UCSC vs. HIU

Should I go to University of California Santa Cruz or Hope International University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if UCSC or HIU is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.
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University of California Santa Cruz vs. Hope International University comparison
University of California Santa Cruz Hope International University College 3 College 4
University of California Santa Cruz Hope International University
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Overview

 UCSC HIU
Location Santa Cruz, CA Fullerton, CA
Setting Small City Midsize City
Enrollment 19,764 1,140
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #251 #935
Religious Affiliation - Christian Churches and Churches of Christ - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website ucsc.edu hiu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 UCSC HIU
Tuition (In State) $11,834 $35,000
Tuition (Out of State) $42,611 $35,000
Room & Board $18,785 $13,700
Avg Net Price $16,526 $30,514
Avg Grant Aid $21,564 $21,986
% Receiving Grant Aid 65% 100%

Admission

 UCSC HIU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 68,845 828
Admitted 43,054 293
Acceptance Rate 62.5% 35.4%
Enrolled % 10.2% 30%
Avg High School GPA 3.63 3.26
Typical High School Grades B+ B
Admissions Standards Very High Easy
Applicant Competition Low High
ACT Range 25/33
SAT Range 1160/1360 1000/1180
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Nov 30, 2025 Aug 20, 2026

Academics

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

Outcomes

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

Diversity

 UCSC HIU
% Men 5% 14%
% Women 5% 37%
Racial Diversity Very High Very High
HBCU No No
% White 33% 42%
% Black 2% 7%
% Hispanic 31% 21%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 1%
% Two or More Races 7% 11%
% International 4% 0%
% Unknown Race 2% 15%

Students

 UCSC HIU
% In-State 91% 82%
% Out-of-State 7% 10%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • University of California Santa Cruz is larger than than HIU based on total student enrollment (19,764 students vs. 1,140 students)

UCSC vs. HIU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UCSC or HIU?

  • Hope International University is 195.8% more expensive to attend than UCSC for in-state tuition ($35,000.00 vs. $11,834.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 21.7% higher at UCSC than Hope International University ($42,611.00 vs. $35,000.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of California Santa Cruz than HIU ($16,526 vs. $30,514)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Hope International University are 37.1% lower than costs at University of California Santa Cruz ($13,700 vs. $18,785)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Hope International University than University of California Santa Cruz (100% vs. 65%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Hope International University students is 2% larger than aid received University of California Santa Cruz ($21,986 vs. $21,564)

UCSC vs. HIU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UCSC or HIU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between HIU or UCSC .

  • The average SAT score at University of California Santa Cruz (1201) is 291 points higher than at HIU (910)
  • Incoming UCSC students have a 9 point higher average ACT score (28) than students at HIU (19)
  • 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 (62.5%) than HIU (35.4%)

UCSC vs. HIU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, UCSC or HIU? 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 HIU and UCSC.

  • The graduation rate at UCSC is higher than Hope International University (73% vs. 32%)
  • Graduates from University of California Santa Cruz earn on average $10,700 more per year than HIU graduates after ten years. ($50,400 vs. $39,700)
  • University of California Santa Cruz students graduate with a $6,041 lower median federal student loan debt than HIU graduates. ($19,959 vs. $26,000)
  • UCSC graduates are paying $62 less per month on federal student loans 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/