Santa Clara University Santa Clara University is a private non - profit Jesuit university located in Silicon Valley in Santa Clara , California . Founded in 1851 , Santa Clara University is the oldest operating institution of higher learning in California . Description . The university is situated in Santa Clara , California , adjacent to the city of San Jose in Santa Clara County at the southern part of the San Francisco Bay Area . It is commonly known by the abbreviation SCU ; its students and 81 , 000 alumni , which live in all fifty states and around the world are called " Santa Clarans " or " Broncos " and its athletic teams are called the Broncos . The school is promoted as " the Jesuit university in Silicon Valley . " Built around historic Mission Santa Clara , the present university is home to a population of approximately 5 , 200 undergraduate and 3 , 600 Master ' s , Juris Doctor , and PhD students . The institution employs nearly 500 full - time faculty members , who are divided between four professional schools and the College of Arts and Sciences , all of which are located on the mission campus . In July 2009 the Jesuit School of Theology at Berkeley ( JST ) , formerly an independent institution , legally merged with the university , taking the name " Jesuit School of Theology of Santa Clara University . " Although a division of SCU , it retains its campus in Berkeley , California . JST is one of two Jesuit seminaries in the United States with ecclesiastical faculties approved by the Vatican ' s Congregation for Catholic Education . The other , Weston Jesuit School of Theology , completed a similar affiliation with Boston College in June 2008 , becoming Boston College School of Theology and Ministry . For the 2011 - 2012 academic year , the university ' s operating budget was $ 467 million , and its endowment was over $ 717 million . For the same period , undergraduate tuition and fees totaled $ 39 , 048 and the average cost of room and board was $ 11 , 997 . Santa Clara University is civilly chartered and governed by a board of trustees , which appoints the president . By internal statute , the president must be a member of the Jesuit order , although the members of the board are primarily non - Jesuits . About 40 Jesuit priests and brothers are active teachers and administrators in various departments and centers located on the main campus in Santa Clara . An additional 14 Jesuits currently hold faculty positions at the university ' s Jesuit School of Theology in Berkeley . Jesuits comprise around 7 % of the permanent faculty and hold teaching positions in biology , computer engineering , counseling psychology , economics , English , history , law , philosophy , physics , political science , psychology , religious studies , and theater arts in addition to theology . They also serve in campus and residence - hall ministry , and some act as faculty directors in residential learning communities ( RLC ' s ) . SCU maintains its Catholic and Jesuit affiliation and supports numerous initiatives intended to further its religious mission . Students are invited to attend the Sunday evening student Masses in the mission church and encouraged to participate in campus ministry programs and lectures . All Bachelor ' s degrees require three religious studies courses as part of the academic core . An emphasis on social justice is furthered through the Pedro Arrupe Partnership and Kolvenbach Solidarity programs , which offer service opportunities in the community and immersion opportunities throughout the world . The Markkula Center for Applied Ethics and the Center for Science , Technology , and Society offer programs that serve the University ' s Catholic - Jesuit ethos and identity . History . The first two colleges in California were founded in 1851 , at the height of the Gold Rush , both in the town of Santa Clara . Santa Clara College , forerunner of Santa Clara University , was first to open its doors to students and thus is the state ' s oldest operating institution of higher education . The Methodist - run California Wesleyan College opened shortly thereafter and was the first institution to receive an official state charter . Santa Clara ' s Jesuit founders eventually accumulated the endowment required for a charter , which was granted on April 28 , 1855 . Santa Clara bears the distinction of awarding California ' s first Bachelor ' s degree , given to Thomas I . Bergin in 1857 , and its first graduate degree , two years later . California mission era . Inheriting the grounds of Mission Santa Clara de Asís , Santa Clara University ' s campus , library holdings , art collection , and many of its defining traditions date back to 1777 , almost 75 years before its founding . In January of that year , the Blessed Junipero Serra , a Spanish Franciscan friar , established Mission Santa Clara as the eighth of 21 Alta California missions . Fray Tomás de la Peña chose a site along the Guadalupe River for the future church , erecting a cross and celebrating the first Mass a few days later . Natural disasters forced early priests to relocate and rebuild the church on several occasions , moving it westward and away from the river . Built of wood , the first permanent structure quickly flooded and was replaced by a larger adobe building in 1784 . This building suffered