Santa Clara University

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52%

Acceptance rate

12,786

Enrollment

About Santa Clara University

Santa Clara University is a private Jesuit university in Santa Clara, California, United States. Established in 1851, Santa Clara University is the oldest operating institution of higher learning in California. The university's campus surrounds the historic Mission Santa Clara de Asís which traces its founding to 1777.

Campus & Location

Province

Campus setting

Suburban

Cost of living: Housing: USD 2,000–3,200/mo. Food: USD 480–740/mo. Silicon Valley; Intel, NVIDIA, and AMD HQs nearby. SCU's Jesuit engineering school is well-regarded.

Optional Practical Training (OPT)

All graduates from CRICOS-registered programs qualify for 12-month Optional Practical Training (OPT). STEM-designated programs (CS, Engineering, Data Science, Mathematics, Sciences) qualify for a 24-month STEM OPT extension — 36 months total of US work authorisation.

Admission requirements — Nepali equivalents

A rough translation of the published minimums for Nepali applicants:

GPA 3.060%+ in NEB +2, B+ average in Cambridge A-levels, or Second Division in a TU bachelor's degree.

GPA 3.370%+ in NEB +2 or First Division in a TU bachelor's degree.

GPA 3.675%+ in NEB +2 or First Division with Distinction in a TU bachelor's degree.

IELTS 6.5The most common graduate minimum — achievable with 2–3 months of focused preparation. IELTS 7.0+ needed for the most competitive programs.

Use our GPA converter to translate your exact score to the 4.0 scale.

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Uses published minimum requirements. Final decisions are always at the university's discretion. Use our GPA converter to get your score on the 4.0 scale.

For Nepali students — United States

What makes United States work for students from Nepal

MoEST NOC (mandatory)

Required for every Nepali student before applying for a student visa or remitting tuition. Takes 2–3 weeks from Keshar Mahal, Kathmandu (Ministry of Education). NOC checklist →

Work after study — Optional Practical Training (OPT)

12 months standard OPT; STEM degrees get 24-month extension (36 months total). Must work in field of study. Full visa guide →

Popular courses for Nepali students

Computer Science & IT · Engineering · Business Administration (MBA) · Data Science & Analytics

STEM OPT extension is critical — choose a STEM-designated program for the 3-year total OPT.

Graduate employment

USD 75,000–120,000/yr for CS/Engineering in major tech hubs (NYC, Bay Area, Seattle).

Silicon Valley, NYC, Seattle, and Austin are top destinations for Nepali tech graduates. H-1B lottery is the next step after OPT.

Nepali community

250,000+ Nepali diaspora in the US — concentrated in New York, Dallas, DC, and Bay Area.

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