How to Apply to Engineering at Santa Clara University: Eight Engineering BS Majors on the Quarter System, Choosing the School of Engineering When You Apply, and Moving In From Another School as Early as First-Year Spring, for Domestic and International (Including Chinese) Applicants and Transfer Students

Santa Clara University (SCU) is a Jesuit university in Silicon Valley, California, on the quarter system. Undergraduate engineering is offered by the School of Engineering. Computer science and engineering is one of its majors and has its own guide on this site, so it is only mentioned here. Based on SCU’s official information, this guide is organised for U.S. domestic applicants, international applicants, applicants from China and transfer students.

1. Majors and accreditation

• Bachelor of Science (BS): the undergraduate bulletin lists bioengineering, civil engineering, computer science and engineering, web design and engineering, electrical engineering, electrical and computer engineering, general engineering and mechanical engineering (eight).
• ABET accreditation: the bulletin says the civil, computer science and engineering, electrical, electrical and computer, and mechanical engineering programs are accredited by ABET’s Engineering Accreditation Commission, and computer science and engineering also by the Computing Accreditation Commission; bioengineering, general engineering, and web design and engineering are not yet ABET-accredited. The School of Engineering’s ABET page lists only civil, computer science and engineering, electrical and mechanical engineering and does not name electrical and computer engineering, so the two pages differ; check with the department.
• Minimum units (quarter units): Mechanical 192; Bioengineering 191; Civil 191; Electrical 190 and Electrical and Computer 190; General Engineering 189; Computer Science and Engineering 182; Web Design and Engineering 175.
• Example curriculum: Mechanical Engineering requires calculus (MATH 11–14), chemistry (CHEM 11), physics (PHYS 31–33) and engineering courses such as ENGR 1. All engineering programs require extensive math and science sequences, and course prerequisites are strictly enforced.
• Co-op and internships: departments including Mechanical and Electrical and Computer Engineering offer co-op courses (for example MECH 188/189); Mechanical allows up to 4 units of co-op toward technical electives, and Bioengineering counts up to 6 units combined of co-ops, internships and supervised research. The pages we read do not say whether a co-op placement is guaranteed.
• Core curriculum: besides the major, students complete the university Core (writing, religion, cultures and ideas, ethics, diversity, civic engagement and more); two years of high school foreign language satisfy the second-language requirement.

2. Admission: choose the School of Engineering; the major can wait

• Choosing a school: when applying you choose the College of Arts and Sciences, the Leavey School of Business or the School of Engineering, then declare a major or stay undeclared. SCU says selectivity between schools does not vary greatly, but academic readiness is judged against the program of interest, and calculus-level readiness is expected for natural science, business and engineering applicants.
• Thresholds for a specific engineering major: the first-year pages do not state a GPA or course-grade threshold for a particular engineering major or any seat limits. Ask Admissions (admission@scu.edu).
• Changing major within engineering: file a Program Petition, approved by the department chair.
• Moving into engineering from another school: students not admitted to the School of Engineering may apply as early as the spring quarter of the first year; first-year students cannot submit before then, and students beyond the first year can apply at any time. The Internal Transfer Application includes an essay and is reviewed by the chair of the intended major, based on math and science course results and space available; decisions come within two weeks. To be eligible in the first-year spring, complete in fall and winter two courses from MATH 11–14, CHEM 11 and PHYS 31 (for web design and engineering, any course meeting the Natural Science Core can replace CHEM 11 and PHYS 31); taking ENGR 1 and 1L is advised. SCU warns that students who enter an engineering program after initial entrance may need more than four years.
• Dates: the engineering page says applications by 11:59 p.m. on April 6, 2026 were needed for a decision before spring advising; that is the 2025-26 date and the 2027 date is not published.
• Conflicting statements: the engineering internal transfer page allows applying in the first-year spring; the bulletin’s change-of-school policy says students may not apply until the end of the first year; the transfer admission page says external transfer students must stay one year in their admitted school before petitioning to change. Confirm with Engineering Undergraduate Programs (engineeringpeeradvising@scu.edu).

3. Prerequisites

• Minimum high school courses: 4 years English; 3 years history and social science; 3 years math (4 recommended); 2 years lab science (3 recommended); 2 years of a language other than English (3 recommended, 4 preferred); 1 year visual and performing arts recommended.
• For engineering: the website says only that calculus-level readiness is expected; it does not list separate physics or chemistry requirements. Ask Admissions.
• Math placement exam: not mentioned on the pages we read.
• AP / IB credit: the first-year pages we read do not say which exams earn credit for engineering courses. The test-optional page says AP, IB and A-level results are not required and may be self-reported in the Common App.

