The Mission Santa Clara de Asís sits in the middle of campus, surrounded by roses and olive trees. Santa Clara University, founded by Jesuits in 1851, is one of the oldest universities in California, and it's now in the heart of Silicon Valley. NVIDIA, Intel and Applied Materials are close by. Engineering and business are its strongest draws for international students.
Santa Clara, California, United States
Official website: scu.edu
1851
Private Jesuit university
Leavey School of Business, School of Engineering
Silicon Valley
$35,000 – $65,000
International students, undergraduate and graduate
$24,000 – $30,000
Rent, food and local transport
Approximate figures for 2026-27, please verify. Fees change every year and vary by course, so check the latest amount on scu.edu before you apply.
MS Computer Science and Engineering
Masters DegreeDuration
24 Months
Intake
Sep, Jan
Exam Score
TOEFL: 90, IELTS: 6.5
MS Electrical and Computer Engineering
Masters DegreeDuration
24 Months
Intake
Sep, Jan
Exam Score
TOEFL: 90, IELTS: 6.5
MS Business Analytics
Masters DegreeDuration
18 Months
Intake
Sep
Exam Score
TOEFL: 100, IELTS: 7.0
MBA
Masters DegreeDuration
24 Months
Intake
Sep, Jan
Exam Score
GMAT/GRE optional, TOEFL: 100
BS Computer Science and Engineering
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Sep
Exam Score
SAT optional, TOEFL: 90
Engineering master's with evening classes used by Silicon Valley engineers.
A campus built around an 18th-century Spanish mission.
A STEM-designated business analytics master's.
Engineering graduates join semiconductor, software and hardware firms across Silicon Valley.
Business analytics graduates work in tech, finance and consulting.
STEM-designated programmes allow up to three years of OPT work.
Undergrad
Early action November
Postgrad
Main intake
Undergrad
No UG intake
Postgrad
Engineering and MBA
The campus runs on quarters, not semesters. It's next to the Santa Clara Caltrain station, with trains to San Francisco and San Jose, and Levi's Stadium is a short ride north.
The weather is mild all year. Rent is the major cost, and many students share apartments close to campus or in San Jose.
Form I-20 issued by Santa Clara University
Proof of funds for one academic year
SEVIS I-901 fee payment receipt
Completed DS-160 online application
US embassy or consulate interview
Passport valid six months beyond stay
Undergraduate Early Action closes in November and Regular Decision in January. Graduate engineering and business programmes have deadlines for each quarter, usually several months ahead.
Undergraduates start in September. Graduate engineering and the MBA also admit in winter.
It's the F-1 student visa. Get your I-20 from Santa Clara University first (they need your deposit and bank documents), then pay the SEVIS fee, complete the DS-160 and attend the visa interview. Book the interview early in peak season.
Computer science and engineering, electrical and computer engineering, business analytics and the MBA attract most international students. Graduate programmes need a relevant bachelor's degree and TOEFL of 90 to 100.
Santa Clara offers merit scholarships to international undergraduates. Graduate scholarships are limited, though some teaching and research assistantships exist.
