderate
|
Out-of-state students | 44.6% | 35.6% |
International students | 12.6% | 12.9% |
Campus local/setting | City: Midsize | City: Large |
Dormitory capacity | 3,551 | 2,800 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | California Washington Colorado Oregon Texas | California Washington Oregon Texas Hawaii |
|
||
Academics |
||
Popular study areas |
|
|
Students to faculty ratio | 11:1 | 13:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission | Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission |
|
||
Outcome |
||
Graduation rate | 90.9% | 75.6% |
Dropout rate | 9.0% | 7.8% |
Transferred out | N/A | 16.4% |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Computer Engineering (Master's Degrees)
Law (First Professional Degrees)
Mechanical Engineering (Master's Degrees)
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Law (Doctoral Degrees)
Finance and Financial Management Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Civil Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
|
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Doctoral Degrees)
Human Resources Management and Services (Master's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies (Master's Degrees)
Finance and Financial Management Services (Master's Degrees)
Public Administration (Master's Degrees)
Law (Doctoral Degrees)
Economics (Master's Degrees)
|
Compare Similar Colleges
The list of suggested college comparisons provided below is generated automatically by our system, utilizing
statistics gathered from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) and various online sources. If you
don't find the colleges you wish to compare, please visit our comparison page.
There, you can search for the
specific colleges and initiate your comparison.























































































































































































































