UCSC vs. State University of New York at New Paltz

Deciding between University of California Santa Cruz and State University of New York at New Paltz? 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
State University of New York at New Paltz

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • UCSC Santa Cruz, CA
  • State University of New York at New Paltz New Paltz, NY
  • Setting
  • UCSC Small City
  • State University of New York at New Paltz Town Fringe
  • Total enrollment
  • UCSC 19,938
  • State University of New York at New Paltz 7,898
  • Type
  • UCSC Public 4 Year
  • State University of New York at New Paltz Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UCSC #255
  • State University of New York at New Paltz #288
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UCSC -
  • State University of New York at New Paltz -
  • Status
  • UCSC Non-profit
  • State University of New York at New Paltz Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UCSC
  • State University of New York at New Paltz

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UCSC $16,005
  • State University of New York at New Paltz $8,572
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UCSC $50,205
  • State University of New York at New Paltz $18,822
  • Room & Board
  • UCSC $19,948
  • State University of New York at New Paltz $16,684
  • Average Net Price
  • UCSC $18,059
  • State University of New York at New Paltz $18,051
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UCSC $22,774
  • State University of New York at New Paltz $10,087
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UCSC 57%
  • State University of New York at New Paltz 71%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UCSC 71,722
  • State University of New York at New Paltz 17,232
  • Admitted
  • UCSC 47,186
  • State University of New York at New Paltz 10,616
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UCSC 65.8%
  • State University of New York at New Paltz 61.6%
  • Enrolled
  • UCSC 9.3%
  • State University of New York at New Paltz 10.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UCSC 1260
  • State University of New York at New Paltz 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • UCSC 29
  • State University of New York at New Paltz 27
  • Average High School GPA
  • UCSC 3.63
  • State University of New York at New Paltz 3.6
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UCSC A-
  • State University of New York at New Paltz A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • UCSC Very High
  • State University of New York at New Paltz Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • UCSC Low
  • State University of New York at New Paltz Low
  • ACT Range
  • UCSC 25/33
  • State University of New York at New Paltz 25/29
  • SAT Range
  • UCSC 1160/1360
  • State University of New York at New Paltz 1170/1340
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UCSC Test-free
  • State University of New York at New Paltz Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UCSC Nov 30, 2026
  • State University of New York at New Paltz Apr 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UCSC 22:1
  • State University of New York at New Paltz 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UCSC
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Biology (14%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
    • Business (9%)
  • State University of New York at New Paltz
    • Education (22%)
    • Business (16%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (11%)
    • Social Sciences (11%)
    • English and Literature (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UCSC 73%
  • State University of New York at New Paltz 69%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UCSC $50,400
  • State University of New York at New Paltz $47,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UCSC 74%
  • State University of New York at New Paltz 72%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UCSC $19,959
  • State University of New York at New Paltz $19,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UCSC $206
  • State University of New York at New Paltz $196

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UCSC 48%
  • State University of New York at New Paltz 36%
  • % Women
  • UCSC 52%
  • State University of New York at New Paltz 64%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UCSC Very High
  • State University of New York at New Paltz Medium
  • HBCU
  • UCSC No
  • State University of New York at New Paltz No
  • % White
  • UCSC 33%
  • State University of New York at New Paltz 63%
  • % Asian
  • UCSC 21%
  • State University of New York at New Paltz 6%
  • % Black
  • UCSC 2%
  • State University of New York at New Paltz 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • UCSC 31%
  • State University of New York at New Paltz 17%
  • % Native American
  • UCSC 0%
  • State University of New York at New Paltz 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UCSC 0%
  • State University of New York at New Paltz 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UCSC 7%
  • State University of New York at New Paltz 2%
  • % International
  • UCSC 4%
  • State University of New York at New Paltz 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UCSC 2%
  • State University of New York at New Paltz 4%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UCSC 92%
  • State University of New York at New Paltz 93%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UCSC 5%
  • State University of New York at New Paltz 6%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • UCSC Yes
  • State University of New York at New Paltz Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • UCSC No
  • State University of New York at New Paltz No
  • Meal Plan
  • UCSC Yes
  • State University of New York at New Paltz Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • UCSC No
  • State University of New York at New Paltz No
  • Daycare Facility
  • UCSC Yes
  • State University of New York at New Paltz Yes
  • Learn More
  • UCSC Details
  • State University of New York at New Paltz Details

Comparable Facts

Compare University of California Santa Cruz in Santa Cruz, CA with State University of New York at New Paltz in New Paltz, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of California Santa Cruz is larger than State University of New York at New Paltz based on total student enrollment (19,938 students vs. 7,898 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of California Santa Cruz is located in Santa Cruz, CA (Small City setting); State University of New York at New Paltz is in New Paltz, NY (Town Fringe setting).
  • University of California Santa Cruz is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. State University of New York at New Paltz is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of California Santa Cruz 22:1; State University of New York at New Paltz 16:1.

UCSC vs. State University of New York at New Paltz Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UCSC or State University of New York at New Paltz? 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 State University of New York at New Paltz than UCSC ($18,051 vs. $18,059).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at State University of New York at New Paltz are 16.4% lower than at University of California Santa Cruz ($16,684 vs. $19,948).
  • University of California Santa Cruz is 86.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than State University of New York at New Paltz (about $7,433 more per year; $16,005.00 vs. $8,572.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 166.7% higher at UCSC than at State University of New York at New Paltz (about $31,383 more per year; $50,205.00 vs. $18,822.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at State University of New York at New Paltz than at University of California Santa Cruz (71% vs. 57%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Santa Cruz students is 125.8% larger than aid received by State University of New York at New Paltz students ($22,774 vs. $10,087).

UCSC vs. State University of New York at New Paltz Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UCSC or State University of New York at New Paltz? 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 State University of New York at New Paltz and UCSC.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of California Santa Cruz (1260) is the same as at State University of New York at New Paltz (1260).
  • Incoming UCSC students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 vs. 27 at State University of New York at New Paltz).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Santa Cruz 1160/1360; State University of New York at New Paltz 1170/1340.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Santa Cruz 25/33; State University of New York at New Paltz 25/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UCSC - Test-free; State University of New York at New Paltz - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UCSC Nov 30, 2026; State University of New York at New Paltz Apr 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman UCSC students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.63) than students at State University of New York at New Paltz (3.6).
  • UCSC has a higher acceptance rate (65.8%) than State University of New York at New Paltz (61.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.3% at UCSC vs. 10.7% at State University of New York at New Paltz.

UCSC vs. State University of New York at New Paltz Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UCSC and State University of New York at New Paltz? 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 State University of New York at New Paltz's (69%).
  • Graduates from University of California Santa Cruz earn a median of about $3,000 more per year than State University of New York at New Paltz graduates about ten years after starting college ($50,400 vs. $47,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, State University of New York at New Paltz graduates have a $959 lower median loan debt than UCSC graduates ($19,000 vs. $19,959).
  • Among borrowers, State University of New York at New Paltz graduates have an estimated $10 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UCSC graduates ($196 vs. $206).
  • More UCSC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former State University of New York at New Paltz students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 72%)

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.