Add a college to compare up to four schools
Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison.
UC Riverside UCSB UC Davis Cal Poly San Jose State UC Merced San Diego State UCI UCSD SCU Cal State Long Beach Chapman| University of California Santa Cruz | University of the Pacific | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
UCSC | UOP | ||
| Location | Santa Cruz, CA | Stockton, CA | ||
| Setting | Small City | Large City | ||
| Enrollment | 19,764 | 6,755 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #251 | #172 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | ucsc.edu | pacific.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
UCSC | UOP | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $11,834 | $54,506 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $42,611 | $54,506 | ||
| Room & Board | $18,785 | $16,688 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $16,526 | $30,975 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $21,564 | $38,314 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 65% | 98% |
Admission |
UCSC | UOP | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 68,845 | 5,763 | ||
| Admitted | 43,054 | 5,467 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 62.5% | 94.9% | ||
| Enrolled % | 10.2% | 14.1% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.63 | 3.58 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Very High | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 25/33 | 23/31 | ||
| SAT Range | 1160/1360 | 1160/1420 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Nov 30, 2025 | Jan 15, 2026 |
Academics |
UCSC | UOP | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 22:1 | 14:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
|
|
||
Outcomes |
UCSC | UOP | ||
| Graduation Rate | 73% | 69% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $50,400 | $81,400 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 74% | 70% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $19,959 | $24,625 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $206 | $254 |
Diversity |
UCSC | UOP | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 5% | 20% | ||
| % Women | 5% | 31% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very High | Very High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 33% | 27% | ||
| % Black | 2% | 3% | ||
| % Hispanic | 31% | 18% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 7% | 6% | ||
| % International | 4% | 7% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 2% | 4% |
Students |
UCSC | UOP | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 91% | 83% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 7% | 10% | ||
Campus |
UCSC | UOP | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- University of California Santa Cruz is larger than than UOP based on total student enrollment (19,764 students vs. 6,755 students)
UCSC vs. UOP Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, UCSC or UOP?
- University of the Pacific is 360.6% more expensive to attend than UCSC for in-state tuition ($54,506.00 vs. $11,834.00)
- Out of state tuition is 27.9% higher at UOP than University of California Santa Cruz ($54,506.00 vs. $42,611.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of California Santa Cruz than UOP ($16,526 vs. $30,975)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of the Pacific are 12.6% lower than costs at University of California Santa Cruz ($16,688 vs. $18,785)
- More students receive financial grant aid at University of the Pacific than University of California Santa Cruz (98% vs. 65%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by University of the Pacific students is 77.7% larger than aid received University of California Santa Cruz ($38,314 vs. $21,564)
UCSC vs. UOP Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, UCSC or UOP? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between UOP or UCSC .
- The average SAT score at University of California Santa Cruz (1201) is 49 points higher than at UOP (1152)
- Incoming UCSC students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (28) than students at UOP (26)
- 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 (94.9%) than UCSC (62.5%)
UCSC vs. UOP Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, UCSC or UOP? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between UOP and UCSC.
- The graduation rate at UCSC is higher than University of the Pacific (73% vs. 69%)
- Graduates from University of the Pacific earn on average $31,000 more per year than UCSC graduates after ten years. ($81,400 vs. $50,400)
- University of California Santa Cruz students graduate with a $4,666 lower median federal student loan debt than UOP graduates. ($19,959 vs. $24,625)
- UCSC graduates are paying $48 less per month on federal student loans 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/