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University of California, Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz, CA
The University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC) is a public research university located in Santa Cruz, California. Established in 1965, UCSC is known for its stunning coastal campus and its commitment to interdisciplinary approaches. With a student body of approximately 19,000, UCSC offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs in various fields of study, including arts, sciences, engineering, social sciences, and humanities.
One of the defining features of UCSC is its unique academic system called the "college system." Instead of traditional departments, the university is divided into ten residential colleges, each with its own distinct personality and academic focus. This system fosters a tight-knit community and provides students with smaller, more intimate learning experiences. UCSC also encourages undergraduate research opportunities, allowing students to engage in hands-on projects alongside faculty members.
In addition to its academic offerings, UCSC is renowned for its natural beauty and commitment to environmental sustainability. The campus is nestled among towering redwood trees and overlooks the Pacific Ocean, offering breathtaking views and a tranquil atmosphere for study and reflection. The university also prioritizes sustainability, with its commitment to green building practices and extensive efforts to preserve the local ecosystem. With its exceptional academic programs, stunning campus, and commitment to sustainability, UCSC offers a distinctive and rewarding educational experience.
Located in Santa Cruz, CA, University of California, Santa Cruz is a public university. This institution follows a quarterly calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 61%. The freshman retention rate at University of California, Santa Cruz is 90% and the six-year graduation rate is 74%.
The freshmen application deadline for this school is November 30. For transfer students, the application deadline is November 30.
Learn more about what University of California, Santa Cruz has to offer based on the most recent data this institution has reported.
Quick Facts
17,812
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
61%
Acceptance Rate
10:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
74%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
In order to increase your chances of getting admitted, you need to know as much as possible about the institution's criteria for admission. Discover some essential information about admission policy and requirements at University of California, Santa Cruz.
In 2024, the school accepted 42,130 new students. Looking at entrance difficulty level for all or most incoming freshmen, based on data self-reported by the institution this school is very difficult to get into. Having a long tradition of academic success and a dedication to encouraging intellectual curiosity, University of California, Santa Cruz offers an unmatched educational experience.
Test Scores
The latest reported average GPA of the enrolled students was 3.89. That means that you need a GPA that's above average in order to get into University of California, Santa Cruz.
Deadlines
Be sure to apply to this school by November 30. If you are applying for a transfer, note that the application deadline is November 30.
61%
Acceptance Rate
Retention Rate
The percentage of new students at a college or university who stay on for their second year is known as the freshman retention rate. Why is that information important? Because it tells you if the majority of freshmen enjoyed their first year at a school enough to come back.
The freshman retention rate for University of California, Santa Cruz was 90% in 2024, which is an outstanding retention rate only the most prestigious institutions have.
Another important metric to consider is the graduation rate. This rate indicates how many students finish their degrees within a certain timeframe. At this school, the rate of students graduating within six years is 74%, which is considered an above-average graduation rate.
Student Body
Deciding if a school is the right fit for you is not an easy task. Knowing more about the student population can help you get a better understanding of the school's culture and life.
Main Student Body
The total number of students enrolled at University of California, Santa Cruz in 2024 was 19,764.
That year, the institution had 4.6% of students coming from another state. The total number of undergraduate students enrolled at the institution was 17,812, 552 of which were foreign students. The number of transfer students at this school was 1,113.
Student Population Gender Ratio
The student body is coeducational, with 8,913 male and 9,409 female full-time students in 2024. 969 full-time graduate men and 868 full-time graduate women attended this school.
Student Population Diversity
Higer Education is committed to focusing on the diversity of its student population and improving students' sense of inclusion and belonging. An inclusive student body brings together individuals from diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. Learn more about all the ethnic communities you might encounter at this institution.
This school had 4,390 Asian students and 348 Afro-American students in 2024. 5,077 students at this school identified as Hispanic/Latino and 1,515 as multirace. The school also had 23 students who declared as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, as well as 14 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 410 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
Before you send an application to any college or university, you should take into account the financial component. Here are some details you should know about the expenses at University of California, Santa Cruz that the majority of students face.
Tuition and Fees
Here are some numbers that can help you better understand the estimated tuition fees for this university.
For local residents, public county and municipal institutions reported that tuition costs were $12,260. For out-of-state students, tuition fees amounted to $44,555. For international students, tuition fees at this school stood at $44,555, as well. Full-time students in 2024 had to pay additional fees in the amount of $2,837.
| Tuition | Fees | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Out-of-State | $44,555 | $2,837 | $47,392 |
| In-State | $12,260 | $2,837 | $15,097 |
Books and Supplies
Another important financial factor to take into consideration is the estimated price of books and supplies for a college or university. The cost of books and supplies for full-time students of this school is estimated at about $1,192.
