At $50,959/yr net price, Santa Clara University graduates earn $109,183/yr within 10 years of enrollment, which is $75,183/yr above the median for high school graduates.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $50,959 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $203,836 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $109,183/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | +$75,183/yr |
| Estimated Break-Even | 2.7 years |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 88.5% |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $19,162 |
What You'll Actually Pay
Average net price by family income
| Family Income | Estimated Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $36,094/yr |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $51,894/yr |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $41,599/yr |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $30,672/yr |
| $110,001+ | $60,212/yr |
Earnings by Major
Top programs ranked by median earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | Master | $128,588 | $59,170 |
| Engineering-Related Fields. | Master | $127,993 | |
| Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering. | Master | $116,083 | |
| Computer Engineering. | Master | $104,192 | |
| Computer Engineering. | Bachelor | $103,449 | $24,833 |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering. | Master | $88,639 | |
| Mechanical Engineering. | Master | $86,424 | |
| Law. | Doctoral | $86,424 | |
| Management Information Systems and Services. | Bachelor | $80,391 | $19,995 |
| Civil Engineering. | Bachelor | $79,473 |
The Risk Factor
88.5% of students at Santa Clara University graduate within 6 years. Most students who start here finish their degree.
Analysis
Santa Clara University pays off, and its Silicon Valley location is the reason. Median earnings ten years out clear six figures, and graduates carry a median debt of $19,162 against those earnings. With an 88.5% graduation rate and 93.6% retention, most students who enroll finish and start earning. The financial return here is strong, but it depends heavily on what you study.
Computer Engineering is the clear winner, with graduates out-earning every other program listed. Sitting next to Apple, Google, and Nvidia, the engineering and tech pipeline at Santa Clara feeds directly into one of the highest-paying job markets in the country. Management Information Systems, Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Finance all land respectable salaries too. Notice the pattern: the top five earning programs are all engineering, tech, or finance. If you're headed into a humanities or arts major here, none of those show up in the payoff data, and the near-$51,000 sticker price becomes a much harder bet.
The specific risk is that price. At full cost, this is an expensive private school, and the return only holds if you pick a career-aligned major and finish on time. A five-year timeline erases a chunk of the payoff.
The net price tiers are uneven and worth studying before you commit. If your family earns under $30k, you pay about $36,094. If you earn $75-110k, you actually pay less, around $30,672. But the $30-48k tier pays nearly $52,000, higher than families earning far more. Run your own numbers before assuming aid scales with need.
Santa Clara is a good financial fit if you're targeting engineering, tech, or finance and can access aid. If you want a low-cost liberal arts degree, look elsewhere.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Santa Clara University worth the $50,959 annual cost?
Santa Clara graduates earn $109,183 ten years after graduation, making the high sticker price more manageable than it appears. The strong alumni network in Silicon Valley helps justify costs for business and engineering majors specifically.
Which Santa Clara University programs offer the best return on investment?
Business and engineering programs deliver the strongest ROI, with business graduates earning $128,588 and engineering graduates averaging $116,000-128,000. Liberal arts and other non-STEM majors face much weaker earning potential relative to the cost.
How much debt do Santa Clara University graduates typically have?
The median debt load is $19,162, which is reasonable given the earning potential for top programs. However, students in lower-paying majors may struggle with this debt level.
Does Santa Clara University provide good financial aid to offset costs?
With a net price of $50,959, financial aid brings costs down but still leaves families paying significantly more than public alternatives. The aid helps but doesn't make Santa Clara affordable for most middle-class families without substantial loans.