UCSC vs. TCNJ

Deciding between University of California Santa Cruz and The College of New Jersey? 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
The College of New Jersey

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UCSC Santa Cruz, CA
  • TCNJ Ewing, NJ
  • Setting
  • UCSC Small City
  • TCNJ Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • UCSC 19,938
  • TCNJ 8,141
  • Type
  • UCSC Public 4 Year
  • TCNJ Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UCSC #255
  • TCNJ #177
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UCSC -
  • TCNJ -
  • Status
  • UCSC Non-profit
  • TCNJ Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UCSC
  • TCNJ

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UCSC $16,005
  • TCNJ $19,632
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UCSC $50,205
  • TCNJ $25,752
  • Room & Board
  • UCSC $19,948
  • TCNJ $14,976
  • Average Net Price
  • UCSC $18,059
  • TCNJ $25,580
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UCSC $22,774
  • TCNJ $13,360
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UCSC 57%
  • TCNJ 59%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UCSC 71,722
  • TCNJ 12,766
  • Admitted
  • UCSC 47,186
  • TCNJ 7,952
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UCSC 65.8%
  • TCNJ 62.3%
  • Enrolled
  • UCSC 9.3%
  • TCNJ 19.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UCSC 1260
  • TCNJ 1240
  • Typical ACT score
  • UCSC 29
  • TCNJ 28
  • Average High School GPA
  • UCSC 3.63
  • TCNJ 3.29
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UCSC A-
  • TCNJ B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • UCSC Very High
  • TCNJ Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • UCSC Low
  • TCNJ Low
  • ACT Range
  • UCSC 25/33
  • TCNJ 26/31
  • SAT Range
  • UCSC 1160/1360
  • TCNJ 1140/1340
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UCSC Test-free
  • TCNJ Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UCSC Nov 30, 2026
  • TCNJ Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UCSC 22:1
  • TCNJ 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UCSC
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Biology (14%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
    • Business (9%)
  • TCNJ
    • Education (22%)
    • Business (17%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • English and Literature (8%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UCSC 73%
  • TCNJ 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UCSC $50,400
  • TCNJ $62,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UCSC 74%
  • TCNJ 85%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UCSC $19,959
  • TCNJ $23,250
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UCSC $206
  • TCNJ $240

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UCSC 48%
  • TCNJ 43%
  • % Women
  • UCSC 52%
  • TCNJ 57%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UCSC Very High
  • TCNJ Medium
  • HBCU
  • UCSC No
  • TCNJ No
  • % White
  • UCSC 33%
  • TCNJ 66%
  • % Asian
  • UCSC 21%
  • TCNJ 10%
  • % Black
  • UCSC 2%
  • TCNJ 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • UCSC 31%
  • TCNJ 12%
  • % Native American
  • UCSC 0%
  • TCNJ 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UCSC 0%
  • TCNJ 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UCSC 7%
  • TCNJ 0%
  • % International
  • UCSC 4%
  • TCNJ 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UCSC 2%
  • TCNJ 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UCSC 92%
  • TCNJ 95%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UCSC 5%
  • TCNJ 5%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of California Santa Cruz in Santa Cruz, CA with The College of New Jersey in Ewing, NJ on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of California Santa Cruz is larger than TCNJ based on total student enrollment (19,938 students vs. 8,141 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of California Santa Cruz is located in Santa Cruz, CA (Small City setting); The College of New Jersey is in Ewing, NJ (Large Suburban setting).
  • University of California Santa Cruz is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. The College of New Jersey is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of California Santa Cruz 22:1; The College of New Jersey 14:1.

UCSC vs. TCNJ Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UCSC or TCNJ? 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 TCNJ ($18,059 vs. $25,580).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at The College of New Jersey are 24.9% lower than at University of California Santa Cruz ($14,976 vs. $19,948).
  • The College of New Jersey is 22.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than UCSC (about $3,627 more per year; $19,632.00 vs. $16,005.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 95% higher at UCSC than at The College of New Jersey (about $24,453 more per year; $50,205.00 vs. $25,752.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at The College of New Jersey than at University of California Santa Cruz (59% vs. 57%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Santa Cruz students is 70.5% larger than aid received by The College of New Jersey students ($22,774 vs. $13,360).

UCSC vs. TCNJ Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of California Santa Cruz (1260) is 20 points higher than at TCNJ (1240).
  • Incoming UCSC students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 vs. 28 at TCNJ).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Santa Cruz 1160/1360; The College of New Jersey 1140/1340.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Santa Cruz 25/33; The College of New Jersey 26/31.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UCSC - Test-free; TCNJ - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UCSC Nov 30, 2026; TCNJ Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman UCSC students have a 0.34 point higher average high school GPA (3.63) than students at TCNJ (3.29).
  • UCSC has a higher acceptance rate (65.8%) than TCNJ (62.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.3% at UCSC vs. 19.7% at TCNJ.

UCSC vs. TCNJ Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UCSC and TCNJ? 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).

  • The College of New Jersey's six-year graduation rate (87%) is higher than University of California Santa Cruz's (73%).
  • Graduates from The College of New Jersey earn a median of about $11,700 more per year than UCSC graduates about ten years after starting college ($62,100 vs. $50,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Santa Cruz graduates have a $3,291 lower median loan debt than TCNJ graduates ($19,959 vs. $23,250).
  • Among borrowers, UCSC graduates have an estimated $34 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than TCNJ graduates ($206 vs. $240).
  • More TCNJ graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UCSC students, three years after graduation. (85% 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.