UCSC vs. UT Dallas

Comparable Facts

Compare University of California Santa Cruz in Santa Cruz, CA with The University of Texas at Dallas in Richardson, TX on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

The University of Texas at Dallas is larger than UCSC based on total student enrollment (29,886 students vs. 19,938 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of California Santa Cruz is located in Santa Cruz, CA (Small City setting); The University of Texas at Dallas is in Richardson, TX (Small City setting).
• University of California Santa Cruz is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. The University of Texas at Dallas is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of California Santa Cruz 22:1; The University of Texas at Dallas 23:1.

UCSC vs. UT Dallas Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UCSC or UT Dallas? 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 The University of Texas at Dallas than UCSC ($14,916 vs. $18,059).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at The University of Texas at Dallas are 27.7% lower than at University of California Santa Cruz ($14,430 vs. $19,948).
• University of California Santa Cruz is 9.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than UT Dallas (about $1,361 more per year; $16,005.00 vs. $14,644.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 25.1% higher at UCSC than at The University of Texas at Dallas (about $10,061 more per year; $50,205.00 vs. $40,144.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at The University of Texas at Dallas than at University of California Santa Cruz (64% vs. 57%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Santa Cruz students is 52.8% larger than aid received by The University of Texas at Dallas students ($22,774 vs. $14,909).

UCSC vs. UT Dallas Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at The University of Texas at Dallas (1290) is 30 points higher than at UCSC (1260).
• Incoming UCSC students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 vs. 28 at UT Dallas).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Santa Cruz 1160/1360; The University of Texas at Dallas 1160/1410.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Santa Cruz 25/33; The University of Texas at Dallas 24/32.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UCSC - Test-free; UT Dallas - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: UCSC Nov 30, 2026; UT Dallas May 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman UT Dallas students have a 0.15 point higher average high school GPA (3.78) than students at UCSC (3.63).
• UCSC has a higher acceptance rate (65.8%) than UT Dallas (65.1%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.3% at UCSC vs. 20.3% at UT Dallas.

UCSC vs. UT Dallas Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UCSC and UT Dallas? 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 The University of Texas at Dallas's (61%).
• Graduates from The University of Texas at Dallas earn a median of about $8,600 more per year than UCSC graduates about ten years after starting college ($59,000 vs. $50,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, The University of Texas at Dallas graduates have a $1,209 lower median loan debt than UCSC graduates ($18,750 vs. $19,959).
• Among borrowers, UT Dallas graduates have an estimated $13 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UCSC graduates ($193 vs. $206).
• More UCSC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UT Dallas students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 64%)

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.