University of California-Santa Cruz
A good fit for students who want a large campus community and in-state California residents. no major red flags in the data. strong 75% graduation rate.
About This School
University of California-Santa Cruz is a public institution located in Santa Cruz, California with approximately 17,940 undergraduate students enrolled. University of California-Santa Cruz has an open or accessible admissions process, with an acceptance rate of 66%. The average net price after financial aid is $17,890 per year. The graduation rate is 75%, and the typical graduate earns $53,800 within 10 years of enrollment.
The University of California, Santa Cruz is a public land-grant research university in Santa Cruz, California, United States. It is one of the ten campuses in the University of California system. Located in Monterey Bay, on the edge of the coastal community of Santa Cruz, the main campus lies on 2,001 acres (810 ha) of rolling, forested hills overlooking the Pacific Ocean. As of Fall 2024, its ten residential colleges enroll some 17,940 undergraduate and 1,998 graduate students. Satellite facilities in other Santa Cruz locations include the Coastal Science Campus and the Westside Research Park and the Silicon Valley Center in Santa Clara, along with administrative control of the Lick Observatory near San Jose in the Diablo Range and the Keck Observatory near the summit of Mauna Kea in Hawaii.
Nestled on a stunning forested hillside above the Pacific, this UC campus offers a genuinely distinctive college experience through its residential college system and strong programs in fields like marine biology, computer science, and the arts. The numbers tell a mostly positive story — a 90% freshman retention rate suggests students are happy once they arrive, and median debt of $16,666 at graduation is quite manageable. The one soft spot worth watching is the 74% graduation rate, which trails some UC peers, so ask admissions about support systems and four-year graduation planning before committing.
Popular Programs
Percentage of degrees awarded. Source: College Scorecard.
Notable Alumni
Source: Wikidata. Used for context only.
Admissions
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
What This School Looks For
From the school's most recent Common Data Set (2024-25). What the admissions office actually weighs:
Cost & Financial Aid
Net Price by Family Income
Average annual cost after grants/scholarships, by household income. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Financial Aid
Full Cost
After Graduation
Earnings 6 Years After Enrollment, by Gender
Gap: 15% less for female graduates. National avg ~16%.
Will This School Pay Off?
Strong return. Graduates earn well above their debt load.
Earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. These are means across all graduates, not specific to any major.
Student Body
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (17,940 undergraduates).
In the Classroom & On Campus
Class size distribution
Source: University of California-Santa Cruz Common Data Set (2024-25).
Contact & Location
Address
University of California-Santa Cruz
1156 High St
Santa Cruz, CA 95064-1011
Official Links
Other Schools in California
California State University-Fullerton
Fullerton, CA · Public
California State University-Long Beach
Long Beach, CA · Public
San Diego State University
San Diego, CA · Public
University of California-San Diego
La Jolla, CA · Public
University of California-Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA · Public
University of California-Berkeley
Berkeley, CA · Public
Sources & Methodology
Primary data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Accessed via automated sync. Latest values may come from different reporting years depending on the metric.
School overview from Wikipedia. Used for context only, not as a primary data source for admissions, cost, or outcomes claims.
- Earnings figures are institution-level averages, not major-specific.
- Some metrics are based on Title IV financial aid recipients only.
- Some values may be privacy-suppressed or rolled up by the Department of Education.
- Contact the school directly for current admissions requirements and costs.
All school names, logos, and trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Their use on this page is for identification purposes only and does not imply endorsement or affiliation with CollegeHelpGuide.