UCSC vs. Stanford

Deciding between University of California Santa Cruz and Stanford University? 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
Stanford University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UCSC Santa Cruz, CA
  • Stanford Stanford, CA
  • Setting
  • UCSC Small City
  • Stanford Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • UCSC 19,938
  • Stanford 18,625
  • Type
  • UCSC Public 4 Year
  • Stanford Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UCSC #255
  • Stanford #3
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UCSC -
  • Stanford -
  • Status
  • UCSC Non-profit
  • Stanford Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UCSC
  • Stanford

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UCSC $16,005
  • Stanford $65,910
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UCSC $50,205
  • Stanford $65,910
  • Room & Board
  • UCSC $19,948
  • Stanford $21,315
  • Average Net Price
  • UCSC $18,059
  • Stanford $25,078
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UCSC $22,774
  • Stanford $62,755
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UCSC 57%
  • Stanford 61%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UCSC 71,722
  • Stanford 57,326
  • Admitted
  • UCSC 47,186
  • Stanford 2,067
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UCSC 65.8%
  • Stanford 3.6%
  • Enrolled
  • UCSC 9.3%
  • Stanford 81.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UCSC 1260
  • Stanford 1550
  • Typical ACT score
  • UCSC 29
  • Stanford 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • UCSC 3.63
  • Stanford 3.96
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UCSC A-
  • Stanford A
  • Admissions Standards
  • UCSC Very High
  • Stanford Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • UCSC Low
  • Stanford Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • UCSC 25/33
  • Stanford 34/35
  • SAT Range
  • UCSC 1160/1360
  • Stanford 1510/1580
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UCSC Test-free
  • Stanford Required
  • Application Deadline
  • UCSC Nov 30, 2026
  • Stanford Jan 2, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UCSC 22:1
  • Stanford 6:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UCSC
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Biology (14%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
    • Business (9%)
  • Stanford
    • Social Sciences (21%)
    • General Studies (16%)
    • Engineering (15%)
    • Biology (7%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UCSC 73%
  • Stanford 96%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UCSC $50,400
  • Stanford $122,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UCSC 74%
  • Stanford 88%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UCSC $19,959
  • Stanford $12,475
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UCSC $206
  • Stanford $128

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UCSC 48%
  • Stanford 52%
  • % Women
  • UCSC 52%
  • Stanford 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UCSC Very High
  • Stanford Very High
  • HBCU
  • UCSC No
  • Stanford No
  • % White
  • UCSC 33%
  • Stanford 37%
  • % Asian
  • UCSC 21%
  • Stanford 20%
  • % Black
  • UCSC 2%
  • Stanford 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • UCSC 31%
  • Stanford 15%
  • % Native American
  • UCSC 0%
  • Stanford 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UCSC 0%
  • Stanford 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UCSC 7%
  • Stanford 10%
  • % International
  • UCSC 4%
  • Stanford 9%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UCSC 2%
  • Stanford 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UCSC 92%
  • Stanford 38%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UCSC 5%
  • Stanford 45%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

University of California Santa Cruz is larger than Stanford based on total student enrollment (19,938 students vs. 18,625 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of California Santa Cruz is located in Santa Cruz, CA (Small City setting); Stanford University is in Stanford, CA (Large Suburban setting).
  • University of California Santa Cruz is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Stanford University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of California Santa Cruz 22:1; Stanford University 6:1.

UCSC vs. Stanford Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UCSC or Stanford? 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 Stanford ($18,059 vs. $25,078).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of California Santa Cruz are 6.4% lower than at Stanford University ($19,948 vs. $21,315).
  • Stanford University is 311.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than UCSC (about $49,905 more per year; $65,910.00 vs. $16,005.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 31.3% higher at Stanford than at University of California Santa Cruz (about $15,705 more per year; $65,910.00 vs. $50,205.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Stanford University than at University of California Santa Cruz (61% vs. 57%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Stanford University students is 175.6% larger than aid received by University of California Santa Cruz students ($62,755 vs. $22,774).

UCSC vs. Stanford Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Stanford University (1550) is 290 points higher than at UCSC (1260).
  • Incoming Stanford students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 29 at UCSC).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Santa Cruz 1160/1360; Stanford University 1510/1580.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Santa Cruz 25/33; Stanford University 34/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UCSC - Test-free; Stanford - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UCSC Nov 30, 2026; Stanford Jan 2, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Stanford students have a 0.33 point higher average high school GPA (3.96) than students at UCSC (3.63).
  • UCSC has a higher acceptance rate (65.8%) than Stanford (3.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.3% at UCSC vs. 81.9% at Stanford.

UCSC vs. Stanford Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UCSC and Stanford? 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).

  • Stanford University's six-year graduation rate (96%) is higher than University of California Santa Cruz's (73%).
  • Graduates from Stanford University earn a median of about $72,500 more per year than UCSC graduates about ten years after starting college ($122,900 vs. $50,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Stanford University graduates have a $7,484 lower median loan debt than UCSC graduates ($12,475 vs. $19,959).
  • Among borrowers, Stanford graduates have an estimated $78 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UCSC graduates ($128 vs. $206).
  • More Stanford graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UCSC students, three years after graduation. (88% 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.