4. Deadlines, materials and testing (first-year, fall 2027 entry)

• Early Decision I (binding) and Early Action (non-binding): November 1; optional supplemental essay November 6.
• Early Decision II and Regular Decision: January 7; optional supplemental essay January 12. A winter first-year application closes October 1. The deadlines page shows no year, so check again before applying.
• Application fee: $75, non-refundable; Common App, NACAC or College Board fee waivers are accepted.
• Materials: Common App; official high school transcript (grade 9 onward); one academic teacher evaluation or counselor recommendation; secondary school report; a mid-year report by the end of January for Regular Decision; an optional supplemental essay (150–300 words). A separate engineering essay is not listed.
• Testing: optional. SCU extended test-optional to the 2027 term and is still reviewing the policy for fall 2028 and later.

5. U.S. domestic applicants

• 2026-27 on-campus estimate (USD): tuition $64,956, student engagement and well-being fee $780 and housing and food $20,094, for direct costs of $85,830; with books, transportation and personal expenses the total cost of attendance is about $92,556. The cost page lists one tuition rate with no in-state/out-of-state split and no engineering differential.
• Aid: file the FAFSA (code 001326) and the CSS Profile (code 4851): November 15 for Early Decision I and Early Action, February 1 for Regular Decision. California residents also submit the Cal Grant GPA verification form by March 2.
• Scholarships: SCU says test-optional applicants are not disadvantaged in admission or merit scholarship review. Engineering-specific scholarships and amounts are not published on the pages we read; ask Financial Aid.
• Priority admission for state residents: not published.

6. International applicants

• Materials: Common App; official transcripts from grade 9 (non-English with an English translation, preferably uploaded electronically by the school); one academic teacher evaluation; secondary school report; mid-year report for Regular Decision; $75 fee; English proficiency; and the International Student Financial Resource Form, completed in the applicant portal after applying with documents showing funds for the full first year.
• English minimums: IELTS 6.5; TOEFL iBT 90 before January 21, 2026 and 4.5 after; Duolingo 120; or SAT EBRW 630, or ACT Reading 27 and English 27. Scores are valid two years; MyBest, TOEFL Home Edition and TOEFL Essentials are not accepted. Waiver: four years at a school where English was the sole language of instruction, in a primarily anglophone country (Australia, Anglophone Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, United Kingdom, United States) or elsewhere.
• Interviews: SCU offers no interviews but accepts optional InitialView or Vericant video interviews and recommends them.
• Aid: federal and state aid is limited to U.S. citizens and eligible non-citizens; non-citizen undergraduates may qualify for a scholarship, but funding for international students is limited.

7. Applicants from China

• Gaokao: the website does not say whether or how the Gaokao is used. Ask international admissions (ugradintl@scu.edu).
• Documents: transcripts should be uploaded electronically by the school or counselor; SCU does not accept transcripts or scores by email. If a school cannot upload, mail them sealed in the school’s original envelope with an official seal.
• Credential evaluation: none is named for first-year applicants; transfer students with foreign university work need a WES evaluation.
• International curricula: A-level, IB and AP results are not required; no engineering score requirements are published.
• Support: SCU’s international admission page links an official WeChat account.

8. Transfer students

• Dates: fall entry has rolling admission from January 7 to April 15, with decisions from February to mid-May; winter entry closes October 1.
• Recommended courses for engineering (recommended, not required): two English composition courses, two calculus courses, one general chemistry course and two calculus-based physics courses; the page lists an average GPA of 3.5. Admission depends on space in the programs and on the competitiveness of the pool.
• Second choice: because engineering is competitive, transfer applicants can ask to be considered for the College of Arts and Sciences (as undeclared) if not admitted to engineering; if you enroll you must stay in that school for one year before petitioning to change.
• Materials: official transcripts from all colleges, high school transcripts (grades 9–12), one academic teacher evaluation and the $75 fee; international applicants add English proficiency and the financial resource form. Students with fewer than 30 semester or 45 quarter units may submit SAT or ACT scores.
• Foreign coursework: a WES course-by-course evaluation is required; SCU accepts only WES, and no credit is considered without it.
• Community colleges: SCU has transfer admission agreements with 70 California community colleges.

Checklist

U.S. domestic applicants:

• 3 years of math (4 recommended) and 2 years of lab science (3 recommended), at calculus level; choose the School of Engineering
• Apply by November 1 (EA/ED I) or January 7 (RD/ED II), $75 fee; testing is optional

International applicants (including China):

• Same deadlines; IELTS 6.5, TOEFL 4.5 or another accepted English score; upload transcripts electronically; submit the financial resource form; ask how the Gaokao is used

Transfer students:

• Fall rolling from January 7 to April 15; complete two calculus courses, chemistry and two calculus-based physics courses; get a WES evaluation for foreign coursework

Sources: Santa Clara University, Engineering undergraduate programs; ABET-accredited programs; Engineering internal transfer; Bulletin: engineering degrees; Bulletin: Mechanical Engineering; Bulletin: Bioengineering; Bulletin: Electrical and Computer Engineering; Bulletin: change of major and school; First-year students; First-year deadlines; Test optional; International application requirements; English proficiency; International students; Transfer students; Cost of attendance; International financial aid; First-year and transfer financial aid. Information is for fall 2027 entry (costs are 2026-27 rates); the first-year deadlines page shows no year. Check Santa Clara University for the latest details.