What GPA do you need to get into Santa Clara?

Among 142 applicants who posted a Santa Clara admission on r/collegeresults, the median unweighted GPA was 3.92 and the middle half reported 3.87 to 3.97 (123 reported a GPA). Santa Clara sets no minimum GPA; these are what admitted posters reported.

What SAT score do you need for Santa Clara?

Among 142 applicants who posted a Santa Clara admission on r/collegeresults, the median SAT was 1,510 and the middle half scored 1,470 to 1,550 (94 reported an SAT). The median ACT was 35.

Does applying early help at Santa Clara?

In these posts, 87% of early applicants who reported a result were admitted (67 of 77), against 81% in regular decision (26 of 32). Early pools differ in who applies, so this is a description, not a promise.

What extracurriculars do Santa Clara admits have?

The most common activity types among admitted posters were nonprofit/service (75%), athletics (47%), music (42%), tutoring/teaching (42%). 89% held at least one leadership role and 74% listed a national or international award.

What is the Santa Clara acceptance rate?

The official rate is published by Santa Clara in its Common Data Set. These pages do not compute one: people who post results are a self-selected group, so the share of admits among them is far higher than the real rate.

College admissions data

How to get into Santa Clara

What 142 admitted applicants actually had: their grades, test scores, activities, awards and intended majors, counted from 180 Santa Clara results that students posted for the 2016 to 2026 cycles. Every number below is counted, not estimated.

Applying to Santa Clara? Book a free call with a Specialist to see how your student’s file compares.

Santa Clara admits by the numbers

Median unweighted GPA

3.92

Middle half 3.87 to 3.97

Median SAT

1,510

Middle half 1,470 to 1,550

Median ACT

Middle half 34 to 35

Median weighted GPA

4.40

Middle half 4.24 to 4.53

Results posted: 142 admitted, 9 rejected, 29 waitlisted. People who post results are a self-selected group, so this is not the Santa Clara acceptance rate; the official rate is in Santa Clara’s Common Data Set.

What Santa Clara admits did outside class

Share of admitted applicants listing at least one activity of each type.

Nonprofit/Service75%
Athletics47%
Music42%
Tutoring/Teaching42%
Work/Job41%
Internship36%
STEM club/competition32%
Business/Entrepreneurship31%

Held a leadership role

89%

Founded something

44%

National or intl. award

74%

Did research

31%

Early vs. regular decision at Santa Clara

Early (77 results)87%
Regular (32 results)81%

Share of posters in each round who were admitted. Early applicants are a different group (often stronger and more certain), so read this as a description of these posts, not as odds.

Intended majors of Santa Clara admits

Computer Science21%
Engineering20%
Business11%
Economics11%
Biology6%
Environmental5%

Who got in

Of the admitted posters, 9% first-generation, 11% low income, 11% underrepresented minority, 13% legacy, 1% recruited athlete and 6% international. Of those who said where they enrolled, 4% chose Santa Clara.

Three recent Santa Clara admits

2026 cycle · EA · Economics
Forensics and mock-congress competitor with a state title, plus tutoring and economics-focused coursework.
GPA 3.96 UW · ACT 35 · Original post
2026 cycle · RD · Computer Science
Software-focused CS applicant with a startup, internships, and an international hackathon win.
GPA 3.97 UW · SAT 1550 · Original post
2026 cycle · RD · Engineering
Bioengineering-bound student with published tumor research, NASA work, and debate leadership.
GPA 3.97 UW · SAT 1550 · ACT 36 · Original post

Where else Santa Clara admits got in

Santa Clara admissions questions

What GPA do you need to get into Santa Clara?: Among 142 applicants who posted a Santa Clara admission on r/collegeresults, the median unweighted GPA was 3.92 and the middle half reported 3.87 to 3.97 (123 reported a GPA). Santa Clara sets no minimum GPA; these are what admitted posters reported.
What SAT score do you need for Santa Clara?: Among 142 applicants who posted a Santa Clara admission on r/collegeresults, the median SAT was 1,510 and the middle half scored 1,470 to 1,550 (94 reported an SAT). The median ACT was 35.
Does applying early help at Santa Clara?: In these posts, 87% of early applicants who reported a result were admitted (67 of 77), against 81% in regular decision (26 of 32). Early pools differ in who applies, so this is a description, not a promise.
What extracurriculars do Santa Clara admits have?: The most common activity types among admitted posters were nonprofit/service (75%), athletics (47%), music (42%), tutoring/teaching (42%). 89% held at least one leadership role and 74% listed a national or international award.
What is the Santa Clara acceptance rate?: The official rate is published by Santa Clara in its Common Data Set. These pages do not compute one: people who post results are a self-selected group, so the share of admits among them is far higher than the real rate.

Applying to Santa Clara?

A Specialist who got into a school like Santa Clara can read your student’s file against these numbers and say where it stands out and where it doesn’t.

Book a free call

Source: self-reported results posts on r/collegeresults, each linked from our Database, counted across the 2016 to 2026 cycles with transfer applicants excluded. Aristo Scholars is not affiliated with Santa Clara. All colleges