March 2024

SANTA CLARA, Calif., March 21, 2024—Santa Clara University sent out admission decisions Monday after receiving 18,964 applications for the Class of 2028, a 1.0 percent increase from last year and the highest volume in its history. The overall admit rate for the class was 47 percent. 

Students were admitted from more than 2,416 high schools. Santa Clara continued its policy of making submission of SAT or ACT scores optional, and 49 percent chose to have test scores considered. 

“Each new academic year brings a wave of talent, passions, and enthusiasm that invigorates our campus community,” said Dean of Undergraduate Admission Becky Konowicz. “As we welcome the newest cohort of accepted students, we are filled with joy and anticipation for the journeys they will embark on. I look forward to personally welcoming each new student to our Bronco family and witnessing the positive impact they will undoubtedly make on our campus and beyond.”

Notable characteristics of this year’s admitted students include:

• An average unweighted GPA of 3.85
• 50 percent of students are from California
• 12 percent are the first in their family to attend college
• 8.4 percent of students are living outside the U.S.
• 9.5 percent are Pell Grant-eligible students
• 39 percent of incoming engineering students are female
• They represent 50 states, 6 global regions, and 68 countries
• 10 students have been selected as Posse Foundation Scholars 

"Following a thorough evaluation process, the incoming class for this year stands as a testament to the exceptional talent and drive of students worldwide,” said Vice President of Enrollment Management Eva Blanco Masias. “Their authentic narratives and varied experiences are truly inspiring. We are humbled and excited that they are drawn to the promise of an SCU education and our University's commitment to nurturing individuals into competent, conscientious, and compassionate leaders."

The Class of 2028 will be arriving at an exciting time on the Mission campus:

• U.S. News & World Report ranked Santa Clara University No. 60 among national universities, placing it among the top 15 percent of U.S. higher education institutions ranked by the publication. SCU also ranks No. 13 for Best Undergraduate Teaching.
• Santa Clara recently completed its $1 billion fundraising campaign, joining the short list of U.S. universities without a medical school or an R1 research institution classification to reach this milestone. This will enable students to learn more collaboratively, study more globally, and work alongside a more diverse, accomplished, and justice-oriented student body and faculty.
• Santa Clara launched “The Initiative for Student Well-Being,” a comprehensive program funded through a $1.5 million gift from a Bay Area philanthropist, that equips students with the knowledge and skills necessary to prioritize their health and wellness during college and beyond.
• The Opus Prize Foundation selected Santa Clara University to host the 2024 Opus Prize, a $1 million annual award recognizing individuals or organizations devoted to addressing critical social issues in their communities.
• For the third sequential year, INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine has awarded Santa Clara University its Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award. The award recognizes universities that demonstrably champion the creation of diverse and inclusive environments on campus. 

Accepted students are provided various in-person and virtual resources to familiarize themselves with Santa Clara before committing to enrollment by May 1. Preview Day, the annual spring visit celebration and program, takes place on April 13, offering admitted students the chance to interact with current students, staff, and faculty and explore our academic buildings and residence halls. Additionally, on April 12, SCU will hold Unity Night, a diversity evening program for admitted multicultural and first-generation students to visit campus.

About Santa Clara University

Founded in 1851, Santa Clara University sits in the heart of Silicon Valley—the world’s most innovative and entrepreneurial region. The University’s stunningly landscaped 106-acre campus is home to the historic Mission Santa Clara de Asís. Ranked among the top 15 percent of national universities by U.S. News & World Report, SCU has among the best four-year graduation rates in the nation and is rated by PayScale in the top 1 percent of universities with the highest-paid graduates. SCU has produced elite levels of Fulbright Scholars as well as four Rhodes Scholars. With undergraduate programs in arts and sciences, business, and engineering, and graduate programs in six disciplines, the curriculum blends high-tech innovation with social consciousness grounded in the tradition of Jesuit, Catholic education. For more information see www.scu.edu

Media Contact
Lisa Robinson | SCU Media Communications | lrobinson@scu.edu