UCSC vs. UNCG

Comparable Facts

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

University of California Santa Cruz is larger than UNCG based on total student enrollment (19,938 students vs. 18,012 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

UCSC vs. UNCG Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UCSC or UNCG? 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 North Carolina at Greensboro than UCSC ($11,404 vs. $18,059).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of North Carolina at Greensboro are 46.4% lower than at University of California Santa Cruz ($10,688 vs. $19,948).
• University of California Santa Cruz is 108.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than UNCG (about $8,344 more per year; $16,005.00 vs. $7,661.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 109.1% higher at UCSC than at University of North Carolina at Greensboro (about $26,193 more per year; $50,205.00 vs. $24,012.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of North Carolina at Greensboro than at University of California Santa Cruz (87% vs. 57%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Santa Cruz students is 130.9% larger than aid received by University of North Carolina at Greensboro students ($22,774 vs. $9,863).

UCSC vs. UNCG Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of California Santa Cruz (1260) is 10 points higher than at UNCG (1250).
• Incoming UCSC students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 vs. 24 at UNCG).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Santa Cruz 1160/1360; University of North Carolina at Greensboro 1150/1355.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Santa Cruz 25/33; University of North Carolina at Greensboro 22/27.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UCSC - Test-free; UNCG - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: UCSC Nov 30, 2026; UNCG Mar 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman UCSC students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.63) than students at UNCG (3.59).
• UNCG has a higher acceptance rate (88.5%) than UCSC (65.8%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.3% at UCSC vs. 21.2% at UNCG.

UCSC vs. UNCG Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UCSC and UNCG? 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 North Carolina at Greensboro's (53%).
• Graduates from University of California Santa Cruz earn a median of about $11,300 more per year than UNCG graduates about ten years after starting college ($50,400 vs. $39,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Santa Cruz graduates have a $2,778 lower median loan debt than UNCG graduates ($19,959 vs. $22,737).
• Among borrowers, UCSC graduates have an estimated $29 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UNCG graduates ($206 vs. $235).
• More UCSC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UNCG students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 56%)

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.