UCSC vs. Miami

Comparable Facts

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

University of California Santa Cruz is larger than Miami based on total student enrollment (19,938 students vs. 18,838 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of California Santa Cruz is located in Santa Cruz, CA (Small City setting); Miami University Oxford is in Oxford, OH (Distant Town setting).
• University of California Santa Cruz is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Miami University Oxford is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of California Santa Cruz 22:1; Miami University Oxford 16:1.

UCSC vs. Miami Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UCSC or Miami? 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 Miami ($18,059 vs. $28,229).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Miami University Oxford are 16% lower than at University of California Santa Cruz ($16,750 vs. $19,948).
• Miami University Oxford is 13.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than UCSC (about $2,156 more per year; $18,161.00 vs. $16,005.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 21.8% higher at UCSC than at Miami University Oxford (about $8,984 more per year; $50,205.00 vs. $41,221.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Miami University Oxford than at University of California Santa Cruz (93% vs. 57%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Santa Cruz students is 63.4% larger than aid received by Miami University Oxford students ($22,774 vs. $13,937).

UCSC vs. Miami Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Miami University Oxford (1310) is 50 points higher than at UCSC (1260).
• Incoming UCSC students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 vs. 27 at Miami).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Santa Cruz 1160/1360; Miami University Oxford 1220/1390.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Santa Cruz 25/33; Miami University Oxford 25/30.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UCSC - Test-free; Miami - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: UCSC Nov 30, 2026; Miami Feb 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Miami students have a 0.22 point higher average high school GPA (3.85) than students at UCSC (3.63).
• Miami has a higher acceptance rate (75.4%) than UCSC (65.8%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.3% at UCSC vs. 14% at Miami.

UCSC vs. Miami Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UCSC and Miami? 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).

• Miami University Oxford's six-year graduation rate (81%) is higher than University of California Santa Cruz's (73%).
• Graduates from Miami University Oxford earn a median of about $3,900 more per year than UCSC graduates about ten years after starting college ($54,300 vs. $50,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Santa Cruz graduates have a $4,791 lower median loan debt than Miami graduates ($19,959 vs. $24,750).
• Among borrowers, UCSC graduates have an estimated $49 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Miami graduates ($206 vs. $255).
• More UCSC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Miami 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.