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Is Santa Clara University worth it?
A first pass affordability and outcome read for Santa Clara, using national average inputs. Run your own numbers for a personalized score.
Worth-It Score
Affordable
Santa Clara lands in the affordable band for a typical family. Graduates earn a median of $109,183 ten years after enrolling, and that makes the median debt of $19,162 more manageable than it looks at first glance. For context, Santa Clara's net price sits about 117% above the typical 4-year, private nonprofit school and near the top of its sector range. On the numbers alone, this school clears the bar comfortably.
Is the price fair?
Compared to 1237 similar 4-year, private nonprofit schools
This school
$49,651
/yrAverage school like this
$22,837
/yrThis significantly impacts your Worth-It Score
You'd pay about $26,814 more per year than the typical student at a similar school. Over 4 years that's roughly $107,000 in extra cost.
Score breakdown
The public version of the score weighs affordability, after graduation outcomes, and repayment burden.
Affordability
40% weight
The yearly net price is manageable, but it makes the aid offer matter a lot.
Outcome
40% weight
Graduation and earnings data create a stronger long-run payoff picture.
Repayment
20% weight
Median debt stays in a more comfortable repayment range for a typical graduate.
The numbers behind the score
Median net price per year
$50,062
Median earnings 10 years out
$109,183
Median debt at graduation
$19,162
Graduation rate
88%
At Santa Clara, a typical graduate carries about $19,162 in student debt and earns roughly $109,183 ten years after enrolling. On a standard 10-year repayment plan, that works out to about $218 per month, or 2% of pre-tax income. That sits inside a borrower comfort range for many graduates.
What this means for your family
Santa Clara is a private nonprofit four year school in Santa Clara, CA. Private pricing can swing more dramatically based on aid, so your personalized score matters more here than the national average view alone.
Similar schools worth comparing
These schools share a similar sector, geography, or price range.
Private nonprofit 4-year
Otis College of Art and Design
Los Angeles, CA
Worth-It Score: 33/100
Median net price: $51,248
Private nonprofit 4-year
Art Center College of Design
Pasadena, CA
Worth-It Score: 50/100
Median net price: $48,661
Private nonprofit 4-year
Loyola Marymount
Los Angeles, CA
Worth-It Score: 56/100
Median net price: $48,381
Private nonprofit 4-year
California College of the Arts
San Francisco, CA
Worth-It Score: 30/100
Median net price: $53,909
Private nonprofit 4-year
Chapman
Orange, CA
Worth-It Score: 51/100
Median net price: $46,555
Common questions about Santa Clara
The median net price at Santa Clara is $50,062 per year. That is the average yearly price after typical grant aid for students in the public federal data, not the published sticker price.
Get your personalized Worth-It score
National averages are a starting point. Plug in your actual aid offer, intended major, and family situation to get a score that reflects your specific picture.
Looking at private colleges options in California? See the most affordable private colleges in California →
The Worth-It Score weighs affordability (40%), after graduation outcomes (40%), and repayment burden (20%). Underlying data points come from publicly available federal higher education reporting. See full methodology →