UCSC vs. UOP

Deciding between University of California Santa Cruz and University of the Pacific? 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 the Pacific

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UCSC Santa Cruz, CA
  • UOP Stockton, CA
  • Setting
  • UCSC Small City
  • UOP Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • UCSC 19,938
  • UOP 6,944
  • Type
  • UCSC Public 4 Year
  • UOP Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UCSC #255
  • UOP #122
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UCSC -
  • UOP -
  • Status
  • UCSC Non-profit
  • UOP Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UCSC
  • UOP

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UCSC $16,005
  • UOP $57,080
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UCSC $50,205
  • UOP $57,080
  • Room & Board
  • UCSC $19,948
  • UOP $17,190
  • Average Net Price
  • UCSC $18,059
  • UOP $31,670
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UCSC $22,774
  • UOP $41,111
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UCSC 57%
  • UOP 98%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UCSC 71,722
  • UOP 7,780
  • Admitted
  • UCSC 47,186
  • UOP 5,549
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UCSC 65.8%
  • UOP 71.3%
  • Enrolled
  • UCSC 9.3%
  • UOP 13.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UCSC 1260
  • UOP 1330
  • Typical ACT score
  • UCSC 29
  • UOP 27
  • Average High School GPA
  • UCSC 3.63
  • UOP 3.58
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UCSC A-
  • UOP A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • UCSC Very High
  • UOP Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • UCSC Low
  • UOP Low
  • ACT Range
  • UCSC 25/33
  • UOP 23/32
  • SAT Range
  • UCSC 1160/1360
  • UOP 1183/1480
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UCSC Test-free
  • UOP Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UCSC Nov 30, 2026
  • UOP Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UCSC 22:1
  • UOP 13:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UCSC
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Biology (14%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
    • Business (9%)
  • UOP
    • Business (17%)
    • Biology (13%)
    • Engineering (8%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UCSC 73%
  • UOP 69%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UCSC $50,400
  • UOP $81,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UCSC 74%
  • UOP 70%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UCSC $19,959
  • UOP $24,625
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UCSC $206
  • UOP $254

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UCSC 48%
  • UOP 41%
  • % Women
  • UCSC 52%
  • UOP 59%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UCSC Very High
  • UOP Very High
  • HBCU
  • UCSC No
  • UOP No
  • % White
  • UCSC 33%
  • UOP 27%
  • % Asian
  • UCSC 21%
  • UOP 35%
  • % Black
  • UCSC 2%
  • UOP 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • UCSC 31%
  • UOP 18%
  • % Native American
  • UCSC 0%
  • UOP 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UCSC 0%
  • UOP 1%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UCSC 7%
  • UOP 6%
  • % International
  • UCSC 4%
  • UOP 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UCSC 2%
  • UOP 4%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UCSC 92%
  • UOP 82%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UCSC 5%
  • UOP 10%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

University of California Santa Cruz is larger than UOP based on total student enrollment (19,938 students vs. 6,944 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of California Santa Cruz is located in Santa Cruz, CA (Small City setting); University of the Pacific is in Stockton, CA (Large City setting).
  • University of California Santa Cruz is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of the Pacific is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of California Santa Cruz 22:1; University of the Pacific 13:1.

UCSC vs. UOP Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UCSC or UOP? 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 UOP ($18,059 vs. $31,670).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of the Pacific are 13.8% lower than at University of California Santa Cruz ($17,190 vs. $19,948).
  • University of the Pacific is 256.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than UCSC (about $41,075 more per year; $57,080.00 vs. $16,005.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 13.7% higher at UOP than at University of California Santa Cruz (about $6,875 more per year; $57,080.00 vs. $50,205.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of the Pacific than at University of California Santa Cruz (98% vs. 57%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of the Pacific students is 80.5% larger than aid received by University of California Santa Cruz students ($41,111 vs. $22,774).

UCSC vs. UOP Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of the Pacific (1330) is 70 points higher than at UCSC (1260).
  • Incoming UCSC students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 vs. 27 at UOP).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Santa Cruz 1160/1360; University of the Pacific 1183/1480.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Santa Cruz 25/33; University of the Pacific 23/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UCSC - Test-free; UOP - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UCSC Nov 30, 2026; UOP Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman UCSC students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.63) than students at UOP (3.58).
  • UOP has a higher acceptance rate (71.3%) than UCSC (65.8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.3% at UCSC vs. 13.8% at UOP.

UCSC vs. UOP Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UCSC and UOP? 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 the Pacific's (69%).
  • Graduates from University of the Pacific earn a median of about $31,000 more per year than UCSC graduates about ten years after starting college ($81,400 vs. $50,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Santa Cruz graduates have a $4,666 lower median loan debt than UOP graduates ($19,959 vs. $24,625).
  • Among borrowers, UCSC graduates have an estimated $48 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UOP graduates ($206 vs. $254).
  • More UCSC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UOP students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 70%)

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.