SANTA CLARA, Calif., Sept. 9, 2024—Santa Clara University made a significant leap on The Wall Street Journal/College Pulse “2025 Best Colleges in the U.S” list, rising to No. 38 from No. 75 last year. The University is ranked among the top 12 in the state, along with fellow Bay Area schools Stanford University; University of California, Berkeley; and San Jose State University.
This recognition highlights Santa Clara’s commitment to providing an exceptional educational experience, reflected in its strong student outcomes, including high graduation rates and increased earning potential for graduates.
“Santa Clara University’s inclusion on the Wall Street Journal’s Best Colleges 2025 list is a testament to our unwavering commitment to academic excellence, innovation, and the development of impactful leaders,” said Santa Clara University President Julie Sullivan. “The upward trajectory of Santa Clara’s ranking reflects the extraordinary work of our faculty and staff, and I am immensely proud of the dedication that drives our mission forward each day.”
The WSJ/College Pulse “2025 Best Colleges in the U.S.” ranking was developed and executed in collaboration with research partners College Pulse and Statista. The final ranking of the top 500 colleges was based on two pillars:
- Student and Alumni Survey: College Pulse asked more than 110,000 undergraduates and recent undergraduate alumni to provide feedback on topics like career preparation, learning opportunities, and campus life.
- Student Outcomes Metrics: The ranking used a variety of metrics around student outcomes to determine the salary impact vs. similar colleges, the number of years to pay off net price, and graduation rates vs. similar colleges. An assessment of the level of diversity on campus was also a part of the analysis.
Santa Clara University has performed strongly in national rankings since it was first ranked as a national university by U.S News & World Reports in 2019. Currently, the University ranks No. 60 on the publication’s Best Colleges 2024 list and No. 13 nationally for undergraduate teaching on the same 2024 U.S. News rankings.
About Santa Clara University
Founded in 1851, Santa Clara University sits in the heart of Silicon Valley—the world’s most innovative and entrepreneurial region. The University’s stunningly landscaped 106-acre campus is home to the historic Mission Santa Clara de Asís. Ranked among the top 15 percent of national universities by U.S. News & World Report, SCU has among the best four-year graduation rates in the nation and is rated by PayScale in the top 1 percent of universities with the highest-paid graduates. SCU has produced elite levels of Fulbright Scholars, as well as four Rhodes Scholars. With undergraduate programs in arts and sciences, business, and engineering, and graduate programs in six disciplines, the curriculum blends high-tech innovation with social consciousness grounded in the tradition of Jesuit, Catholic education. scu.edu.
Media Contact
Lisa Robinson | Communications | lrobinson@scu.edu | 408-551-3601