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UC Riverside Tennessee Florida State Clemson UCSB Alabama UC Davis UofSC Cal Poly Georgia San Jose State UC Merced| Auburn University | University of California Santa Cruz | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Auburn | UCSC | ||
| Location | Auburn University, AL | Santa Cruz, CA | ||
| Setting | Small City | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 33,015 | 19,764 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #300 | #251 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | auburn.edu | ucsc.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Auburn | UCSC | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $10,704 | $11,834 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $32,112 | $42,611 | ||
| Room & Board | $15,396 | $18,785 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $24,524 | $16,526 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $11,644 | $21,564 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 75% | 65% |
Admission |
Auburn | UCSC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 48,178 | 68,845 | ||
| Admitted | 24,314 | 43,054 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 50.5% | 62.5% | ||
| Enrolled % | 24.4% | 10.2% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.97 | 3.63 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Very High | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | Low | ||
| ACT Range | 25/31 | 25/33 | ||
| SAT Range | 1240/1380 | 1160/1360 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) | ||
| Application Deadline | Feb 1, 2026 | Nov 30, 2025 |
Academics |
Auburn | UCSC | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 21:1 | 22:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Auburn | UCSC | ||
| Graduation Rate | 66% | 73% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $54,100 | $50,400 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 73% | 74% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $21,500 | $19,959 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $222 | $206 |
Diversity |
Auburn | UCSC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 9% | 5% | ||
| % Women | 10% | 5% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very Low | Very High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 84% | 33% | ||
| % Black | 7% | 2% | ||
| % Hispanic | 3% | 31% | ||
| % Native American | 1% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 1% | 7% | ||
| % International | 1% | 4% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 2% |
Students |
Auburn | UCSC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 54% | 91% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 46% | 7% | ||
Campus |
Auburn | UCSC | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Auburn University is larger than than UCSC based on total student enrollment (33,015 students vs. 19,764 students)
Auburn vs. UCSC Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Auburn or UCSC?
- University of California Santa Cruz is 10.6% more expensive to attend than Auburn for in-state tuition ($11,834.00 vs. $10,704.00)
- Out of state tuition is 32.7% higher at UCSC than Auburn University ($42,611.00 vs. $32,112.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of California Santa Cruz than Auburn ($16,526 vs. $24,524)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Auburn University are 22% lower than costs at University of California Santa Cruz ($15,396 vs. $18,785)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Auburn University than University of California Santa Cruz (75% vs. 65%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Santa Cruz students is 85.2% larger than aid received Auburn University ($21,564 vs. $11,644)
Auburn vs. UCSC Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Auburn or UCSC? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between UCSC or Auburn .
- The average SAT score at Auburn University (1218) is 17 points higher than at UCSC (1201)
- Incoming UCSC students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (28) than students at Auburn (27)
- Accepted freshman Auburn students have a 0.34 point higher average high school GPA (3.97) than students at UCSC (3.63)
- UCSC has a higher acceptance rate (62.5%) than Auburn (50.5%)
Auburn vs. UCSC Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Auburn or UCSC? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between UCSC and Auburn.
- The graduation rate at UCSC is higher than Auburn University (73% vs. 66%)
- Graduates from Auburn University earn on average $3,700 more per year than UCSC graduates after ten years. ($54,100 vs. $50,400)
- University of California Santa Cruz students graduate with a $1,541 lower median federal student loan debt than Auburn graduates. ($19,959 vs. $21,500)
- UCSC graduates are paying $16 less per month on federal student loans than Auburn graduates. ($206 vs. $222)
- More UCSC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Auburn students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 73%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/