SCU vs. University of Nevada-Reno

Should I go to Santa Clara University or University of Nevada Reno? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if SCU or University of Nevada-Reno 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 USD UNLV Oxy UCSC Pepperdine UC Davis USF SMU Chapman San Jose State Cal Poly
Santa Clara University vs. University of Nevada Reno comparison
Santa Clara University University of Nevada Reno College 3 College 4
Santa Clara University University of Nevada Reno
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

SCU University of Nevada-Reno
Location Santa Clara, CA Reno, NV
Setting Midsize City Midsize City
Enrollment 9,340 21,778
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #54 #400
Religious Affiliation Roman Catholic - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website scu.edu unr.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

SCU University of Nevada-Reno
Tuition (In State) $58,587 $7,876
Tuition (Out of State) $58,587 $24,832
Room & Board $18,984 $13,700
Avg Net Price $49,651 $16,801
Avg Grant Aid $28,375 $6,658
% Receiving Grant Aid 73% 92%

Admission

SCU University of Nevada-Reno
Applied 18,843 10,142
Admitted 8,261 8,652
Acceptance Rate 43.8% 85.3%
Enrolled % 18.8% 39.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.67 3.4
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Exceptional Average
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 30/33 20/26
SAT Range 1340/1500 1060/1270
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Jan 7, 2026 Apr 7, 2026

Academics

SCU University of Nevada-Reno
Student to Faculty Ratio 10:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (33%)
  • Social Sciences (13%)
  • Engineering (11%)
  • Communication (7%)
  • Psychology (6%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Social Sciences (11%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Engineering (8%)
  • Education (7%)

Outcomes

SCU University of Nevada-Reno
Graduation Rate 85% 51%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $81,900 $53,400
Making Student Loan Payments 84% 64%
Median Student Loan Debt $21,500 $18,801
Median Loan Payment $222 $194

Diversity

SCU University of Nevada-Reno
% Men 15% 7%
% Women 18% 11%
Racial Diversity Very High Medium
HBCU No No
% White 49% 60%
% Black 3% 4%
% Hispanic 17% 19%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 1%
% Two or More Races 7% 6%
% International 3% 1%
% Unknown Race 4% 1%

Students

SCU University of Nevada-Reno
% In-State 50% 75%
% Out-of-State 40% 24%

Campus

SCU University of Nevada-Reno
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 Nevada Reno is larger than than SCU based on total student enrollment (21,778 students vs. 9,340 students)

SCU vs. University of Nevada-Reno Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SCU or University of Nevada-Reno?

  • Santa Clara University is 643.9% more expensive to attend than University of Nevada-Reno for in-state tuition ($58,587.00 vs. $7,876.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 135.9% higher at SCU than University of Nevada Reno ($58,587.00 vs. $24,832.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Nevada Reno than SCU ($16,801 vs. $49,651)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Nevada Reno are 38.6% lower than costs at Santa Clara University ($13,700 vs. $18,984)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of Nevada Reno than Santa Clara University (92% vs. 73%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Santa Clara University students is 326.2% larger than aid received University of Nevada Reno ($28,375 vs. $6,658)

SCU vs. University of Nevada-Reno Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Santa Clara University (1313) is 229 points higher than at University of Nevada-Reno (1084)
  • Incoming SCU students have a 6 point higher average ACT score (30) than students at University of Nevada-Reno (24)
  • Accepted freshman SCU students have a 0.27 point higher average high school GPA (3.67) than students at University of Nevada-Reno (3.4)
  • University of Nevada-Reno has a higher acceptance rate (85.3%) than SCU (43.8%)

SCU vs. University of Nevada-Reno Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, SCU or University of Nevada-Reno? 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 University of Nevada-Reno and SCU.

  • The graduation rate at SCU is higher than University of Nevada Reno (85% vs. 51%)
  • Graduates from Santa Clara University earn on average $28,500 more per year than University of Nevada-Reno graduates after ten years. ($81,900 vs. $53,400)
  • University of Nevada Reno students graduate with a $2,699 lower median federal student loan debt than SCU graduates. ($18,801 vs. $21,500)
  • University of Nevada-Reno graduates are paying $28 less per month on federal student loans than SCU graduates. ($194 vs. $222)
  • More SCU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former University of Nevada-Reno students, three years after graduation. (84% vs. 64%)

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