UCSC vs. Mount Saint Mary's University

Comparable Facts

Compare University of California Santa Cruz in Santa Cruz, CA with Mount Saint Mary's University in Los Angeles, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of California Santa Cruz is larger than Mount Saint Mary's University based on total student enrollment (19,938 students vs. 2,312 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of California Santa Cruz is located in Santa Cruz, CA (Small City setting); Mount Saint Mary's University is in Los Angeles, CA (Large City setting).
• University of California Santa Cruz is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Mount Saint Mary's University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of California Santa Cruz 22:1; Mount Saint Mary's University 8:1.

UCSC vs. Mount Saint Mary's University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UCSC or Mount Saint Mary's University? 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 Mount Saint Mary's University ($18,059 vs. $27,368).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Mount Saint Mary's University are 22.2% lower than at University of California Santa Cruz ($15,518 vs. $19,948).
• Mount Saint Mary's University is 209.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than UCSC (about $33,559 more per year; $49,564.00 vs. $16,005.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 1.3% higher at UCSC than at Mount Saint Mary's University (about $641 more per year; $50,205.00 vs. $49,564.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Mount Saint Mary's University than at University of California Santa Cruz (100% vs. 57%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Mount Saint Mary's University students is 72.2% larger than aid received by University of California Santa Cruz students ($39,218 vs. $22,774).

UCSC vs. Mount Saint Mary's University Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UCSC or Mount Saint Mary's University? 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 Mount Saint Mary's University and UCSC.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of California Santa Cruz (1260) is 250 points higher than at Mount Saint Mary's University (1010).
• Incoming UCSC students have a 9 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 vs. 20 at Mount Saint Mary's University).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Santa Cruz 1160/1360; Mount Saint Mary's University 900/1110.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Santa Cruz 25/33; Mount Saint Mary's University 18/23.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UCSC - Test-free; Mount Saint Mary's University - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: UCSC Nov 30, 2026.
• Accepted freshman UCSC students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.63) than students at Mount Saint Mary's University (3.59).
• Mount Saint Mary's University has a higher acceptance rate (73.1%) than UCSC (65.8%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.3% at UCSC vs. 12% at Mount Saint Mary's University.

UCSC vs. Mount Saint Mary's University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UCSC and Mount Saint Mary's University? 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 Mount Saint Mary's University's (47%).
• Graduates from Mount Saint Mary's University earn a median of about $8,600 more per year than UCSC graduates about ten years after starting college ($59,000 vs. $50,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Santa Cruz graduates have a $5,041 lower median loan debt than Mount Saint Mary's University graduates ($19,959 vs. $25,000).
• Among borrowers, UCSC graduates have an estimated $52 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Mount Saint Mary's University graduates ($206 vs. $258).
• More UCSC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Mount Saint Mary's University students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 59%)

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.