Organizer Information
Santa Clara University (SCU) is a private Jesuit university in Santa Clara, California. Its College of Arts and Sciences includes the Department of Art and Art History, with undergraduate programs in Art History and Studio Art. The university also offers arts-related study through Communication, including a Digital Filmmaking minor, and a range of other undergraduate disciplines.
Key Information
- Official Institution Name: Santa Clara University
- Opportunity Type: University Programs & Admissions
- Study Levels: Undergraduate
- Degrees Offered: BA, BS, BS in Commerce
- Academic Fields: Art History, Studio Art, Communication, Digital Filmmaking, Music, Theatre and Dance
- Relevant Programs: Art History; Studio Art; Communication; Digital Filmmaking minor; Studio Art minor; Art History minor; Graphic Design minor; Animation and Illustration minor; Arts Management minor
- Language of Instruction: English
- International Applicants: Yes
- Application Period: First-year applications open 1 August; transfer applications open 1 August
- Application Deadline: 1 November for Early Action/Early Decision I; 7 January for Early Decision II/Regular Decision
- Start of Studies: Fall and Winter terms
- Application Fee: $75
- Tuition: $64,956 annually for full-time undergraduate study
- Funding: Scholarships, grants, and other financial aid are available; international undergraduate students may be considered for merit scholarships.
Field of Study & Eligible Disciplines
- The College of Arts and Sciences offers BA majors in Art History and Studio Art. Studio Art includes coursework in drawing, painting, sculpture, printmaking, mixed media, computer imaging, animation, graphic design, photography, and web design.
- Arts-related minors include Studio Art, Art History, Graphic Design, Animation and Illustration, and Arts Management. Communication is offered as a BA major and includes a Digital Filmmaking minor.
- Applicants are admitted to the university according to the requirements for their applicant category and intended school/college. The published undergraduate admissions requirements do not establish a portfolio requirement for Art History or Studio Art admission.
General Eligibility
- Santa Clara admits both domestic and international undergraduate applicants as first-year or transfer students. First-year applicants normally apply after secondary school, while transfer applicants apply after qualifying university-level study.
- International applicants must satisfy additional requirements concerning English proficiency and financial certification. International students must be admitted as full-time, degree-seeking students for enrollment.
Educational Background
- First-year applicants must submit an official secondary-school transcript covering Grade 9 through the most recently completed term. SCU does not publish a specific minimum high-school GPA for first-year admission.
- Transfer applicants must provide official transcripts from colleges or universities attended and an official high-school transcript. International transfer applicants with foreign university coursework must obtain a course-by-course evaluation through World Education Services (WES).
Language Requirements
- International applicants must demonstrate English proficiency unless an applicable exemption applies.
- IELTS: minimum 6.5
- TOEFL iBT: minimum 4.5 on the post-21 January 2026 scoring scale; SCU honors scores of 90 or higher from the previous scale
- Duolingo English Test: minimum 120 for undergraduate applicants
- Applicants may qualify for an exemption based on specified English-language secondary-school education or qualifying SAT/ACT results.
Application Fee
| Applicant Category | Application Fee |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate first-year | $75 non-refundable |
| Undergraduate transfer | $75 non-refundable |
| Eligible fee-waiver applicants | Fee may be waived |
SCU accepts specified application fee waivers, including Common App, NACAC, and College Board fee waivers for first-year applicants.
Tuition
| Study Level / Program | Applicant Type | Tuition | Billing Structure | Other Mandatory Fees |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate, Santa Clara campus | Degree students enrolled in 12+ units | $64,956 annually | $21,652 per quarter | Mandatory student fees apply |
| Undergraduate, Santa Clara campus | 1–11 units | $1,804 per unit | Per unit | Mandatory student fees may apply |
The 2026–27 undergraduate tuition schedule states $64,956 annual tuition, $21,652 for a full-time quarter, and $1,804 per unit.
Funding & Financial Support
- Santa Clara offers merit scholarships to first-year undergraduate students. The Presidential Scholarship at Entry covers full tuition, while the Provost Scholarship covers half tuition; both are renewable subject to their stated conditions. The Dean's Scholarship is available to students admitted to the College of Arts and Sciences, School of Business, or School of Engineering, and international students are eligible for consideration.
- International undergraduate students are not eligible for U.S. federal or state aid but may qualify for university merit scholarships. International applicants must also demonstrate sufficient financial resources for their first year.
University Services & Academic Support
- Students in the College of Arts and Sciences have access to academic and peer advising through the Student Engagement Team and Drahmann Center. The Drahmann Center provides academic planning, Core Curriculum and major/minor advising, learning resources, and tutoring.
- The Department of Art and Art History provides a gallery, exhibitions, art-related student organizations, juried shows, internships, and access to the de Saisset Museum. Studio Art students also work across traditional and digital media and prepare work for the Senior Art Show.
Application Requirements
First-year applicants must submit:
- Common Application
- Official high-school transcript
- One academic teacher evaluation or counselor recommendation
- Secondary School Report
- Mid-Year Report for Regular Decision applicants and applicants deferred from Early Action
- $75 application fee or approved waiver
- Santa Clara supplement
- Optional supplemental essay
SAT and ACT scores are optional for applicants to the 2027 term.
International first-year applicants must additionally submit:
- Proof of English proficiency, unless exempt
- SCU Financial Resource Statement and supporting financial documentation
- English translations of documents not issued in English
International transfer applicants must submit college/university transcripts, high-school transcripts, English-proficiency evidence, the financial resource statement, and a WES evaluation for foreign university coursework
An admission portfolio is not listed as a general mandatory undergraduate application requirement. International admission interviews through InitialView or Vericant are optional supplements rather than mandatory interviews.
How to Apply?
- Undergraduate First-Year Application Portal
Deadline & Timeline
- Application Opens: 1 August 2026
- Early Action Deadline: 1 November 2026
- Early Decision I Deadline: 1 November 2026
- Early Decision II Deadline: 7 January 2027
- Regular Decision Deadline: 7 January 2027
- Winter First-Year Application Deadline: 1 October 2026
- Fall Transfer Application Period: 7 January 2027 – 15 April 2027
- Winter Transfer Application Deadline: 1 October 2026
- Early Action Admission Decision: Late December 2026
- Early Decision I Admission Decision: Late December 2026
- Early Decision II Admission Decision: Mid-February 2027
- Regular Decision Admission Decision: Late March 2027
- Early Decision II Enrollment Deposit Deadline: 1 March 2027
- Early Action Enrollment Deposit Deadline: 1 May 2027
- Regular Decision Enrollment Deposit Deadline: 1 May 2027
- Winter Transfer Enrollment Deposit Deadline: 30 November 2026
- Fall Transfer Enrollment Deposit Deadline: 15 June 2027
Location
Santa Clara University — Santa Clara, California, United States
Additional Details
Santa Clara University operates on a quarter system. Full-time undergraduate students taking 12 or more units are charged the full quarterly tuition rate. The university requires full-time undergraduate students to live on campus during their first and second years unless an approved exception applies or housing capacity is unavailable.
International students admitted to undergraduate study must provide financial documentation and, after admission and deposit, demonstrate sufficient funds to obtain the Form I-20 for an F-1 visa.