A college's ethnic diversity is indicated by the student body's equal inclusion of students from different backgrounds . Students at UCSC are predominantly White with a significant Hispanic population. The school has very high racial diversity. 67% percent of students are minorities or people of color (BIPOC). The ethnic breakdown is detailed in the following table.
University of California Santa Cruz has been designated as a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) and is eligible for federal grants supporting the school's efforts to serve Hispanic Americans.
| Race | Percent of Students |
|---|---|
| White |
33%
|
| Black |
2%
|
| Hispanic |
31%
|
| Asian |
21%
|
| American Indian / Alaskan |
0%
|
| Hawaiian / Pacific Islander |
0%
|
| Two or more races |
7%
|
| International |
4%
|
| Race Unknown |
2%
|
There are 15% more male students than female students enrolled at University of California Santa Cruz with a gender ratio of 5% men to 5% women. Compared to the US average of 56% female students, UCSC has a significantly lower gender diversity than other US colleges and is not inclusive of females.
| Gender | Percent of Students |
|---|---|
| Men |
5%
|
| Women |
5%
|
| Gender | Number of Students |
|---|---|
| Men |
1,046
|
| Women |
906
|
UCSC serves a very low number of students outside of California, with 91 percent of the student body residing in-state.
| Origin | Percent of Students |
|---|---|
| In State |
91%
|
| Out of State |
7%
|
| Foreign |
2%
|
| Unknown Location |
0%
|
32% of students can be considered low-income as indicated by their receipt of Federal Pell Grant Aid.
| Segment | Percent of Students |
|---|---|
| Students Over 25 Years Old | 4.5% |
| Part time Undergrads | 2.5% |
Primary data source, U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=110714 IPEDS survey data for University of California Santa Cruz.
Last updated February 24, 2025