University of California-Santa Cruz is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Santa Cruz, California. It enrolls 17,940 students (a very large student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorWestern Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission
Academic CalendarQuarter
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Strong
82/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes85
Value81
Affordability54
Selectivity68
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 65.8%, University of California-Santa Cruz is moderately selective.
Acceptance Rate
65.8%
Moderate
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Test PolicyTest OptionalApplicants choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether University of California-Santa Cruz is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
11.2 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending University of California-Santa Cruz isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $17,890 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$17,890
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
32%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
28%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$16,005
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$50,205
Room & Board (on-campus)
$19,948
Room & Board (off-campus)
$19,560
Books & Supplies
$1,192
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$6,902
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$7,838
Total Cost of Attendance
$41,179
Application fee: $80 (one-time, due at submission)
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$8,717
$30,001 – $48,000
$10,613
$48,001 – $75,000
$14,418
$75,001 – $110,000
$18,986
Over $110,000
$33,323
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$4,70010%percentile
$8,90025%percentile
$16,666Medianpercentile
$25,51275%percentile
$29,41090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $15,000
↓ $1,666
No Pell $12,500
↓ $4,166
Dependent students $14,000
↓ $2,666
Independent students $16,500
↓ $166
Female students $14,322
↓ $2,344
Male students $14,362
↓ $2,304
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $9,166, less than completers ($16,666), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
69% of full-time students who enrolled at University of California-Santa Cruz graduate within six years, and 89% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
69%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
89%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
High first-year retention. Students who arrive tend to stay.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered University of California-Santa Cruz earn a median of $68,396 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$68,396
Earning > $25K
83%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$49,000
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$59,400
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$51,900
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$53,000
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$55,900
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $10,400, about 18% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
7.2 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 82% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
University of California-Santa Cruz is home to 17,940 students, a sprawling student community. Some distinctive traits: 37% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
17,940
Part-Time
3%
First-Generation
37%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 30.6%5,482
Hispanic 28.6%5,136
Asian 24.3%4,361
Other 9.1%1,640
International 3.0%544
Black 2.1%370
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at University of California-Santa Cruz. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Small CitySanta Cruz, California
Housing
Mostly residential9,524 beds on campus
Adult Learners
4%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Quarterscheduling structure
Designation
Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI)
What You Can Study
University of California-Santa Cruz offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
110 distinct programs across
21 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at University of California-Santa Cruz is 22:1, on the higher side.
Student : Faculty
22:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$14,232
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$151M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$152,591
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
812 instructional faculty across 5 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
311
38%
$206,987
Associate Professors
138
17%
$143,228
Assistant Professors
172
21%
$120,203
Lecturers
187
23%
$103,553
No Rank
4
0%
$78,884
Pros & Cons of University of California-Santa Cruz
A quick at-a-glance summary of how University of California-Santa Cruz tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Above-average graduation rate
Strong first-year retention
Above-average post-graduation earnings
CONS
Larger class sizes than typical
Best for:
Based on the data, University of California-Santa Cruz is a fit for
students prioritizing post-graduation earnings.
Frequently Asked Questions about University of California-Santa Cruz
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about University of California-Santa Cruz.
Is University of California-Santa Cruz hard to get into?
Admissions at University of California-Santa Cruz are moderately competitive. The acceptance rate is 65.8%, so most applicants who meet the academic minimums are admitted.
What is the acceptance rate at University of California-Santa Cruz?
University of California-Santa Cruz has an acceptance rate of 65.8%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does University of California-Santa Cruz cost?
The average net price after aid at University of California-Santa Cruz is $17,890 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is University of California-Santa Cruz worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $68,396 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $17,890 per year. That's roughly 3.8x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is University of California-Santa Cruz known for?
University of California-Santa Cruz is best known for its programs in Computer Science, Psychology, Business Statistics. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do University of California-Santa Cruz graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering University of California-Santa Cruz are $68,396, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is University of California-Santa Cruz accredited?
Yes. University of California-Santa Cruz is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission.
How many students attend University of California-Santa Cruz?
University of California-Santa Cruz enrolls 17,940 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at University of California-Santa Cruz?
University of California-Santa Cruz graduates 69% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is University of California-Santa Cruz a public or private college?
University of California-Santa Cruz is a Public institution.
Where is University of California-Santa Cruz located?
University of California-Santa Cruz is located in Santa Cruz, California.
What programs does University of California-Santa Cruz offer?
University of California-Santa Cruz offers 110 distinct programs. The most popular include Computer Science, Psychology, Business Statistics.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at University of California-Santa Cruz?
The student-to-faculty ratio at University of California-Santa Cruz is 22:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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Other colleges in California share the same applicant pool, regional economy, and academic landscape. Comparing nearby options puts admissions, costs, and outcomes in context, useful when weighing your fit against local alternatives.
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Rankings That Feature University of California-Santa Cruz
University of California-Santa Cruz appears in these rankings, built from the same federal data and the UCD Score.
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The top Biology colleges in California, ranked by UCD Score on outcomes, value, and net price.
93 UCD Score
174 Colleges
$536 Lowest Net
$128,566 Top Earn
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The top Computer Science colleges in California, ranked by UCD Score on outcomes, value, and net price.
93 UCD Score
128 Colleges
$536 Lowest Net
$138,687 Top Earn
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93 UCD Score
187 Colleges
$536 Lowest Net
$90,768 Top Earn
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