SCU vs. RIT

Deciding between Santa Clara University and Rochester Institute of Technology? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Santa Clara University
Rochester Institute of Technology

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • SCU Santa Clara, CA
  • RIT Rochester, NY
  • Setting
  • SCU Midsize City
  • RIT Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • SCU 9,728
  • RIT 17,098
  • Type
  • SCU Private 4 Year
  • RIT Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • SCU #61
  • RIT #175
  • Religious Affiliation
  • SCU Roman Catholic
  • RIT -
  • Status
  • SCU Non-profit
  • RIT Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • SCU
  • RIT

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • SCU $61,293
  • RIT $59,274
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • SCU $61,293
  • RIT $59,274
  • Room & Board
  • SCU $19,893
  • RIT $16,142
  • Average Net Price
  • SCU $53,883
  • RIT $39,534
  • Average Grant Aid
  • SCU $28,368
  • RIT $35,077
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • SCU 71%
  • RIT 98%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • SCU 18,970
  • RIT 27,911
  • Admitted
  • SCU 9,105
  • RIT 18,682
  • Acceptance Rate
  • SCU 48%
  • RIT 66.9%
  • Enrolled
  • SCU 17.7%
  • RIT 16.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • SCU 1420
  • RIT 1380
  • Typical ACT score
  • SCU 32
  • RIT 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • SCU 3.67
  • RIT 3.7
  • Typical High School Grades
  • SCU A-
  • RIT A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • SCU Exceptional
  • RIT Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • SCU Low
  • RIT Low
  • ACT Range
  • SCU 31/33
  • RIT 29/33
  • SAT Range
  • SCU 1350/1490
  • RIT 1300/1460
  • Submit Test Scores
  • SCU Test optional
  • RIT Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • SCU Jan 7, 2027
  • RIT Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • SCU 11:1
  • RIT 13:1
  • Popular Majors
  • SCU
    • Business (33%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Engineering (11%)
    • Communication (7%)
    • Psychology (6%)
  • RIT
    • Visual and Performing Arts (16%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (14%)
    • Engineering (13%)
    • Business (13%)
    • Engineering Technology (11%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • SCU 85%
  • RIT 64%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • SCU $81,900
  • RIT $64,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • SCU 84%
  • RIT 75%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • SCU $21,500
  • RIT $28,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • SCU $222
  • RIT $289

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • SCU 49%
  • RIT 64%
  • % Women
  • SCU 51%
  • RIT 36%
  • Racial Diversity
  • SCU High
  • RIT Medium
  • HBCU
  • SCU No
  • RIT No
  • % White
  • SCU 49%
  • RIT 66%
  • % Asian
  • SCU 16%
  • RIT 8%
  • % Black
  • SCU 3%
  • RIT 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • SCU 17%
  • RIT 7%
  • % Native American
  • SCU 0%
  • RIT 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • SCU 0%
  • RIT 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • SCU 7%
  • RIT 3%
  • % International
  • SCU 3%
  • RIT 6%
  • % Unknown Race
  • SCU 4%
  • RIT 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • SCU 55%
  • RIT 44%
  • % Out-of-State
  • SCU 36%
  • RIT 51%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • SCU Yes
  • RIT Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • SCU No
  • RIT No
  • Meal Plan
  • SCU Yes
  • RIT Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • SCU No
  • RIT Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • SCU Yes
  • RIT Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare Santa Clara University in Santa Clara, CA with Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Rochester Institute of Technology is larger than SCU based on total student enrollment (17,098 students vs. 9,728 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Santa Clara University is located in Santa Clara, CA (Midsize City setting); Rochester Institute of Technology is in Rochester, NY (Large Suburban setting).
  • Santa Clara University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Rochester Institute of Technology is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Santa Clara University 11:1; Rochester Institute of Technology 13:1.

SCU vs. RIT Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SCU or RIT ? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Rochester Institute of Technology than SCU ($39,534 vs. $53,883).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rochester Institute of Technology are 18.9% lower than at Santa Clara University ($16,142 vs. $19,893).
  • Santa Clara University is 3.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than RIT (about $2,019 more per year; $61,293.00 vs. $59,274.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 3.4% higher at SCU than at Rochester Institute of Technology (about $2,019 more per year; $61,293.00 vs. $59,274.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Rochester Institute of Technology than at Santa Clara University (98% vs. 71%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Rochester Institute of Technology students is 23.6% larger than aid received by Santa Clara University students ($35,077 vs. $28,368).

SCU vs. RIT Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, SCU or RIT ? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between RIT and SCU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Santa Clara University (1420) is 40 points higher than at RIT (1380).
  • Incoming SCU students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 31 at RIT ).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Santa Clara University 1350/1490; Rochester Institute of Technology 1300/1460.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Santa Clara University 31/33; Rochester Institute of Technology 29/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: SCU - Test optional; RIT - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: SCU Jan 7, 2027; RIT Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman RIT students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at SCU (3.67).
  • RIT has a higher acceptance rate (66.9%) than SCU (48%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.7% at SCU vs. 16.3% at RIT .

SCU vs. RIT Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SCU and RIT ? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Santa Clara University's six-year graduation rate (85%) is higher than Rochester Institute of Technology's (64%).
  • Graduates from Santa Clara University earn a median of about $17,000 more per year than RIT graduates about ten years after starting college ($81,900 vs. $64,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Santa Clara University graduates have a $6,500 lower median loan debt than RIT graduates ($21,500 vs. $28,000).
  • Among borrowers, SCU graduates have an estimated $67 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than RIT graduates ($222 vs. $289).
  • More SCU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former RIT students, three years after graduation. (84% vs. 75%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.