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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 educational institution operates on 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. The transfer application deadline is November 30.
To find out more about what University of California, Santa Cruz has to offer to its students, read on for the latest data reported by this school.
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 school's criteria for admission, you can make a better judgment about your eligibility and boost your chances of getting accepted. How difficult is it to get admitted to University of California, Santa Cruz and what are the admission requirements?
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 are applying for a transfer, note that the application deadline is November 30.
Retention Rate
The freshman retention rate is defined as the percentage of first-year students who return for their sophomore year at a college or university. 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.
As reported in 2025, the freshman retention rate for University of California, Santa Cruz was 88%, reflecting the superb quality of the educational programs at this institution.
The graduation rate is another indicator to take into account. It reflects the proportion of students who obtain their degrees within the expected timeframe. At this academic institution, the proportion of students graduating in six years is 75%, which is considered an above-average graduation rate.
Student Body
Picking a school that is the right place for you is not a simple task. You can get a better insight into a school's culture and life by learning more about its student body.
Main Student Body
The total number of students enrolled at University of California, Santa Cruz in 2025 was 19,938.
That year, the school had 4.7% of students coming from another state. There was a total of 17,940 students working towards bachelor's 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
When it comes to improving a sense of inclusion and belonging among students, there is no denying the importance of student diversity. Diversity promotes critical thinking, challenges preconceived notions, and encourages intellectual growth, so it helps students develop empathy and a broader understanding of the world. Learn more about all the ethnic communities you might encounter at this institution.
This school had 4,362 Asian students and 370 Afro-American students in 2025. 5,136 undergraduate students at this school identified as Hispanic/Latino and 1,589 as multirace. The school also had 22 students who identified as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, and 28 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 407 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
Before sending an application to any college or university, the financial component should be taken into consideration. The most recent data reported regarding the expenses for attending this school are detailed below.
Tuition and Fees
Here are some numbers that can help you better understand the estimated tuition price for this university.
Tuition fees for area resident were $13,602, as reported by public county or municipal institutions. Tuition fees were $51,204 for students coming from a different state. 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 summed up to $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
When you try to estimate the cost of attendance for a college or university, you need to take into account 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 $1,257.
Boarding
Before you apply to a college or university, you should, among other things, think about the price of a dorm room and cafeteria meals. What is the typical amount colleges and universities charge for lodging and meals?
In 2025, the price of room and board at University of California, Santa Cruz was $20,928 per academic year.
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $ 13,602 |
| Room and Board | $ 20,928 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 1,257 |
| Total Expense | $ 35,787 |
Financial Aid
Grants, loans, scholarships, work-study programs: these are all types of financial help available to students. Check out some recent data to get informed about need-based and non-need-based aid available at University of California, Santa Cruz.
The most recent figures show that financial help was given to 2,251 freshmen.
Need-based
Need-based financial aid is exactly what it sounds like — it’s awarded based on the determined financial need.
There were 9,111 students who attained need-based financial aid of any kind. 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 added up to $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
Non-need-based financial aid is any type of financial aid provided to a student who does not meet the criteria for need-based aid. Non-need-based student aid typicaly comes in a form of 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 303 students overall (including freshmen) at University of California, Santa Cruz in 2025. 120 full-time freshmen were awarded institutional non-need-based scholarship or grant aid. 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
The student-to-faculty ratio can tell you a lot about the teaching resources a school provides for its students.
In 2025, this ratio at University of California, Santa Cruz was 22:1. That means that there were 22 times more students than teachers at this school. According to the most recent information, there are 1,007 faculty members at this school. Out of that number, there were 514 male and 493 female faculty members.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
Knowing what to expect out of campus life at a college or university can set you up for success. Find out some details about social life at University of California, Santa Cruz.
Its campus spans 2,000 acres.
Student Organizations
Involvement in student organizations can make your educational experience more dynamic and gratifying.
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.
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 a great asset 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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According to the latest information, the 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.
