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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 school follows a quarterly calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 65%. The freshman retention rate at University of California, Santa Cruz is 88% and the six-year graduation rate is 75%.
For freshmen, the application deadline for this school is November 30. For transfer students, the application deadline is November 30.
Here are some recent data on important things to consider about University of California, Santa Cruz.
Quick Facts
17,940
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
22:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
75%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
If you know as much as possible about the institution's criteria for admission, your chances of getting accepted will significantly improve. Here are the most vital information you need to know about admission at University of California, Santa Cruz.
In 2025, the school accepted 47,012 new students.
Test Scores
The latest reported average GPA of the enrolled students was 3.92. 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 plan on applying as a transfer student, note that the application deadline is November 30.
Retention Rate
What is the freshman retention rate? The freshman retention rate is the percentage of full-time students who entered the institution as freshmen in the previous academic year and returned for the fall term of the current academic year. 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 88% in 2025, reflecting the superb quality of the educational programs at this institution.
The graduation rate is another indicator to take into account. It provides valuable insight into the percentage of students who complete their studies within a designated timeframe. The six-year graduation rate at this school is 75%, 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 clearer picture of the school's culture and life.
Main Student Body
The overall number of students enrolled at University of California, Santa Cruz in 2025 was 19,938.
The school reported an out-of-state student body portion of 4.7% for that year. There was a total of 17,940 students pursuing undergraduate degrees, including 544 international students. The number of transfer students at this school was 1,274.
Student Population Gender Ratio
With a coeducational student body, the school had 8,641 male and 9,571 female full-time students in 2025. There were 969 full-time graduate male and 868 full-time graduate female students at this school.
Student Population Diversity
Higer Education is committed to expanding the diversity of its student population and improving students' sense of inclusion and belonging. A heterogeneous student body brings together individuals from different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. Discover more about the many ethnic communities that go to this school.
This school had 4,362 Asian students and 370 Afro-American students in 2025. 5,136 undergraduates at this school identified as Hispanic/Latino and 1,589 identified with more than one race. The school also had 22 students who declared as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, as well as 28 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 407 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
Financial planning for school is one of the most important things to think about before you apply. 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 cost for this university.
According to the reports from public county and municipal institutions, tuition fees were $13,602 for area residents. For out-of-state students, tuition fees amounted to $51,204. If you are an international student at University of California, Santa Cruz, you should know that the 2025 tuition came to $51,204, as well. Fees per academic year required of full-time students came to a total of $2,901 in 2025.
| Category | Tuition | Fees | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Out-of-State | $51,204 | $2,901 | $54,105 |
| In-State | $13,602 | $2,901 | $16,503 |
Books and Supplies
The approximate price of books and supplies for a college or university should also be taken into consideration as another important financial factor. The estimated expense of books and supplies for full-time students of this school is $1,257.
Boarding
The cost of dorm rooms and meals in the school's cafeteria is for sure something to take into consideration. What is the typical amount colleges and universities charge for lodging and meals?
The cost of room and board (on campus) per academic year at University of California, Santa Cruz was $20,928 in 2025.
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $ 13,602 |
| Room and Board | $ 20,928 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 1,257 |
| Total Expense | $ 35,787 |
Financial Aid
Obtaining some financial aid in forms of grants, loans, scholarships or work-study programs can be vital for finishing your studies. Check out some recent data to get the information about need-based and non-need-based aid available at University of California, Santa Cruz.
The most recent records show that 2,251 freshmen received some sort of financial help.
Need-based
Need-based aid is financial aid that a student can receive if they are determened to have financial need and meet other eligibility criteria.
9,111 students were awarded 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 amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution was $35,015,914, and state $92,432,282. The students of University of California, Santa Cruz received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $95,100,482, and external in the amount of $2,113,883.
$7,390
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Any financial aid given to a student who does not meet the requirements for need-based aid is considered non-need-based aid. Most students get non-need-based financial aid as Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the TEACH Grant.
Institutional non-need-based scholarships or grants were given to 303 students overall (including freshmen) at University of California, Santa Cruz in 2025. Institutional grants or scholarships that are not based on financial need were given to 120 full-time freshman. Federal non-need-based scholarships and grants totaled $35,015,914 for students at this institution, while state aid came to $1,678,901. The total amount of institutional scholarships and awards that were not based on financial need was $7,483,053. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. $1,651,792 was the amount that the students at this institution got from external sources (like Kiwanis and National Merit).
Majors
Faculty
22:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
Getting information about the faculty at a school can help you estimate the quality of education you will receive there.
According to the most recent data, the student-faculty ratio at University of California, Santa Cruz was 22:1: that means 22 students per one teacher. This school has recently reported to have 1,007 faculty members. Out of that number, there were 514 men and 493 women.
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. Check out some details about campus life at University of California, Santa Cruz.
It has a campus size of 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.
For students with a talent for acting, there is a drama club. Interested in media and communication? University of California, Santa Cruz publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
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. There is 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 65%.
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The most recent reported freshman retention rate for University of California, Santa Cruz is 88%.
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.