UCSC vs. USC

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

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UCSC Santa Cruz, CA
  • USC Los Angeles, CA
  • Setting
  • UCSC Small City
  • USC Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • UCSC 19,938
  • USC 46,566
  • Type
  • UCSC Public 4 Year
  • USC Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UCSC #255
  • USC #37
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UCSC -
  • USC -
  • Status
  • UCSC Non-profit
  • USC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UCSC
  • USC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UCSC $16,005
  • USC $72,097
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UCSC $50,205
  • USC $72,097
  • Room & Board
  • UCSC $19,948
  • USC $19,931
  • Average Net Price
  • UCSC $18,059
  • USC $43,412
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UCSC $22,774
  • USC $46,897
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UCSC 57%
  • USC 70%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UCSC 71,722
  • USC 82,027
  • Admitted
  • UCSC 47,186
  • USC 8,050
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UCSC 65.8%
  • USC 9.8%
  • Enrolled
  • UCSC 9.3%
  • USC 43.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UCSC 1260
  • USC 1500
  • Typical ACT score
  • UCSC 29
  • USC 33
  • Average High School GPA
  • UCSC 3.63
  • USC 3.83
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UCSC A-
  • USC A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • UCSC Very High
  • USC Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • UCSC Low
  • USC Very High
  • ACT Range
  • UCSC 25/33
  • USC 32/35
  • SAT Range
  • UCSC 1160/1360
  • USC 1450/1550
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UCSC Test-free
  • USC Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UCSC Nov 30, 2026
  • USC

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UCSC 22:1
  • USC 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UCSC
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Biology (14%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
    • Business (9%)
  • USC
    • Business (25%)
    • Social Sciences (15%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (13%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Engineering (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UCSC 73%
  • USC 90%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UCSC $50,400
  • USC $85,500
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UCSC 74%
  • USC 81%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UCSC $19,959
  • USC $22,375
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UCSC $206
  • USC $231

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UCSC 48%
  • USC 47%
  • % Women
  • UCSC 52%
  • USC 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UCSC Very High
  • USC Very High
  • HBCU
  • UCSC No
  • USC No
  • % White
  • UCSC 33%
  • USC 40%
  • % Asian
  • UCSC 21%
  • USC 22%
  • % Black
  • UCSC 2%
  • USC 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • UCSC 31%
  • USC 14%
  • % Native American
  • UCSC 0%
  • USC 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UCSC 0%
  • USC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UCSC 7%
  • USC 5%
  • % International
  • UCSC 4%
  • USC 13%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UCSC 2%
  • USC 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UCSC 92%
  • USC 42%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UCSC 5%
  • USC 39%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

University of Southern California is larger than UCSC based on total student enrollment (46,566 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); University of Southern California is in Los Angeles, CA (Large City setting).
  • University of California Santa Cruz is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Southern California is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of California Santa Cruz 22:1; University of Southern California 9:1.

UCSC vs. USC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UCSC or USC? 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 USC ($18,059 vs. $43,412).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Southern California are 0.1% lower than at University of California Santa Cruz ($19,931 vs. $19,948).
  • University of Southern California is 350.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than UCSC (about $56,092 more per year; $72,097.00 vs. $16,005.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 43.6% higher at USC than at University of California Santa Cruz (about $21,892 more per year; $72,097.00 vs. $50,205.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Southern California than at University of California Santa Cruz (70% vs. 57%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Southern California students is 105.9% larger than aid received by University of California Santa Cruz students ($46,897 vs. $22,774).

UCSC vs. USC Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Southern California (1500) is 240 points higher than at UCSC (1260).
  • Incoming USC students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (33 vs. 29 at UCSC).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Santa Cruz 1160/1360; University of Southern California 1450/1550.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Santa Cruz 25/33; University of Southern California 32/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UCSC - Test-free; USC - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UCSC Nov 30, 2026.
  • Accepted freshman USC students have a 0.2 point higher average high school GPA (3.83) than students at UCSC (3.63).
  • UCSC has a higher acceptance rate (65.8%) than USC (9.8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.3% at UCSC vs. 43.3% at USC.

UCSC vs. USC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UCSC and USC? 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 Southern California's six-year graduation rate (90%) is higher than University of California Santa Cruz's (73%).
  • Graduates from University of Southern California earn a median of about $35,100 more per year than UCSC graduates about ten years after starting college ($85,500 vs. $50,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Santa Cruz graduates have a $2,416 lower median loan debt than USC graduates ($19,959 vs. $22,375).
  • Among borrowers, UCSC graduates have an estimated $25 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than USC graduates ($206 vs. $231).
  • More USC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UCSC students, three years after graduation. (81% 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.