UCSC vs. PUC

Deciding between University of California Santa Cruz and Pacific Union 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
Pacific Union College

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UCSC Santa Cruz, CA
  • PUC Angwin, CA
  • Setting
  • UCSC Small City
  • PUC Rural Fringe
  • Total enrollment
  • UCSC 19,938
  • PUC 974
  • Type
  • UCSC Public 4 Year
  • PUC Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UCSC #255
  • PUC
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UCSC -
  • PUC Seventh Day Adventists
  • Status
  • UCSC Non-profit
  • PUC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UCSC
  • PUC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UCSC $16,005
  • PUC $37,173
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UCSC $50,205
  • PUC $37,173
  • Room & Board
  • UCSC $19,948
  • PUC $9,816
  • Average Net Price
  • UCSC $18,059
  • PUC $22,767
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UCSC $22,774
  • PUC $26,629
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UCSC 57%
  • PUC 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UCSC 71,722
  • PUC 1,313
  • Admitted
  • UCSC 47,186
  • PUC 621
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UCSC 65.8%
  • PUC 47.3%
  • Enrolled
  • UCSC 9.3%
  • PUC 14%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UCSC 1260
  • PUC 1060
  • Typical ACT score
  • UCSC 29
  • PUC 22
  • Average High School GPA
  • UCSC 3.63
  • PUC 3.24
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UCSC A-
  • PUC B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • UCSC Very High
  • PUC Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • UCSC Low
  • PUC Low
  • ACT Range
  • UCSC 25/33
  • PUC 20/24
  • SAT Range
  • UCSC 1160/1360
  • PUC 930/1190
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UCSC Test-free
  • PUC Test-free
  • Application Deadline
  • UCSC Nov 30, 2026
  • PUC

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UCSC 22:1
  • PUC 12:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UCSC
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Biology (14%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
    • Business (9%)
  • PUC
    • Health Professions (41%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
    • Education (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UCSC 73%
  • PUC 45%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UCSC $50,400
  • PUC $59,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UCSC 74%
  • PUC 57%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UCSC $19,959
  • PUC $30,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UCSC $206
  • PUC $310

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UCSC 48%
  • PUC 39%
  • % Women
  • UCSC 52%
  • PUC 61%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UCSC Very High
  • PUC Very High
  • HBCU
  • UCSC No
  • PUC No
  • % White
  • UCSC 33%
  • PUC 26%
  • % Asian
  • UCSC 21%
  • PUC 20%
  • % Black
  • UCSC 2%
  • PUC 9%
  • % Hispanic
  • UCSC 31%
  • PUC 28%
  • % Native American
  • UCSC 0%
  • PUC 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UCSC 0%
  • PUC 2%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UCSC 7%
  • PUC 7%
  • % International
  • UCSC 4%
  • PUC 3%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UCSC 2%
  • PUC 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UCSC 92%
  • PUC 72%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UCSC 5%
  • PUC 21%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of California Santa Cruz in Santa Cruz, CA with Pacific Union College in Angwin, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of California Santa Cruz is larger than PUC based on total student enrollment (19,938 students vs. 974 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of California Santa Cruz is located in Santa Cruz, CA (Small City setting); Pacific Union College is in Angwin, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
  • University of California Santa Cruz is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Pacific Union College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of California Santa Cruz 22:1; Pacific Union College 12:1.

UCSC vs. PUC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UCSC or PUC? 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 PUC ($18,059 vs. $22,767).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Pacific Union College are 50.8% lower than at University of California Santa Cruz ($9,816 vs. $19,948).
  • Pacific Union College is 132.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than UCSC (about $21,168 more per year; $37,173.00 vs. $16,005.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 35.1% higher at UCSC than at Pacific Union College (about $13,032 more per year; $50,205.00 vs. $37,173.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Pacific Union College than at University of California Santa Cruz (100% vs. 57%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Pacific Union College students is 16.9% larger than aid received by University of California Santa Cruz students ($26,629 vs. $22,774).

UCSC vs. PUC Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of California Santa Cruz (1260) is 200 points higher than at PUC (1060).
  • Incoming UCSC students have a 7 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 vs. 22 at PUC).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Santa Cruz 1160/1360; Pacific Union College 930/1190.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Santa Cruz 25/33; Pacific Union College 20/24.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UCSC - Test-free; PUC - Test-free.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UCSC Nov 30, 2026.
  • Accepted freshman UCSC students have a 0.39 point higher average high school GPA (3.63) than students at PUC (3.24).
  • UCSC has a higher acceptance rate (65.8%) than PUC (47.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.3% at UCSC vs. 14% at PUC.

UCSC vs. PUC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UCSC and PUC? 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 Pacific Union College's (45%).
  • Graduates from Pacific Union College earn a median of about $8,800 more per year than UCSC graduates about ten years after starting college ($59,200 vs. $50,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Santa Cruz graduates have a $10,041 lower median loan debt than PUC graduates ($19,959 vs. $30,000).
  • Among borrowers, UCSC graduates have an estimated $104 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than PUC graduates ($206 vs. $310).
  • More UCSC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former PUC 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.