heavy damage in an 1818 earthquake and was replaced six years later by a new adobe edifice . The mission flourished for more than 50 years despite these setbacks . Beginning in the 1830s , however , the mission lands were repossessed in conjunction with Mexico ' s secularization , and church buildings fell into disrepair . The Bishop of Monterey , Dominican Joseph Sadoc Alemany , offered the site to Italian Jesuits John Nobili and Michael Accolti in 1851 on condition that they found a college for California ' s growing Catholic population . Modern era . In 1912 Santa Clara College became the University of Santa Clara , with the addition of the School of Engineering and School of Law . In 1925 the Leavey School of Business was founded . Women were first admitted in 1961 to what had been an all - men ' s university . In 2012 , Santa Clara University celebrated 50 years of having women attend Santa Clara University . This step made Santa Clara University the first Catholic university in California to admit both men and women . In 1985 , in part to avoid confusion with the University of Southern California ( USC ) , the University of Santa Clara , as it had been known since 1912 , changed its name to Santa Clara University . Diplomas were printed with the new name beginning with the graduating class of 1986 . In 2001 the School of Education and Counseling Psychology was formed to offer Master ' s level and other credential programs . Campus . Over the last century and a half , the Santa Clara University campus , located in the heart of Silicon Valley along El Camino Real in Santa Clara , California , has expanded to more than . The modern campus . In the 1950s , after the University constructed Walsh Hall and the de Saisset Museum on two of the last remaining open spaces on the old college campus , Santa Clara began purchasing and annexing land from the surrounding community . The first addition , which occurred slightly earlier , brought space for football and baseball playing fields . Thereafter , particularly in the 1960s when women were admitted to the school , more land was acquired for residence halls and other new buildings and facilities . In 1989 the Santa Clara University campus was unified when the The Alameda ( California State Route 82 ) , a major thoroughfare that had bisected the university , was rerouted . Several interior roads were also closed and were replaced by sparsely - landscaped pedestrian malls and plazas . The current five - year campus plan calls for integration of these areas with the gardens of the campus core . The 1990s brought a number of campus additions , including the Music and Dance Building , a new science wing , the Arts and Sciences Building , the Malley Fitness Center , the Sobrato Residence Hall , and the first on - campus parking structure . Santa Clara carried out all deferred maintenance , including the renovation of Kenna Hall , the Adobe Lodge , and many other historic buildings . One unique feature of Santa Clara University ' s undergraduate education is the Residential Learning Community program . Eight Residential Learning Communities ( RLCs ) , each with a distinct theme , integrate the classroom and resident life experience . Contemporary changes . Recently completed expansion projects include a new baseball field ( Stephen Schott Stadium , 2005 ) , a renovated basketball arena ( Leavey Center , 2000 ) , Kennedy Mall – the campus ' first " green building " ( 2005 ) , a Jesuit community residence ( 2006 ) , a 194 , 000 - square - foot ( 1 . 8 ha ) library ( 2008 ) , a new 85 , 000 - square - foot ( 0 . 79 ha ) building for the Leavey School of Business ( 2008 ) , and a new residence hall , Graham ( 2012 ) . Academics and rankings . Santa Clara University School Profile : As of Fall 2011 , Santa Clara had an enrollment of 5 , 229 undergraduate and 3 , 571 graduate and professional students ( total of 8 , 800 students ) . Fifty - five percent of students are from California ; 45 % from outside California , with 3 % of students from other countries . Men make up 51 . 7 % of the total student population ; women 49 . 3 % . Santa Clara offers undergraduates the opportunity to pursue 45 majors in its three undergraduate schools and colleges : the College of Arts and Science , the School of Engineering , and the Leavey School of Business . Santa Clara University university also has six graduate and professional schools , including the School of Law , School of Engineering , the Leavey School of Business , the School of Education and Counseling Psychology , and the Jesuit School of Theology ( campus located in Berkeley , California ) . The student to faculty ratio is 13 : 1 with 73 % of all classes being fewer than 30 students . The 2013 annual ranking of " U . S . News & World Report " categorizes it as ' more selective ' . For the class of 2015 ( enrolled fall 2011 ) , Santa Clara received 13 , 342 applications and accepted 7 , 263 ( 54 . 4 % ) . Of those accepted , 1 , 283 enrolled , a yield rate ( the percentage of accepted students who choose to attend the university ) of 17 . 7 % . SCU ' s freshman retention rate is 93 % , with 85 % going on to graduate . The enrolled first - year class of 2015 had the following standardized test scores : the middle 50 % range ( 25th percentile - 75th percentile ) of SAT scores was 570 - 680 for SAT Critical Reading and 600 - 690 for SAT Math , while the middle 50 % range of ACT scores was 27 - 31 . The middle 50 % range for Grade Point Average ( GPA ) was 3 . 