UCSC vs. ULM

Comparable Facts

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

University of California Santa Cruz is larger than ULM based on total student enrollment (19,938 students vs. 8,601 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of California Santa Cruz is located in Santa Cruz, CA (Small City setting); University of Louisiana at Monroe is in Monroe, LA (Small City setting).
• University of California Santa Cruz is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Louisiana at Monroe is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of California Santa Cruz 22:1; University of Louisiana at Monroe 18:1.

UCSC vs. ULM Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UCSC or ULM? 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 Louisiana at Monroe than UCSC ($13,648 vs. $18,059).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Louisiana at Monroe are 47.1% lower than at University of California Santa Cruz ($10,554 vs. $19,948).
• University of California Santa Cruz is 74.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than ULM (about $6,815 more per year; $16,005.00 vs. $9,190.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 135.8% higher at UCSC than at University of Louisiana at Monroe (about $28,915 more per year; $50,205.00 vs. $21,290.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Louisiana at Monroe than at University of California Santa Cruz (95% vs. 57%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Santa Cruz students is 70.7% larger than aid received by University of Louisiana at Monroe students ($22,774 vs. $13,338).

UCSC vs. ULM Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of California Santa Cruz (1260) is the same as at ULM (1260).
• Incoming UCSC students have a 8 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 vs. 21 at ULM).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Santa Cruz 1160/1360; University of Louisiana at Monroe 1160/1360.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Santa Cruz 25/33; University of Louisiana at Monroe 18/24.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UCSC - Test-free; ULM - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: UCSC Nov 30, 2026.
• Accepted freshman UCSC students have a 0.1 point higher average high school GPA (3.63) than students at ULM (3.53).
• ULM has a higher acceptance rate (84.8%) than UCSC (65.8%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.3% at UCSC vs. 35.1% at ULM.

UCSC vs. ULM Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UCSC and ULM? 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 University of Louisiana at Monroe's (33%).
• Graduates from University of California Santa Cruz earn a median of about $4,600 more per year than ULM graduates about ten years after starting college ($50,400 vs. $45,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Santa Cruz graduates have a $41 lower median loan debt than ULM graduates ($19,959 vs. $20,000).
• Among borrowers in the federal data, University of Louisiana at Monroe and UCSC graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($206 vs. $206).
• More UCSC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ULM students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 49%)

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.