UCSC vs. University of Redlands

Deciding between University of California Santa Cruz and University of Redlands? 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
University of Redlands

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UCSC Santa Cruz, CA
  • University of Redlands Redlands, CA
  • Setting
  • UCSC Small City
  • University of Redlands Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • UCSC 19,938
  • University of Redlands 3,087
  • Type
  • UCSC Public 4 Year
  • University of Redlands Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UCSC #255
  • University of Redlands #238
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UCSC -
  • University of Redlands -
  • Status
  • UCSC Non-profit
  • University of Redlands Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UCSC
  • University of Redlands

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UCSC $16,005
  • University of Redlands $60,878
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UCSC $50,205
  • University of Redlands $60,878
  • Room & Board
  • UCSC $19,948
  • University of Redlands $18,208
  • Average Net Price
  • UCSC $18,059
  • University of Redlands $28,482
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UCSC $22,774
  • University of Redlands $48,134
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UCSC 57%
  • University of Redlands 98%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UCSC 71,722
  • University of Redlands 3,766
  • Admitted
  • UCSC 47,186
  • University of Redlands 3,115
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UCSC 65.8%
  • University of Redlands 82.7%
  • Enrolled
  • UCSC 9.3%
  • University of Redlands 15.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UCSC 1260
  • University of Redlands 1230
  • Typical ACT score
  • UCSC 29
  • University of Redlands 24
  • Average High School GPA
  • UCSC 3.63
  • University of Redlands 3.74
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UCSC A-
  • University of Redlands A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • UCSC Very High
  • University of Redlands Challenging
  • Applicant Competition
  • UCSC Low
  • University of Redlands
  • ACT Range
  • UCSC 25/33
  • University of Redlands 21/28
  • SAT Range
  • UCSC 1160/1360
  • University of Redlands 1107/1350
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UCSC Test-free
  • University of Redlands Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UCSC Nov 30, 2026
  • University of Redlands Jul 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UCSC 22:1
  • University of Redlands 10:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UCSC
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Biology (14%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
    • Business (9%)
  • University of Redlands
    • Business (44%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Psychology (6%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
    • Health Professions (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UCSC 73%
  • University of Redlands 70%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UCSC $50,400
  • University of Redlands $56,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UCSC 74%
  • University of Redlands 69%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UCSC $19,959
  • University of Redlands $28,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UCSC $206
  • University of Redlands $294

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UCSC 48%
  • University of Redlands 40%
  • % Women
  • UCSC 52%
  • University of Redlands 60%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UCSC Very High
  • University of Redlands High
  • HBCU
  • UCSC No
  • University of Redlands No
  • % White
  • UCSC 33%
  • University of Redlands 48%
  • % Asian
  • UCSC 21%
  • University of Redlands 6%
  • % Black
  • UCSC 2%
  • University of Redlands 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • UCSC 31%
  • University of Redlands 27%
  • % Native American
  • UCSC 0%
  • University of Redlands 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UCSC 0%
  • University of Redlands 1%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UCSC 7%
  • University of Redlands 5%
  • % International
  • UCSC 4%
  • University of Redlands 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UCSC 2%
  • University of Redlands 8%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UCSC 92%
  • University of Redlands 76%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UCSC 5%
  • University of Redlands 23%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

University of California Santa Cruz is larger than University of Redlands based on total student enrollment (19,938 students vs. 3,087 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of California Santa Cruz is located in Santa Cruz, CA (Small City setting); University of Redlands is in Redlands, CA (Small City setting).
  • University of California Santa Cruz is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Redlands is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of California Santa Cruz 22:1; University of Redlands 10:1.

UCSC vs. University of Redlands Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UCSC or University of Redlands? 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 University of Redlands ($18,059 vs. $28,482).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Redlands are 8.7% lower than at University of California Santa Cruz ($18,208 vs. $19,948).
  • University of Redlands is 280.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than UCSC (about $44,873 more per year; $60,878.00 vs. $16,005.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 21.3% higher at University of Redlands than at University of California Santa Cruz (about $10,673 more per year; $60,878.00 vs. $50,205.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Redlands than at University of California Santa Cruz (98% vs. 57%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Redlands students is 111.4% larger than aid received by University of California Santa Cruz students ($48,134 vs. $22,774).

UCSC vs. University of Redlands Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UCSC or University of Redlands? 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 University of Redlands and UCSC.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of California Santa Cruz (1260) is 30 points higher than at University of Redlands (1230).
  • Incoming UCSC students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 vs. 24 at University of Redlands).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Santa Cruz 1160/1360; University of Redlands 1107/1350.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Santa Cruz 25/33; University of Redlands 21/28.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UCSC - Test-free; University of Redlands - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UCSC Nov 30, 2026; University of Redlands Jul 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman University of Redlands students have a 0.11 point higher average high school GPA (3.74) than students at UCSC (3.63).
  • University of Redlands has a higher acceptance rate (82.7%) than UCSC (65.8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.3% at UCSC vs. 15.9% at University of Redlands.

UCSC vs. University of Redlands Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UCSC and University of Redlands? 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 Redlands's (70%).
  • Graduates from University of Redlands earn a median of about $6,000 more per year than UCSC graduates about ten years after starting college ($56,400 vs. $50,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Santa Cruz graduates have a $8,541 lower median loan debt than University of Redlands graduates ($19,959 vs. $28,500).
  • Among borrowers, UCSC graduates have an estimated $88 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than University of Redlands graduates ($206 vs. $294).
  • More UCSC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former University of Redlands students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 69%)

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.