SCU vs. USC

Should I go to Santa Clara University or University of Southern California? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if SCU or USC is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

Add a college to compare up to four schools

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

Loyola Marymount UCLA Stanford NYU USD Pomona Claremont McKenna Cornell UC Berkeley UCSD Oxy Notre Dame
Santa Clara University vs. University of Southern California comparison
Santa Clara University University of Southern California College 3 College 4
Santa Clara University University of Southern California
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

SCU USC
Location Santa Clara, CA Los Angeles, CA
Setting Midsize City Large City
Enrollment 9,178 48,945
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #62 #34
Religious Affiliation Roman Catholic - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website scu.edu usc.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

SCU USC
Tuition (In State) $56,880 $63,468
Tuition (Out of State) $56,880 $63,468
Room & Board $17,112 $17,436
Avg Net Price $50,551 $36,808
Avg Grant Aid $25,295 $45,262
% Receiving Grant Aid 72% 71%

Admission

SCU USC
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 16,650 69,062
Admitted 8,677 8,304
Acceptance Rate 52.1% 12%
Enrolled % 18.9% 41.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.67 3.83
Typical High School Grades B+ A-
Admissions Standards Exceptional Elite
Applicant Competition Low Very High
ACT Range 29/33 32/35
SAT Range 1290/1480 1450/1550
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jan 7, 2024

Academics

SCU USC
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 9:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (33%)
  • Social Sciences (13%)
  • Engineering (11%)
  • Communication (7%)
  • Psychology (6%)
  • Business (25%)
  • Social Sciences (15%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (13%)
  • Communication (9%)
  • Engineering (8%)

Outcomes

SCU USC
Graduation Rate 85% 90%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $81,900 $85,500
Making Student Loan Payments 84% 81%
Median Student Loan Debt $21,500 $22,375
Median Loan Payment $222 $231

Diversity

SCU USC
% Men 50% 46%
% Women 50% 54%
Racial Diversity Very High Very High
HBCU No No
% White 49% 40%
% Black 3% 4%
% Hispanic 17% 14%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 7% 5%
% International 3% 13%
% Unknown Race 4% 1%

Students

SCU USC
% In-State 50% 42%
% Out-of-State 40% 40%

Campus

SCU USC
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility Yes Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • University of Southern California is larger than than SCU based on total student enrollment (48,945 students vs. 9,178 students)

SCU vs. USC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SCU or USC?

  • University of Southern California is 11.6% more expensive to attend than SCU for in-state tuition ($63,468.00 vs. $56,880.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 11.6% higher at USC than Santa Clara University ($63,468.00 vs. $56,880.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Southern California than SCU ($36,808 vs. $50,551)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Santa Clara University are 1.9% lower than costs at University of Southern California ($17,112 vs. $17,436)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Santa Clara University than University of Southern California (72% vs. 71%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Southern California students is 78.9% larger than aid received Santa Clara University ($45,262 vs. $25,295)

SCU vs. USC Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, SCU or USC? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between USC or SCU .

  • The average SAT score at University of Southern California (1391) is 78 points higher than at SCU (1313)
  • Incoming USC students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (32) than students at SCU (30)
  • Accepted freshman USC students have a 0.16 point higher average high school GPA (3.83) than students at SCU (3.67)
  • SCU has a higher acceptance rate (52.1%) than USC (12%)

SCU vs. USC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, SCU or USC? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between USC and SCU.

  • The graduation rate at USC is higher than Santa Clara University (90% vs. 85%)
  • Graduates from University of Southern California earn on average $3,600 more per year than SCU graduates after ten years. ($85,500 vs. $81,900)
  • Santa Clara University students graduate with a $875 lower median federal student loan debt than USC graduates. ($21,500 vs. $22,375)
  • SCU graduates are paying $9 less per month on federal student loans than USC graduates. ($222 vs. $231)
  • More SCU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former USC students, three years after graduation. (84% vs. 81%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/