Santa Clara University Rises in National Rankings

A picturesque campus building with palm trees lining the pathway.

SANTA CLARA, Calif., Aug. 28, 2026—In a sign of Santa Clara University’s continued success in student outcomes, career readiness, and experiential and values-driven learning, the University has secured a top 10% spot in TIME Magazine's America's Best Colleges of 2026-2027 list.

The ranking, which placed Santa Clara at No. 29 nationally, is the publication’s inaugural list of the top 500 colleges in the U.S.

Building on this high ranking, Santa Clara University also placed as the No. 2 best Jesuit university in the nation, No. 6 best college in the West, the No. 23 best private university, and the No. 3 best Catholic university.

“This latest ranking by TIME is a testament to what sets Santa Clara apart: our commitment to educating the whole person and an exceptional student experience,” said James M. Glaser, Santa Clara University provost and executive vice president. “Santa Clara combines rigorous academics and real-world experiential learning with a focus on student development, grounded in our Jesuit tradition of ethical leadership. In this way, we prepare our students not only to thrive in top-tier careers—especially here in the heart of Silicon Valley—but also to help shape a more humane, just, and sustainable world."

Among the criteria used by TIME, Santa Clara is distinguished by its

TIME’s ranking comes on the heels of strong showings in other recent national rankings including:

Forbes America’s Top Colleges

About Santa Clara UniversityFounded 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 ContactDeborah Lohse | Santa Clara University Media Communications | dlohse@scu.edu | 408-554-5121