4 - 3 . 8 ( 4 point scale ) . For SCU ' s 2011 - 2012 school year , undergraduate tuition and fees were $ 37 , 368 , room and board cost $ 11 , 742 , and books estimated at $ 5 , 000 , totaling $ 54 , 110 . Rankings . The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching classifies Santa Clara as a master ' s level university . In " U . S . News & World Report " ' s 2013 rankings of master ' s universities ( West ) , Santa Clara University ranks 2nd overall , and 12th in Best Value Schools . In 2013 " U . S . News & World Report " ranked the Leavey School of Business graduate program No . 101 , with its Part - Time MBA program 50th in the nation , the Executive MBA 15th and Entrepreneurial studies 24th . The undergraduate business program in 2012 was ranked 55th in the nation by " U . S . News & World Report " in 2012 and 35th in the nation by " Bloomberg Businessweek " . The School of Engineering was ranked by " U . S . News & World Report " as 20th in the nation in 2007 , 21st in 2008 , 17th in 2009 , and 14th in 2012 for engineering schools with focus on undergraduate and Master ' s engineering programs . Computer Engineering at Santa Clara ranked 91st and Electrical / Electronic / Communications ranked 102nd . Santa Clara ' s School of Law was ranked by " U . S . News & World Report " in 2013 as No . 96 in the nation , with its Intellectual Property Law program recognized as 6th nationally . In 2009 " U . S . News & World Report " named Santa Clara University one of 80 colleges and universities known for a strong commitment to teaching undergraduates . In 2012 " Forbes " ranked Santa Clara University No . 72 out of the 650 best private and public colleges and universities in America . In 2008 , the first year of the list , Santa Clara was ranked No . 318 out of 569 . In 2007 " The Princeton Review " named Santa Clara University as one of its best colleges , and in 2008 , 2009 , 2010 and 2011 it named the school one of the nation ' s best institutions for undergraduate education . In its 2012 ranking of alumni financial success , intellectual development , and career preparation , " The Alumni Factor " listed Santa Clara 43rd out of the top 177 colleges and universities . " PayScale " in 2012 ranked Santa Clara 17th in the nation out of 606 schools in the category " Mid - Career Salary Rank for Private Schools " , 28th out of 1 , 248 in " Overall College ROI Rank , " and 23rd out of 458 in " ROI Rank for Private Universities . " In 2010 Santa Clara University was ranked No . 4 in California in the 2011 report on Graduate Salary Potential . Santa Clara University was named to the 2008 , 2009 and 2010 President ’ s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll for community service programs and student involvement . " Kiplinger ' s Personal Finance " ranked SCU No . 33 on the 2012 - 2013 Best Values in Private Universities list , and 4th in California . Santa Clara University made " About . com " ' s list of the top 23 Catholic Colleges and universities in the country For " College Prowler " rankings , Santa Clara received high marks for its hottest guys ranked 6th and athletic guys ranked 4th while Santa Clara ' s hottest girl ' s ranked 6th and most athletic girl ' s 4th . " Newsweek " in 2012 ranked Santa Clara University as the second most beautiful college in America . Santa Clara has the 3rd highest undergraduate graduation rate nationally - 85 percent - among 626 national master ' s level universities . Facilities . Residence halls . Students have the option of living on campus in the residence halls . There are 10 residence halls , each part of one of the eight Residential Learning Communities ( RLCs ) , encompassing a particular ideal , issue , or cultural theme . East Side West Side Graduate students have the option of living in graduate campus residence halls and university sponsored housing , which includes : Student Organizations . Santa Clara offer its students the opportunity to engage in over 125 registered student organizations ( or clubs ) . RSO ' s are partially funded by the University via the student government , ASG . These Organizations span from Athletic / Recreational , Careers / Pre - professional , Community Service , Ethnic / Cultural , Fraternities / Sororities , Health / Counseling , Media / Publications , Music / Dance / Creative Arts , Political / Social Awareness to Religious / Philosophical . Groups include ( but are not limited to ) : Sustainability . The Sustainability Council meets quarterly to guide efforts of the University ' s Office of Sustainability . The Council is currently drafting the University ' s Climate Action Plan for the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment . The Sub - committees of the Council are broken into three committees of Stewardship , Education , and Outreach . The Committee of Environmental Stewardship seeks to reduce use of non - renewable resources , minimize pollution , and live more lightly on the land . All of the University ' s new projects and major renovations follow LEED standards . The Student Center , which was designed to be a LEED Gold Building , opened in 2010 . Santa Clara Island . In