Colleges in Santa Clara, California
2 colleges and universities — federal Scorecard data.
There are 2 colleges and universities in Santa Clara, California (1 Public, 1 Private nonprofit). The figures below are pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard — the same federal dataset colleges are required to report to.
Across all 2 institutions, the median net price after grants and scholarships works out to about $27,571 per year, the median 6-year graduation rate is 63.5%, schools that report admissions data accept a median 48% of applicants.
The median net price in Santa Clara runs about $6,860 higher than the California statewide median of $20,711.
Whether you're comparing in-state public tuition, looking for a private nonprofit with strong outcomes, or trying to find the right program in Santa Clara, the table below lets you sort every institution side-by-side on cost, admissions, graduation rate, and size.
Median net price
$27,571
After aid
Median grad rate
63.5%
6-year
Median admission rate
48%
Median enrollment
6,168
Undergrad
All colleges in Santa Clara
Sorted by enrollment.
| School | State | Type | Net price | Grad rate | Admission | Size | Data | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Clara University Santa Clara, CA | CA | Private nonprofit, 4-year | $50,062 | 87.9% | 48% | 6,552 | Complete | |
| Mission College Santa Clara, CA | CA | Public, 2-year | $5,080 | 39.2% | Not available | 5,784 | Partial |
By institution type
Public (1)
Public colleges in Santa Clara are state- or locally-funded institutions that typically offer lower in-state tuition and serve a broad mix of residents and commuters.
- Mission CollegeNet price: $5,080Grad: 39.2%
Private nonprofit (1)
Private nonprofit colleges in Santa Clara are mission-driven institutions — often religiously affiliated or research-focused — that reinvest tuition into academics and aid rather than distributing profit.
- Santa Clara UniversityNet price: $50,062Grad: 87.9%
Top programs in Santa Clara
Most-completed programs across Santa Clara colleges, weighted by enrollment.
- Business18.6% of degrees
- Liberal arts15.3% of degrees
- Computer science9.0% of degrees
- Engineering8.3% of degrees
- Social sciences7.7% of degrees
- Interdisciplinary7.5% of degrees
- Biological sciences5.6% of degrees
- Psychology5.2% of degrees
Frequently asked questions about colleges in Santa Clara
Q.How many colleges are in Santa Clara, California?
There are 2 colleges and universities in Santa Clara, California that report to the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard — 1 Public, 1 Private nonprofit.
Q.What is the largest college in Santa Clara?
By undergraduate enrollment, Santa Clara University is the largest institution in Santa Clara with roughly 6,552 undergraduates.
Q.What is the cheapest college in Santa Clara?
Based on average net price after aid, Mission College is the most affordable institution in Santa Clara at $5,080 per year.
Q.Which Santa Clara college has the highest graduation rate?
Santa Clara University reports the highest 6-year graduation rate among Santa Clara institutions at 87.9%.
Q.What is the average tuition in Santa Clara?
The median net price across all 2 colleges in Santa Clara is $27,571 per year after grants and scholarships.
Q.What are the most popular college majors in Santa Clara?
Across Santa Clara colleges, the most-completed programs by share of degrees awarded are Business, Liberal arts, Computer science.
Q.Are there community colleges in Santa Clara?
Yes — Santa Clara includes 1 public institutions, many of which offer 2-year associate degrees and transfer pathways to 4-year programs.
Other cities in California
Data on this page comes from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS. Medians are computed across institutions in Santa Clara that report each metric. Net price, graduation rate, and earnings figures reflect the latest available federal release. Always verify current tuition and program availability directly with each institution.