Santa Clara

Santa Clara SAT and ACT Requirements

Santa Clara is test-optional for the 2026-27 cycle. The middle 50% of enrolled first-year students scored 1350 to 1490 on the SAT and 31 to 33 on the ACT.

2026-27 policy

Test-Optional

SAT middle 50%

1350–1490

ACT middle 50%

31–33

Acceptance rate

48%

Santa Clara SAT scores by section

Section	25th percentile	75th percentile
Reading and Writing	670	730
Math	680	760
Total	1350	1490
ACT Composite	31	33

The total is the sum of the section percentiles, the standard way to estimate a middle 50% for the combined score.

Where your score puts you

Below 1350: lower than three quarters of enrolled students. A retake has the most upside here, and at a test-optional school you can also leave the score off.
1350 to 1490: in line with the class. The rest of your application decides it.
Above 1490: higher than three quarters of enrolled students. Testing is no longer what holds the application back.

Other colleges where a 1350 is in range Other colleges where a 1490 is in range Convert an ACT score

Keep these numbers

Email me Santa Clara's score ranges

The ranges on this page, plus a link to compare them with every other college we track.

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Frequently asked questions

Does Santa Clara require the SAT or ACT?

Santa Clara is test-optional for the 2026-27 cycle. Official page states verbatim: 'Santa Clara University has adopted a "test optional" policy for first-year applicants. Scores on the SAT or ACT are not required for students applying to Santa Clara University nor will they be disadvantaged for doing so in the admission process.' No end date or 'temporary' language attached.

What SAT score do you need for Santa Clara?

The published range is not a cutoff. Among enrolled first-year students, a quarter scored below 1350, half scored between 1350 and 1490, and a quarter scored above 1490. A score at or above 1490 puts you ahead of most of the class on testing; a score below 1350 works against you.

What ACT score do you need for Santa Clara?

The middle 50% of enrolled students scored 31 to 33 on the ACT. On the official conversion table that is an SAT 1400 to 1460.

Score ranges: College Scorecard API — U.S. Department of Education (api.data.gov) and Editorial overrides layer (overrides.json) — Common Data Set & institutional sources. They describe students who enrolled, not everyone admitted. Test policy: Santa Clara admissions, verified for 2026-27.