ASU vs. UCSC

Deciding between Arizona State University and University of California Santa Cruz? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Arizona State University
University of California Santa Cruz

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • ASU Tempe, AZ
  • UCSC Santa Cruz, CA
  • Setting
  • ASU Midsize City
  • UCSC Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • ASU 79,818
  • UCSC 19,938
  • Type
  • ASU Public 4 Year
  • UCSC Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • ASU #398
  • UCSC #255
  • Religious Affiliation
  • ASU -
  • UCSC -
  • Status
  • ASU Non-profit
  • UCSC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • ASU
  • UCSC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • ASU $12,223
  • UCSC $16,005
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • ASU $33,139
  • UCSC $50,205
  • Room & Board
  • ASU $16,712
  • UCSC $19,948
  • Average Net Price
  • ASU $17,779
  • UCSC $18,059
  • Average Grant Aid
  • ASU $12,172
  • UCSC $22,774
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • ASU 89%
  • UCSC 57%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • ASU 70,928
  • UCSC 71,722
  • Admitted
  • ASU 63,756
  • UCSC 47,186
  • Acceptance Rate
  • ASU 89.9%
  • UCSC 65.8%
  • Enrolled
  • ASU 22.1%
  • UCSC 9.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • ASU 1210
  • UCSC 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • ASU 24
  • UCSC 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • ASU 3.54
  • UCSC 3.63
  • Typical High School Grades
  • ASU A-
  • UCSC A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • ASU Challenging
  • UCSC Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • ASU
  • UCSC Low
  • ACT Range
  • ASU 21/28
  • UCSC 25/33
  • SAT Range
  • ASU 1100/1320
  • UCSC 1160/1360
  • Submit Test Scores
  • ASU Test optional
  • UCSC Test-free
  • Application Deadline
  • ASU
  • UCSC Nov 30, 2026

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • ASU 18:1
  • UCSC 22:1
  • Popular Majors
  • ASU
    • Business (20%)
    • Social Sciences (8%)
    • General Studies (8%)
    • Education (7%)
    • Communication (7%)
  • UCSC
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Biology (14%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
    • Business (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • ASU 57%
  • UCSC 73%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • ASU $52,600
  • UCSC $50,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • ASU 57%
  • UCSC 74%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • ASU $20,278
  • UCSC $19,959
  • Median Loan Payment
  • ASU $209
  • UCSC $206

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • ASU 52%
  • UCSC 48%
  • % Women
  • ASU 48%
  • UCSC 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • ASU High
  • UCSC Very High
  • HBCU
  • ASU No
  • UCSC No
  • % White
  • ASU 52%
  • UCSC 33%
  • % Asian
  • ASU 7%
  • UCSC 21%
  • % Black
  • ASU 4%
  • UCSC 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • ASU 19%
  • UCSC 31%
  • % Native American
  • ASU 1%
  • UCSC 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • ASU 0%
  • UCSC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • ASU 4%
  • UCSC 7%
  • % International
  • ASU 12%
  • UCSC 4%
  • % Unknown Race
  • ASU 1%
  • UCSC 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • ASU 63%
  • UCSC 92%
  • % Out-of-State
  • ASU 30%
  • UCSC 5%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • ASU Yes
  • UCSC Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • ASU No
  • UCSC No
  • Meal Plan
  • ASU Yes
  • UCSC Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • ASU Yes
  • UCSC No
  • Daycare Facility
  • ASU Yes
  • UCSC Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare Arizona State University in Tempe, AZ with University of California Santa Cruz in Santa Cruz, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Arizona State University is larger than UCSC based on total student enrollment (79,818 students vs. 19,938 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Arizona State University is located in Tempe, AZ (Midsize City setting); University of California Santa Cruz is in Santa Cruz, CA (Small City setting).
  • Arizona State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of California Santa Cruz is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Arizona State University 18:1; University of California Santa Cruz 22:1.

ASU vs. UCSC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ASU or UCSC? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Arizona State University than UCSC ($17,779 vs. $18,059).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Arizona State University are 16.2% lower than at University of California Santa Cruz ($16,712 vs. $19,948).
  • University of California Santa Cruz is 30.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than ASU (about $3,782 more per year; $16,005.00 vs. $12,223.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 51.5% higher at UCSC than at Arizona State University (about $17,066 more per year; $50,205.00 vs. $33,139.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Arizona State University than at University of California Santa Cruz (89% vs. 57%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Santa Cruz students is 87.1% larger than aid received by Arizona State University students ($22,774 vs. $12,172).

ASU vs. UCSC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, ASU or UCSC? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between UCSC and ASU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of California Santa Cruz (1260) is 50 points higher than at ASU (1210).
  • Incoming UCSC students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 vs. 24 at ASU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Arizona State University 1100/1320; University of California Santa Cruz 1160/1360.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Arizona State University 21/28; University of California Santa Cruz 25/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: ASU - Test optional; UCSC - Test-free.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UCSC Nov 30, 2026.
  • Accepted freshman UCSC students have a 0.09 point higher average high school GPA (3.63) than students at ASU (3.54).
  • ASU has a higher acceptance rate (89.9%) than UCSC (65.8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 22.1% at ASU vs. 9.3% at UCSC.

ASU vs. UCSC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ASU and UCSC? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • University of California Santa Cruz's six-year graduation rate (73%) is higher than Arizona State University's (57%).
  • Graduates from Arizona State University earn a median of about $2,200 more per year than UCSC graduates about ten years after starting college ($52,600 vs. $50,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Santa Cruz graduates have a $319 lower median loan debt than ASU graduates ($19,959 vs. $20,278).
  • Among borrowers, UCSC graduates have an estimated $3 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than ASU graduates ($206 vs. $209).
  • More UCSC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ASU students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 57%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.