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University of California-Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz, CA · Public · Small city · Carnegie R1/R2 · UC Santa Cruz · UCSC

Public institution in Santa Cruz, CA · 17,812 undergraduates · 63% acceptance rate · $68,396 median earnings 10 years after entry.

Stats

College Scorecard figures, each with where this school sits nationally among institutions that report the same measure. A dash means the school does not report it.

Cost

Average net price
$16,607801st cheapest of 1,985 reporting
In-state tuition & fees
$14,560925th cheapest of 2,042 reporting
Out-of-state tuition & fees
$45,3371,749th cheapest of 2,042 reporting
Cost of attendance
$38,6491,180th cheapest of 1,985 reporting
Median graduate debt
$16,666389th lowest of 1,880 reporting

Outcomes

Median earnings, 10 years after entry
$68,396311th highest of 1,969 reporting
Median earnings, 6 years after entry
$49,716559th highest of 1,964 reporting
Graduation rate (4-year)
74.5%312th highest of 2,031 reporting
Full-time retention
89.7%257th highest of 1,853 reporting

Admissions

Acceptance rate
62.5%452nd most selective of 1,608 reporting
Average SAT
—
Median ACT
—

Campus

Undergraduates
17,812136th largest of 2,162 reporting
Student-faculty ratio
22.0:11,989th smallest of 2,159 reporting
Pell Grant share
31.8%1,109th highest of 2,140 reporting

Nearest large-hub airport: 47 mi (SFO)

On 2 of our 111 lists

Every published ranking this school appears on, with its rank there.

Applying

Common App member
No
Application fee
—
Personal essay
—
Writing supplement
—

Supplemental prompts (2025-26)

  • You will have 8 questions to choose from. You must respond to only 4 of the 8 questions. Each response is limited to a maximum of 350 words.
  • Describe an example of your leadership experience in which you have positively influenced others, helped resolve disputes or contributed to group efforts over time.
  • Every person has a creative side, and it can be expressed in many ways: problem solving, original and innovative thinking, and artistically, to name a few. Describe how you express your creative side.
  • What would you say is your greatest talent or skill? How have you developed and demonstrated that talent over time?
  • Describe how you have taken advantage of a significant educational opportunity or worked to overcome an educational barrier you have faced.
  • Describe the most significant challenge you have faced and the steps you have taken to overcome this challenge. How has this challenge affected your academic achievement?
  • Think about an academic subject that inspires you. Describe how you have furthered this interest inside and/or outside of the classroom.
  • What have you done to make your school or your community a better place?
  • Beyond what has already been shared in your application, what do you believe makes you a strong candidate for admissions to the University of California?

Source: UC Personal Insight Questions (official)

Deadlines and essay flags come from the Common App Requirements Grid, joined by school name. Always confirm against the school’s own admissions page before applying.

Best-paying fields of study

Median earnings one and two years after graduating, by field. Showing 12 of 53 reported programs.

FieldLevel1 yr2 yr
Computer EngineeringEngineeringbachelors$71,575$79,150
Electrical, Electronics and Communications EngineeringEngineeringbachelors$66,236$69,338
Computer Sciencebachelors$65,585$63,530
Computer/Information Technology Administration and ManagementComputer Sciencebachelors$61,516$60,185
Biomedical/Medical EngineeringEngineeringbachelors$53,358$48,823
Business/Managerial EconomicsBusinessbachelors$52,385$51,607
ChemistryPhysical Sciencesbachelors$42,682$36,938
EconomicsSocial Sciencesbachelors$42,363$44,356
Geological and Earth Sciences/GeosciencesPhysical Sciencesbachelors$41,789$39,009
Neurobiology and NeurosciencesBiological Sciencesbachelors$37,928$33,459
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular BiologyBiological Sciencesbachelors$36,848$35,060
Non-Professional General Legal Studies (Undergraduate)Legal Professionsbachelors$36,282$34,704

Campus facts

Athletics — 7 sports

NCAA Division III without football · NCAA Division III

Athletic scholarships not allowed · Athletic aid $0 (M $0 · W $0)

Self-reported EADA participants (2024-2025). Athletic aid is institution-level, not per sport. Athletic scholarships are not allowed by association rule; non-athletic merit or need-based aid may still be available.

Notable alumni

Illustrative alumni only — not exhaustive and not a quality ranking. Affiliation claims cite Wikipedia/Wikidata; confirm on primary bios before relying on them.