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.
University of California, Santa Cruz is a public university located in Santa Cruz, CA. It has a campus size of 2,000 acres. This institution follows a quarterly calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 47%. The freshman retention rate at University of California, Santa Cruz is 87.7% and the six-year graduation rate is 77%.
The freshmen application deadline for this school is November 30. The transfer application deadline is November 30.
Explore this school's profile to find out all the important things about University of California, Santa Cruz.
Quick Facts
17,502
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
47%
Acceptance Rate
10:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
77%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
If you know as much as possible about the school's criteria for admission, your chances of getting accepted will significantly increase. Here are the most important data you have to know about admission at University of California, Santa Cruz.
In 2023, the school accepted 30,474 new students. As far as admission difficulty is considered, based on data self-reported by the institution this school is very difficult to get into. With a rich history of academic excellence, it offers an unmatched educational experience.
Test Scores
The latest reported average GPA of the enrolled students was 3.98. This implies that you'll probably need a GPA above the average to secure admission.
Deadlines
The final day for applications to University of California, Santa Cruz is November 30. If you are thinking about applying as a transfer student, the application deadline is November 30.
47%
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. That information can tell you if the majority of freshmen liked their first year enough to come back.
As reported in 2023, the freshman retention rate for University of California, Santa Cruz was 87.7%, demonstrating the exceptional quality of the educational experience at this institution.
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 77%, which is considered an above-average graduation rate.
Student Body
Choosing a school that is the right place for you is not a simple task. You can better comprehend the culture and life of the school by finding out more about the student body.
Main Student Body
The overall number of students enrolled at University of California, Santa Cruz in 2023 was 19,478.
The school reported an out-of-state student body portion of 4.1% for that year. The total number of undergraduate students enrolled at the school was 17,502, 794 of which were foreign students. 1,205 students were accepted as transfer students.
Student Population Gender Ratio
The student body is coeducational, with 9,006 male and 8,926 female full-time students in 2023. 969 full-time graduate men and 868 full-time graduate women attended this school.
Student Population Diversity
The importance of student diversity cannnot be denied, when it comes to the overall feeling of inclusion and beloning among the students of any school. In a diverse learning space, you will be exposed to people from different backgrounds, which promotes the feeling of inclusion and acceptance. Discover more about the many ethnic communities that go to this school.
In 2023, out of the total number of students enrolled at the institution, the number of Asian students was 4,063, and the number of Afro-American students was 326. 4,911 undergraduates at this school identified as Hispanic/Latino and 1,449 as multirace. The school also had 26 students who declared as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, and 18 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 349 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
Financial planning for school is one of the most important things to consider before you apply. The latest information on the expenses that most students at this school incur are detailed below.
Tuition and Fees
Here are some facts that can be useful if you were curious about University of California, Santa Cruz estimated tuition fees.
Tuition fees for area resident were $11,442, as reported by public county or municipal institutions. Tuition fees were $42,611 for students coming from a different state. Tuition costs at University of California, Santa Cruz for international students equalled $42,611. Fees per academic year required of full-time students reached $2,658 in 2023.
| Tuition | Fees | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Out-of-State | $42,611 | $2,658 | $45,269 |
| In-State | $11,442 | $2,658 | $14,100 |
Books and Supplies
When you try to estimate the cost of attendance for a college or university, you need to think about the cost of books and supplies you're going to need. The cost of books and supplies for full-time students of this school is estimated at about $1,315.
Boarding
Besides tuition, another cost to consider is the price of housing in the dorms and eating at the school cafeteria. How much do room and board fees average around at schools?
In 2023, the price of room and board at University of California, Santa Cruz was $18,785 per academic year.
| Tuition | $ 11,442 |
| Room and Board | $ 18,785 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 1,315 |
| Total Expense | $ 31,542 |
Financial Aid
Grants, loans, scholarships, work-study programs: these are all types of financial help for students. If you want to find out more about need-based and non-need-based aid at University of California, Santa Cruz, here are some recent data you should take into consideration.
According to the most recent data, 2,192 freshmen were awarded financial aid. Students of this school received an average of $26,944 in financial help.
Need-based
Need-based financial aid is exactly what it sounds like — it’s awarded based on the determined financial need.
8,838 students obtained 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 stood at $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
Any financial aid given to a student who does not meet the requirements for need-based aid is considered non-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 2023. Institutional grants or scholarships that are not based on financial need were given to 43 full-time freshman. The total dollar amount of federal non-need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the studens at this school was $32,711,432 while the state aid is $1,075,868. The total amount of non-need-based institutional scholarships/grants 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
The student-to-faculty or student-to-professor ratio represents the number of students compared to the number of professors at a school.
According to the most recent data, the student-faculty ratio at University of California, Santa Cruz was 10:1: that means 10 students per one teacher, which is considered a good ratio. The faculty of this school consists of 388 members, according to the most recent data reported. This number included 134 men and 260 women. The fact that female faculty members outnumber the male ones at this school speaks volumes for gender equality 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 students' life at University of California, Santa Cruz.
Student Organizations
Being a member of a student organization will make you connect better with your fellow students and enjoy your college years more.
There are 149 student organizations and groups with open membership at this school. Sororities and fraternities are included in that number. At this school, 4% of male students are members of social organizations, while that percentage is 5 for female students. The student organization that is most favored by students is Game Design & Art Collaboration, followed by Film Production Coalition and College Panhellenic & Inter-Greek Council. Other popular organizations at University of California, Santa Cruz are Chinese Scholars & Student Association and Bayanihan.
For individuals with a passion for acting, there is a drama club available. 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 offers a number of services important for a pleasant and safe life on campus.
There are 24-hour emergency phone and alarm devices. The dormitory entrances are electronically operated. There is a security patrol that operates around the clock. The late-night transport/escort service is available.
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 all you need for a comfortable stay.
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 excellent 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 data indicate that the acceptance rate for University of California, Santa Cruz is 47%.
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The most recent reported freshman retention rate for University of California, Santa Cruz is 87.7%.
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.