UC Berkeley vs. UCSC

Comparable Facts

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

University of California Berkeley is larger than UCSC based on total student enrollment (45,882 students vs. 19,938 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of California Berkeley is located in Berkeley, CA (Midsize City setting); University of California Santa Cruz is in Santa Cruz, CA (Small City setting).
• University of California Berkeley 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: University of California Berkeley 18:1; University of California Santa Cruz 22:1.

UC Berkeley vs. UCSC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UC Berkeley 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 University of California Berkeley than UCSC ($16,538 vs. $18,059).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of California Santa Cruz are 16% lower than at University of California Berkeley ($19,948 vs. $23,750).
• University of California Berkeley is 2.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than UCSC (about $342 more per year; $16,347.00 vs. $16,005.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 0.7% higher at UC Berkeley than at University of California Santa Cruz (about $342 more per year; $50,547.00 vs. $50,205.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of California Santa Cruz than at University of California Berkeley (57% vs. 53%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Berkeley students is 30% larger than aid received by University of California Santa Cruz students ($29,608 vs. $22,774).

UC Berkeley vs. UCSC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UC Berkeley 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 UC Berkeley.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of California Berkeley (1420) is 160 points higher than at UCSC (1260).
• Incoming UC Berkeley students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 29 at UCSC).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Berkeley 1310/1530; University of California Santa Cruz 1160/1360.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Berkeley 30/35; University of California Santa Cruz 25/33.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UC Berkeley - Test-free; UCSC - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: UC Berkeley Nov 30, 2026; UCSC Nov 30, 2026.
• Accepted freshman UC Berkeley students have a 0.24 point higher average high school GPA (3.87) than students at UCSC (3.63).
• UCSC has a higher acceptance rate (65.8%) than UC Berkeley (11%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 46% at UC Berkeley vs. 9.3% at UCSC.

UC Berkeley vs. UCSC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UC Berkeley 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 Berkeley's six-year graduation rate (90%) is higher than University of California Santa Cruz's (73%).
• Graduates from University of California Berkeley earn a median of about $24,300 more per year than UCSC graduates about ten years after starting college ($74,700 vs. $50,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Berkeley graduates have a $5,759 lower median loan debt than UCSC graduates ($14,200 vs. $19,959).
• Among borrowers, UC Berkeley graduates have an estimated $60 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UCSC graduates ($146 vs. $206).
• More UC Berkeley graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UCSC students, three years after graduation. (79% vs. 74%)

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.