May 2007 , an article published in the campus newspaper , " The Santa Clara " , reported that SCU IT specialist Michael Ballen was heading a project to digitize the SCU campus in the virtual world " Second Life " . Ballen purchased " Santa Clara Island " for $ 980 on a grant from the Technology Steering Committee . Digital models of de Saisset Museum , Mission Church , and the library were the first buildings to be featured on the island . Ballen stated that his " main emphasis [ is ] teaching and learning " , and that " It ' s a way to get to the people who like to game and get them exposed to educational material . " Organization and administration . Santa Clara University is a private corporation owned and governed by a privately appointed Board of Trustees composed of 44 members . The University ' s administration consists of a president , a provost , an executive assistant to the president , a University General Counsel , vice presidents for the University ' s various departments , as well as vice provosts , assistant vice presidents , associate vice presidents , Executive Directors , Directors , Deans , a Chief Investment Officer , a University Registrar , a University Librarian , and an Athletic Director . The current president is Michael Engh , S . J . , who became president January 2009 . Santa Clara University is organized into six professional schools , the School of Arts and Sciences , School of Education and Counseling Psychology , SCU Leavey School of Business , School of Engineering , Jesuit School of Theology , and the School of Law . The University ' s professional schools are all led by an academic dean . College of Arts and Sciences . The College of Arts and Sciences offers Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts degrees in Ancient Studies , Anthropology , Art History , Biochemistry , Biology , Chemistry , Classical Studies , Communication , Computer Science , Economics , Engineering Physics , English , Environmental Science , Environmental Studies , Ethnic Studies , History , Individual Studies , Latin and Greek , Latin Language and Literature , Liberal Studies , Mathematics , Modern Languages in French , German , Italian , and Spanish , Music , Philosophy , Physics , Political Science , Psychology , Public Health Science , Religious Studies , Sociology , Studio Art , Theatre and Dance , and Women ' s and Gender Studies . Leavey School of Business . The Leavey School of Business was founded in 1923 and accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business thirty years later . On the undergraduate level , students can major in the following , under a Bachelor of Science in Commerce degree : Graduate students can obtain the following degrees in the business school : On July 1 , 2009 , Drew Starbird became the Acting Dean of the Leavey School , following the departure of Barry Posner , who had served as Dean for 12 years and returned to the Management faculty . Education , Counseling Psychology , and Pastoral Ministries . The School of Education , Counseling Psychology , and Pastoral Ministries was created in fall 2001 , bringing together graduate programs in Counseling Psychology , Education , and Pastoral Ministries . Approximately 800 graduate student s are enrolled in the school , with 200 studying psychology , 400 studying education , and the remainder studying pastoral ministries . School of Engineering . The School of Engineering was founded and began offering Bachelor ' s degrees in 1912 . Over the next century , the school added Master ' s and doctoral programs designed to meet Silicon Valley ' s growing need for expert engineers . Today , the Valley provides opportunities for the school ' s students and faculty , particularly those in electrical engineering and information technology , to work closely with high - tech companies and government institutions . This ranges from individual internships to larger partnerships with projects such as O / OREOS . Jesuit School of Theology . The Jesuit School of Theology is a Divinity School of Santa Clara University located in Berkeley , California , and one of the member colleges of the Graduate Theological Union . The school was founded in 1934 and merged with Santa Clara University in 2009 . Prior to its merger with Santa Clara University , it was known as the Jesuit School of Theology at Berkeley . School of Law . The School of Law was founded in 1911 . The Jesuit affiliation of the university is manifested in a concern with ethics , social justice , and community service . The school offers the Juris Doctor degree . It also offers several joint degree programs , including JD / Master of Business Administration and JD / Master of Science in Information Systems offered in conjunction with Santa Clara University ' s Leavey School of Business . The school offers Master of Laws degrees in Intellectual Property , which is ranked 6th in the nation , Law Firms Rank Schools ranked 96th , Part - time Law ranked 48th , International and Comparative Law , and U . S . Law for Foreign Lawyers . Santa Clara Law features specialized curricular programs in High Tech and Intellectual Property law , International Law , and Public Interest and Social Justice law . Student government . The Associated Student Government of Santa Clara University ( ASGSCU ) is Santa Clara University ' s student