SCU Housing Costs

$3,978 Other Living Expenses Typical Cost

What Are the Living Expenses at SCU?

Room, board, and other expenses can add up to a significant amount. How much does this school charge for these necessities at Santa Clara University.

On this page you will find:

Outline of Housing Costs
Room & Board Trends and Total Expenses
Meal Plans and Housing Requirements
References

Room and Board Expenses at SCU

Housing and meal plans are priced out separately here. The standard student paid $12,492 in 2026, with the price of an average meal plan at $7,401. Taken together, a typical on-campus student at Santa Clara University can expect to spend about $29,379 in 2026 once room, board, books and other living expenses are included.

The table below shows the expected costs of on-campus and off-campus housing and dining plans for Santa Clara University.

Expense	On Campus	Off Campus
Room and Board	$24,339	$29,016
— Housing	$12,492
— Meals	$7,401
Other Living Expenses	$3,978	$6,192
Books and Supplies	$1,062	$1,062
Total	$29,379	$36,270

Room & Board Trends and Total Expenses? Projected Four-Year Total: $139,309

Housing and dining costs rarely hold still from one year to the next. Looking at the trend gives you a realistic picture of what you will actually spend by graduation.

Over the course of obtaining your degree, expect on-campus living costs near $139,309 for living costs.

Here is how combined on-campus room and board has moved over the last few reported years, with a projection of where it is headed, at Santa Clara University.

Year	Room & Board
Three Years Ago	$19,512
Two Years Ago	$20,163
One Year Ago	$22,962
Most Recent Year (2026)	$24,339
One Year From Now *	$26,346
Two Years From Now *	$28,518
Three Years From Now *	$30,870
Four Years From Now *	$33,415

* estimated

Room and board changed an average of 8.2% each year. If current trends continue, incoming first-year students would pay about $31,386 for their first year on campus.

By their final year, a student might pay about $38,455 for a bachelor’s program; a two-year student would see about $33,558 by the end of a two-year program.

For a full bachelor’s degree, expect to spend a total of around $139,309 for a bachelor’s, while two years would run about $64,944 over a two-year associate program.