SANTA CLARA, Calif., Sept. 22, 2026—Santa Clara University rose four spots, for the second consecutive year, to No. 55 among more than 400 top national universities in the “U.S. News & World Report 2027 Best Colleges” rankings released today. Among private universities, Santa Clara ranked No. 34.
Santa Clara also advanced to the Top 20 nationally for undergraduate teaching this year, at No. 19, recognizing its teacher-scholar model and enduring commitment to small class sizes and close, personal engagement between faculty and students.
The rankings place the University firmly in the top 15% of all institutions and among the nation’s top Jesuit universities.
Santa Clara also posted one of its largest single-year jumps in the Best Value Schools category, rising 26 spots to No. 94, and was newly recognized among the Most Innovative Schools, coming in at No. 65.
The university’s undergraduate business program climbed to No. 58 in the country, and a number of Leavey School of Business programs advanced as well, including:
- Entrepreneurship: No. 10 (up from No. 14 last year)
- Finance: No. 18 (up from No. 24)
- Analytics: No. 27 (up from No. 33)
- Marketing: No. 39 (newly ranked)
Management Information Systems held steady at No. 21, and Accounting ranked No. 31 this year.
SCU’s U.S. News & World Report showing, by the numbers
- No. 55 National Universities
- No. 34 Top Private Colleges
- No. 94 Best Value Schools
- No. 65 Most Innovative Schools
- No. 171 Top Performers on Social Mobility
- No. 19 Undergraduate Teaching Programs
- No. 10 Entrepreneurship
- No. 18 Finance
- No. 21 Management Information Systems
- No. 27 Analytics
- No. 31 Accounting
- No. 39 Marketing
- No. 58 Undergraduate Business Programs
U.S. News & World Report rankings are based on various factors, including academic reputation, faculty resources, student selectivity, graduation rates, and alumni outcomes. The complete rankings and methodology are available on the “U.S. News Best Colleges” website.
The U.S. News & World Report rankings reinforce Santa Clara’s growth and strength. The University was named No. 29 nationally—placing it among the top 10% of schools evaluated—in TIME Magazine’s inaugural “America’s Best Colleges 2026-2027” rankings, which prioritize outcomes, earnings, and the student experience in its ranking methodology. TIME also recognized Santa Clara as the No. 2 Jesuit university, No. 3 Catholic university, No. 6 college in the Western U.S., and No. 23 private university in the country. Forbes ranked the University No. 61 on its list of private universities and rated it top tier for 20-year return on investment.
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, Santa Clara 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. The University 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.
Media Contact
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