government , an elected representative body for undergraduate students . The Associated Student Government is made up of the Executive Board , the Senate , Community Development , and the Judicial Branch . Athletics . Santa Clara participates in NCAA ' s Division 1 and is a member of the West Coast Conference . It also participates in West Water polo Association for both men ' s and women ' s waterpolo . Santa Clara has 19 varsity sports ( 10 female , 9 male ) and 18 club sports . The school colors are Santa Clara red and white ( the school ' s football team uniforms featured gold trim ) and the team mascot is the " Bronco , " in past illustrations depicted as a " bucking bronco . " Athletic programs . On February 2 , 1993 , Santa Clara president Paul Locatelli , S . J . announced the discontinuation of football at the university . For many years , Santa Clara participated in NCAA Division II in football , including reaching the NCAA Division II Championship semi - finals in 1980 , because of an NCAA bylaw that allowed Division I schools to participate in lower divisions in football ; however , the rule was changed in the mid - 1990s , and the program forced to move into Division I - AA ( now FCS ) . Other teams were Division I , including the men ' s and women ' s soccer teams , both of which are past NCAA Division I National Champions . The basketball teams have made regular appearances in NCAA Division I playoffs . Santa Clara University fields athletic programs which compete at the highest university levels , including soccer and volleyball , consistently ranked among the top ten or twenty teams nationally . . The men ' s soccer team has reached the championship match of the College Cup three times . In 1989 , they faced the University of Virginia and played to a 1 – 1 tie that was called due to darkness after 2 overtimes , earning both Santa Clara and Virginia a share of the National Championship . In 1991 they again faced Virginia and again tied after regulation , this time 0 - 0 , but lost to the Cavaliers on penalty kicks . In 1999 , they lost to Indiana University , 0 – 1 . The men ' s basketball team has participated in the NCAA tournament on several occasions in past decades ; the 1992 – 1993 team ( led by future NBA MVP Steve Nash ) was one of 6 No . 15 seeds to defeat a No . 2 seed in the tourney . On February 12 , 2007 , the men ' s basketball team snapped Gonzaga ' s 50 - game home winning streak . At the time , it was the longest ongoing home winning streak in the NCAA . Club sports programs . Sports include Boxing , Cycling , Equestrian , Paintball , Men ' s Lacrosse , Women ' s Lacrosse , Men ' s Rugby , Women ' s Rugby , Men ' s Ultimate , Women ' s Ultimate , Men ' s Volleyball , Women ' s Volleyball , Men ' s Ice Hockey , Sailing , Shotokan Karate , Swim , Triathlon and Women ' s Field Hockey . In 2008 , the Santa Clara Men ' s rugby club reached the Pacific Coast Playoffs , which were held that year in Orem , Utah . They ousted a powerful Western Washington club before falling to eventual division champion Utah Valley State . The Santa Clara University Touring Side ( SCUTS ) followed with a strong 2009 campaign . In 2010 , the SCUTS qualified for the National tournament held in Sanford , Florida , with the 2nd seed from the Pacific , and finished ranked 16th in the nation . Following their success on the DII national stage and the creation of the College Premier Division , the SCUTS made the move to DI in the Northern California League . In 2012 Santa Clara Men ' s Rugby won the 2012 Nor Cal Conference Championship and advanced to the D1 Sweet 16 National Playoffs . In 2008 , the Santa Clara Paintball Team made it to the final rounds of the NCPA competition in Florida . ROTC . The Santa Clara US Army ROTC Battalion was established in 1861 due to the outbreak of the American Civil War . The unit was known as the Senior Company of Cadets . On September 10 , 1863 , Leland Stanford , then Governor of California , presented the Corps of Cadets with forty Springfield rifles , Model 1839 . Today , the rifles are preserved in the University Museum . In return for his generosity , an armory was built in his honor in 1936 . The armory was located southwest of the athletic field with the pistol range located below the stage of the auditorium . Fr . Paul Locatelli , S . J . , ( former ) President of Santa Clara , was a cadet at the university prior to his military service and his entrance into the Jesuit Order . Two Jesuits from Santa Clara , Fr . McKinnon and Fr . McQuaide , volunteered as chaplains in the Spanish - American War . Both were part Theodore Roosevelt ' s American Expeditionary Force that attacked San Juan Hill on July 1 , 1898 . On February 2 , 2010 , the Santa Clara University ROTC “ Bronco Battalion ” won the MacArthur Award granted by the U . S . Army ’ s Cadet Command and the General Douglas MacArthur Foundation . In 2011 the Santa Clara ROTC once again won the MacArthur Award . The award , named after late General Douglas MacArthur , is granted to the year ’ s most excellent Reserve Officers ' Training Corps program among 33 battalions in the West Coast 8th Brigade . The award takes into consideration factors such as the battalion ' s physical fitness , navigation skills , leadership , and success in commissioning officers after ROTC .