UCSC vs. Oxy

Deciding between University of California Santa Cruz and Occidental College? 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
Occidental College

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • UCSC Santa Cruz, CA
  • Oxy Los Angeles, CA
  • Setting
  • UCSC Small City
  • Oxy Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • UCSC 19,938
  • Oxy 1,881
  • Type
  • UCSC Public 4 Year
  • Oxy Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UCSC #255
  • Oxy #75
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UCSC -
  • Oxy -
  • Status
  • UCSC Non-profit
  • Oxy Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UCSC
  • Oxy

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UCSC $16,005
  • Oxy $66,274
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UCSC $50,205
  • Oxy $66,274
  • Room & Board
  • UCSC $19,948
  • Oxy $19,252
  • Average Net Price
  • UCSC $18,059
  • Oxy $48,400
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UCSC $22,774
  • Oxy $36,400
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UCSC 57%
  • Oxy 75%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UCSC 71,722
  • Oxy 6,461
  • Admitted
  • UCSC 47,186
  • Oxy 2,854
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UCSC 65.8%
  • Oxy 44.2%
  • Enrolled
  • UCSC 9.3%
  • Oxy 17.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UCSC 1260
  • Oxy 1450
  • Typical ACT score
  • UCSC 29
  • Oxy 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • UCSC 3.63
  • Oxy 3.63
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UCSC A-
  • Oxy A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • UCSC Very High
  • Oxy Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • UCSC Low
  • Oxy Low
  • ACT Range
  • UCSC 25/33
  • Oxy 31/34
  • SAT Range
  • UCSC 1160/1360
  • Oxy 1380/1520
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UCSC Test-free
  • Oxy Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UCSC Nov 30, 2026
  • Oxy Jan 10, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UCSC 22:1
  • Oxy 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UCSC
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Biology (14%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
    • Business (9%)
  • Oxy
    • Social Sciences (32%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Biology (7%)
    • Foreign Languages (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UCSC 73%
  • Oxy 83%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UCSC $50,400
  • Oxy $56,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UCSC 74%
  • Oxy 87%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UCSC $19,959
  • Oxy $23,652
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UCSC $206
  • Oxy $244

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UCSC 48%
  • Oxy 41%
  • % Women
  • UCSC 52%
  • Oxy 59%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UCSC Very High
  • Oxy High
  • HBCU
  • UCSC No
  • Oxy No
  • % White
  • UCSC 33%
  • Oxy 49%
  • % Asian
  • UCSC 21%
  • Oxy 13%
  • % Black
  • UCSC 2%
  • Oxy 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • UCSC 31%
  • Oxy 16%
  • % Native American
  • UCSC 0%
  • Oxy 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UCSC 0%
  • Oxy 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UCSC 7%
  • Oxy 9%
  • % International
  • UCSC 4%
  • Oxy 6%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UCSC 2%
  • Oxy 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UCSC 92%
  • Oxy 43%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UCSC 5%
  • Oxy 49%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of California Santa Cruz in Santa Cruz, CA with Occidental College 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 Oxy based on total student enrollment (19,938 students vs. 1,881 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of California Santa Cruz is located in Santa Cruz, CA (Small City setting); Occidental College is in Los Angeles, CA (Large City setting).
  • University of California Santa Cruz is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Occidental College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of California Santa Cruz 22:1; Occidental College 9:1.

UCSC vs. Oxy Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UCSC or Oxy? 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 Oxy ($18,059 vs. $48,400).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Occidental College are 3.5% lower than at University of California Santa Cruz ($19,252 vs. $19,948).
  • Occidental College is 314.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than UCSC (about $50,269 more per year; $66,274.00 vs. $16,005.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 32% higher at Oxy than at University of California Santa Cruz (about $16,069 more per year; $66,274.00 vs. $50,205.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Occidental College than at University of California Santa Cruz (75% vs. 57%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Occidental College students is 59.8% larger than aid received by University of California Santa Cruz students ($36,400 vs. $22,774).

UCSC vs. Oxy Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Occidental College (1450) is 190 points higher than at UCSC (1260).
  • Incoming Oxy 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 Santa Cruz 1160/1360; Occidental College 1380/1520.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Santa Cruz 25/33; Occidental College 31/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UCSC - Test-free; Oxy - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UCSC Nov 30, 2026; Oxy Jan 10, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman UCSC students have the same average high school GPA (3.63) as students at Oxy (3.63).
  • UCSC has a higher acceptance rate (65.8%) than Oxy (44.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.3% at UCSC vs. 17.8% at Oxy.

UCSC vs. Oxy Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UCSC and Oxy? 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).

  • Occidental College's six-year graduation rate (83%) is higher than University of California Santa Cruz's (73%).
  • Graduates from Occidental College earn a median of about $6,200 more per year than UCSC graduates about ten years after starting college ($56,600 vs. $50,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Santa Cruz graduates have a $3,693 lower median loan debt than Oxy graduates ($19,959 vs. $23,652).
  • Among borrowers, UCSC graduates have an estimated $38 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Oxy graduates ($206 vs. $244).
  • More Oxy graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UCSC students, three years after graduation. (87% 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.