UCSC vs. HIU

Deciding between University of California Santa Cruz and Hope International University? 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.

University of California Santa Cruz
Hope International University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • UCSC Santa Cruz, CA
  • HIU Fullerton, CA
  • Setting
  • UCSC Small City
  • HIU Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • UCSC 19,938
  • HIU 1,025
  • Type
  • UCSC Public 4 Year
  • HIU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UCSC #255
  • HIU #909
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UCSC -
  • HIU Christian Churches and Churches of Christ
  • Status
  • UCSC Non-profit
  • HIU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UCSC
  • HIU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UCSC $16,005
  • HIU $38,050
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UCSC $50,205
  • HIU $38,050
  • Room & Board
  • UCSC $19,948
  • HIU $12,950
  • Average Net Price
  • UCSC $18,059
  • HIU $29,896
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UCSC $22,774
  • HIU $22,474
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UCSC 57%
  • HIU 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UCSC 71,722
  • HIU 940
  • Admitted
  • UCSC 47,186
  • HIU 310
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UCSC 65.8%
  • HIU 33%
  • Enrolled
  • UCSC 9.3%
  • HIU 38.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UCSC 1260
  • HIU 1030
  • Typical ACT score
  • UCSC 29
  • HIU
  • Average High School GPA
  • UCSC 3.63
  • HIU 3.26
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UCSC A-
  • HIU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • UCSC Very High
  • HIU Moderate
  • Applicant Competition
  • UCSC Low
  • HIU High
  • ACT Range
  • UCSC 25/33
  • HIU
  • SAT Range
  • UCSC 1160/1360
  • HIU 840/1220
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UCSC Test-free
  • HIU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UCSC Nov 30, 2026
  • HIU Aug 20, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UCSC 22:1
  • HIU 13:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UCSC
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Biology (14%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
    • Business (9%)
  • HIU
    • Theology and Religious Vvocations (36%)
    • Work and Family Studies (18%)
    • Business (18%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UCSC 73%
  • HIU 32%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UCSC $50,400
  • HIU $39,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UCSC 74%
  • HIU 58%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UCSC $19,959
  • HIU $26,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UCSC $206
  • HIU $268

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UCSC 48%
  • HIU 38%
  • % Women
  • UCSC 52%
  • HIU 62%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UCSC Very High
  • HIU High
  • HBCU
  • UCSC No
  • HIU No
  • % White
  • UCSC 33%
  • HIU 42%
  • % Asian
  • UCSC 21%
  • HIU 3%
  • % Black
  • UCSC 2%
  • HIU 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • UCSC 31%
  • HIU 21%
  • % Native American
  • UCSC 0%
  • HIU 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UCSC 0%
  • HIU 1%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UCSC 7%
  • HIU 11%
  • % International
  • UCSC 4%
  • HIU 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UCSC 2%
  • HIU 15%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UCSC 92%
  • HIU 89%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UCSC 5%
  • HIU 9%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

University of California Santa Cruz is larger than HIU based on total student enrollment (19,938 students vs. 1,025 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of California Santa Cruz is located in Santa Cruz, CA (Small City setting); Hope International University is in Fullerton, CA (Midsize City setting).
  • University of California Santa Cruz is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Hope International University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of California Santa Cruz 22:1; Hope International University 13:1.

UCSC vs. HIU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UCSC or HIU? 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 Santa Cruz than HIU ($18,059 vs. $29,896).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Hope International University are 35.1% lower than at University of California Santa Cruz ($12,950 vs. $19,948).
  • Hope International University is 137.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than UCSC (about $22,045 more per year; $38,050.00 vs. $16,005.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 31.9% higher at UCSC than at Hope International University (about $12,155 more per year; $50,205.00 vs. $38,050.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Hope International University than at University of California Santa Cruz (100% vs. 57%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Santa Cruz students is 1.3% larger than aid received by Hope International University students ($22,774 vs. $22,474).

UCSC vs. HIU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UCSC or HIU? 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 HIU and UCSC.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of California Santa Cruz (1260) is 230 points higher than at HIU (1030).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Santa Cruz 1160/1360; Hope International University 840/1220.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Santa Cruz 25/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UCSC - Test-free; HIU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UCSC Nov 30, 2026; HIU Aug 20, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman UCSC students have a 0.37 point higher average high school GPA (3.63) than students at HIU (3.26).
  • UCSC has a higher acceptance rate (65.8%) than HIU (33%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.3% at UCSC vs. 38.4% at HIU.

UCSC vs. HIU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UCSC and HIU? 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 Hope International University's (32%).
  • Graduates from University of California Santa Cruz earn a median of about $10,700 more per year than HIU graduates about ten years after starting college ($50,400 vs. $39,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Santa Cruz graduates have a $6,041 lower median loan debt than HIU graduates ($19,959 vs. $26,000).
  • Among borrowers, UCSC graduates have an estimated $62 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than HIU graduates ($206 vs. $268).
  • More UCSC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former HIU students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 58%)

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.