University of California Santa Cruz

7/10 Overall Rating
4 Year
Santa Cruz, CA
4.3 6 reviews

#8 Best Public Universities in California

Overview Admission Cost Majors Diversity Outcomes Salaries Location Compare Reviews Admission Calculator

Overview

Total enrollment

19,938

Location Santa Cruz, California
Website ucsc.edu
Type Public 4 Year
Setting Small City

Best Colleges Rank

#255

Size Mid-size
Status Non-profit
Housing Yes
Level of Study Undergrad/Graduate

The University of California Santa Cruz, established in 1965, is situated on 2,000 acres of rolling hills overlooking Monterey Bay, approximately 75 miles south of San Francisco. The campus, known for its modernist architecture integrated into a redwood forest setting, combines several residential colleges with research facilities and academic buildings. As part of the University of California system, UC Santa Cruz maintains selective admission standards and is recognized for its strengths in marine sciences, astronomy, environmental studies, and game design. The university operates its own marine laboratory at nearby A�o Nuevo Island and houses significant research facilities, including the Center for Adaptive Optics and the Long Marine Laboratory. Students typically live in one of ten residential colleges that provide both housing and academic communities, with most first-year students residing on campus.

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Ratings

UCSC is rated within the top 34% of four-year colleges nationally and earns a CollegeSimply grade of 7 out of 10.

Overall Rating

7 out of 10
Academics

9 out of 10
Resources

5 out of 10
Outcomes

7 out of 10
Value

9 out of 10

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Rankings

Rankings for University of California Santa Cruz within the 2027 CollegeSimply Best Colleges Lists.

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Admissions

Admission Standards

Very High

GPA 3.63

Acceptance Rate

65.8%

Applications Due Nov 30, 2026
Enrollment Rate 9.3%
Application Fee $80

Applicant Competition Low

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Annual Cost to Attend

California Resident Tuition

$16,005

Out of State Resident Tuition

$50,205

Breakdown

Tuition $16,005
Books and Supplies $1,192
Other Fees $2,859
Room and Board $19,948
Budget for Other Expenses $6,902
Total One Year Cost $46,906

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Student Outcomes

Average Salary After 10 Years

$50,400 per year

Bachelor's Degree Graduation Rate

73% within 6 years

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Popular Areas of Study

Popular majors at University of California Santa Cruz are Social Sciences, Biology, and Psychology. 17% of students major in Social Sciences, 14% in Biology, and 11% in Psychology.