Boarding
When choosing a college, you should factor in the price of a dorm room and meals at the school cafeteria. What do colleges and universities typically charge for accommodation and meals?
In 2024, the price of room and board at University of California, Santa Cruz was $19,948 per academic year.
| Tuition | $ 12,260 |
| Room and Board | $ 19,948 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 1,192 |
| Total Expense | $ 33,400 |
Financial Aid
Getting some financial support in forms of grants, loans, scholarships or work-study programs can be very important for completing your studies. Check out some recent data to get the information about need-based and non-need-based aid you might get at University of California, Santa Cruz.
The most recent figures show that financial help was given to 2,192 freshmen. The average amount of financial aid given to students was $26,944.
Need-based
Financial aid that a student can receive if they are determined to have financial need and meet other eligibility requirements is known as need-based aid.
8,838 students were designated some form of need-based financial aid. Need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid at University of California, Santa Cruz is available to international students. The overall number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need was estimated to be 9,393. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution summed up to $32,711,432, and state $80,734,222. The students of University of California, Santa Cruz received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $98,823,057, and external in the amount of $2,305,453.
$7,554
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Non-need-based aid is any type of financial aid given to a student who does not meet the requirements for need-based aid. The most popular forms of non-need-based financial aid for students are loans and grants, like Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the Teacher Education Access for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant.
Institutional non-need-based scholarships or grants were given to 148 students overall (including freshmen) at University of California, Santa Cruz in 2024. 43 full-time freshmen were awarded institutional non-need-based scholarship or grant aid. Federal non-need-based scholarships and grants totaled $32,711,432 for students at this institution, while state aid came to $1,075,868. The total amount of institutional scholarships and awards that were not based on financial need was $7,609,928. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. The amount the students of this school received from external sources (e.g. Kiwanis, National Merit) was $1,420,978 USD.
Majors
Faculty
10:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
Knowing more about a school's faculty can help you gauge the caliber of the education it can provide to you.
In 2024, this ratio at University of California, Santa Cruz was 10:1. That means that there were 10 times more students than teachers at this school. The faculty of this school consists of 388 members, according to the most recent data reported. This number included 134 male and 260 female faculty members. The fact that female faculty members outnumber the male ones at this school is telling of the importance gender equality has at University of California, Santa Cruz.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
Not everything at University of California, Santa Cruz is about learning and grades: campus life is an essential part of your educational experience. Find out some details about social life at University of California, Santa Cruz.
Its campus spans 2,000 acres.
Student Organizations
A student organization is run by students at a university or a college institution, whose membership typically consists only of current students and/or alumni.
The number of student organizations and groups with open membership at this school is 149. That includes sororities and fraternities. The percentage of male students who are members of organizations is 4 and female students 5. The student organization that attracts the greatest number of students is Game Design & Art Collaboration, followed by Film Production Coalition and College Panhellenic & Inter-Greek Council. Other popular student organizations at this school are Chinese Scholars & Student Association and Bayanihan.
There is a drama club you can join if acting is something that interests you. For students interested in media and communication, University of California, Santa Cruz publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
Student Services
University of California, Santa Cruz has a number of services necessary for a pleasant and safe life on campus.
There are 24-hour emergency phone and alarm devices. The dormitory entrances at the school are electronically controlled. There is a security patrol that operates around the clock. Theer is a nighttime transportation/escort service.
There is a health clinic with personal/psychological counseling. In addition, other services like Women's Center are available to the students of University of California, Santa Cruz.
All in all, campus life at University of California, Santa Cruz is rich and vibrant and provides everything most students need.
Career Services
Having career services at a college or university can mean a great deal for your career planning, so find out what you can expect at University of California, Santa Cruz.
Career Counselling
At University of California, Santa Cruz, there is both group career counseling for all students and individual career counseling for all students. There are a job bank and job fairs. Job interviews are also available to students through the career center. The school has campus employer recruitment for all the students. This school offers alumni networking opportunities, which could be highly beneficial for your future career.
FAQ
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University of California, Santa Cruz is located in Santa Cruz, CA.
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University of California, Santa Cruz offers need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid to international students.
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The most recent reported acceptance rate for University of California, Santa Cruz is 61%.
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The most recent data indicate that the freshman retention rate for University of California, Santa Cruz is 90%.
Contact Information
University of California, Santa Cruz,
1156 High Street
Santa Cruz, CA
95064
831 459-0111
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved. Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
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Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.