UCSC vs. UW-Seattle

Comparable Facts

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

University of Washington Seattle Campus is larger than UCSC based on total student enrollment (56,997 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 Washington Seattle Campus is in Seattle, WA (Large City setting).
• University of California Santa Cruz is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Washington Seattle Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of California Santa Cruz 22:1; University of Washington Seattle Campus 20:1.

UCSC vs. UW-Seattle Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UCSC or UW-Seattle? 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 Washington Seattle Campus than UCSC ($11,784 vs. $18,059).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Washington Seattle Campus are 7.7% lower than at University of California Santa Cruz ($18,405 vs. $19,948).
• University of California Santa Cruz is 23.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than UW-Seattle (about $3,032 more per year; $16,005.00 vs. $12,973.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 16.2% higher at UCSC than at University of Washington Seattle Campus (about $6,996 more per year; $50,205.00 vs. $43,209.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of California Santa Cruz than at University of Washington Seattle Campus (57% vs. 43%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Santa Cruz students is 41% larger than aid received by University of Washington Seattle Campus students ($22,774 vs. $16,156).

UCSC vs. UW-Seattle Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UCSC or UW-Seattle? 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 UW-Seattle and UCSC.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Washington Seattle Campus (1330) is 70 points higher than at UCSC (1260).
• Incoming UW-Seattle students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 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 Washington Seattle Campus 1200/1453.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Santa Cruz 25/33; University of Washington Seattle Campus 27/33.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UCSC - Test-free; UW-Seattle - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: UCSC Nov 30, 2026; UW-Seattle Nov 16, 2026.
• Accepted freshman UW-Seattle students have a 0.19 point higher average high school GPA (3.82) than students at UCSC (3.63).
• UCSC has a higher acceptance rate (65.8%) than UW-Seattle (39.1%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.3% at UCSC vs. 26.6% at UW-Seattle.

UCSC vs. UW-Seattle Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UCSC and UW-Seattle? 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 Washington Seattle Campus's six-year graduation rate (80%) is higher than University of California Santa Cruz's (73%).
• Graduates from University of Washington Seattle Campus earn a median of about $15,400 more per year than UCSC graduates about ten years after starting college ($65,800 vs. $50,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Washington Seattle Campus graduates have a $4,959 lower median loan debt than UCSC graduates ($15,000 vs. $19,959).
• Among borrowers, UW-Seattle graduates have an estimated $51 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UCSC graduates ($155 vs. $206).
• More UW-Seattle graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UCSC students, three years after graduation. (76% 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.