Santa Clara University Parents & Families Guide

The campus and the trip in

Your student's address is 500 El Camino Real, Santa Clara. The Santa Clara Transit Center, where Caltrain, Amtrak, ACE and VTA buses stop, is across the street, according to SCU's Conference Services office.

Most families fly into SJC. The university's Campus Recreation visitor guide says the airport is less than 10 minutes away by car, and the free VTA Route 60 bus runs from the terminals to that transit center. San Francisco International (SFO) and Oakland International (OAK) are each about 45 minutes out, per the same guide, and are worth pricing when SJC fares jump.

A calendar that runs late

SCU divides the year into fall, winter and spring quarters. Each has about 10 weeks of classes followed by a week of finals. If you have an older child at a semester school, the rhythm will feel off by a month. For 2026 to 27:

• New students move in Friday, Sept. 18, and returning students Saturday, Sept. 19.
• The whole week of Nov. 23 to 27 is an academic holiday for Thanksgiving.
• Fall finals end Friday, Dec. 11, and winter quarter starts Monday, Jan. 4.
• Spring recess runs March 22 to 29, and spring finals wrap up Thursday, June 10.
• The registrar lists the 176th Undergraduate Commencement on Saturday, June 12, 2027.

Where first and second years live

Underclassmen live in Residential Learning Communities, each tied to a hall: Alpha in Graham, Cura in Finn, Cyphi in Swig, da Vinci in Casa Italiana, Loyola in Sobrato, Magis in Campisi and Sanfilippo, Modern Perspectives in Dunne, and Unity in McLaughlin-Walsh. Students rank the RLCs when they apply for housing, so if your student mentions "Cyphi" or "Magis," that is their community, not a club.

Family Weekend and the people who run it

Family Weekend 2027 is set for Feb. 19 to 20, 2027. Seniors' families also watch for the Senior Parents' Gala, which in 2026 was held at the Hyatt Regency Santa Clara.

On campus, the Parent and Family Communication and Engagement office keeps families informed about campus life and resources, works with the Center for Student Involvement on Family Weekend, orientations and Welcome Weekend, and hosts webinars with campus partners. You can reach it at (408) 554-4996.

What's in this hub

Use the Dates page for the full 2026 to 27 calendar with sources, Travel for SJC transit, parking permits and hotels that SCU lists, Move in and move out for timing and room rules, and Local life for the new Bronco Student Health Clinic, Campus Safety and the student mailing address format.