University of California at Santa Cruz

School Overview: Acceptance Rate, Tuition, and More

Santa Cruz, CA

$11,442

Avg in-state tuition

$41,196

Avg out-of-state tuition

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About University of California at Santa Cruz

School Type: Public

Status: Non-profit

Accreditation: Regional

Religious Affiliation: N/A While the student experience is largely unaffected at most schools with religious affiliations, some schools place more of an emphasis on religion. Learn how religious affiliations may impact students' experience.

The University of California at Santa Cruz is a large public university located on an urban campus in Santa Cruz, California. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 17,207, and admissions are selective, with an acceptance rate of 65%. The university offers 69 bachelor's degrees, has an average graduation rate of 76%, and a student-faculty ratio of 25:1. Tuition and fees for in-state students are $11,442, while tuition and fees for out-of-state students are $41,196.

Admissions Breakdown

Acceptance Rate Insight

This school has a high acceptance rate.

This school accepts students at a higher rate than other schools. High acceptance schools welcome 51-100% of all applicants.

65% of students were accepted during the 2020-2021 school year. Sometimes schools with midrange acceptance rates have higher standards of entry but are still accessible to many students who apply.

Retention Rate Insight

85% of full-time students stayed to continue their studies the following academic year. These students started in Fall 2019 and returned in Fall 2020.

Graduation Rate Insight

76% of students graduated out of all full-time, first-time students who began their studies in Fall 2014. Keep in mind many students who enroll are not typically first-time students, as most are adult learners. Therefore, the number of first-time students is traditionally low.

Application Considerations

Test scores Required

High school transcript Required

High school rank Not required or recommended

Letter of recommendation Not required or recommended

High school GPA Required

Open admission No

Completion of college prep program Required

Test of English as a foreign language (TOEFL) Required

Transfer Credit Policy

Dual enrollment Yes

Credit for qualified life experience* Implied no

Advance placement (AP) credits Yes

*This can include previous jobs, trainings, licenses/credentials, or seminars. You may need to complete an exam or provide a portfolio to earn credit.

SAT & ACT

Students who attend this school typically have higher standardized test scores than students at other schools.

While test scores can be an important aspect of college applications, schools determine admission based on several factors, and these test scores are only a suggested range.

Learn more about how we determine school awards

ACT 25th-75th Percentile 25-33

SAT 25th-75th Percentile 1160-1360

Learning Environment

Student Body Stats

This school has a student body of more than 15,000 students.

Learn more about how we determine school awards

19k

Students enrolled

97%

Online student enrollment

25:1

Student to faculty ratio

Ways Students Can Learn

On-campus Check Bold
International Online classes are available for students around the world. Check Bold

Demographics

White

31%

Hispanic

26%

Asian

22%

Non-U.S. Citizen

10%

Two or more races

8%

Unknown

2%

Black

2%

American Indian/Alaska Native

0%

Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

0%

Female student population

47%

Socio-economic diversity

27% of students received an income-based Federal Pell Grant intended for low-income students.

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Student Charges

Tuition and Required Fees

Student Level In-state Out-of-state
Undergraduate $11,442 $41,196
Graduate $11,442 $26,544

Cost of Undergraduate Attendance

Costs based on full-time, first-time degree or certificate-seeking undergraduates for the 2020–2021 academic year.

Costs to Consider Price
Books and supplies $1,162
On-campus room and board $18,866
On-campus other expenses $5,084
Off-campus (not with family) room and board $14,453
Off-campus (not with family) other expenses $5,602
Off-campus (with family) other expenses $13,467

Total Undergraduate Cost

Total cost by category In-state Out-of-state
On-campus $36,554 $66,308
Off-campus without family $32,659 $62,413
Off-campus with family $26,071 $55,825

Financial Breakdown

Students Receiving Aid

Federal Grant Aid

54%

State Grant Aid

41%

Institution Grant Aid

53%

Pell Grant

27%

Average Aid Awarded

Federal Grant Aid $3,091
State Grant Aid $10,697
Institution Grant Aid $8,428
Pell Grant Aid $4,730

Financial Outlook

$18k

Average student debt after graduation

$38k

Average salary 6 years after starting school

Varsity Athletic Teams

NCAA Division III without football

of the overall student body is a member of an athletic team.

Participation

Men Women
  • Golf
  • Volleyball
  • All Track Combined

Degrees Awarded by Program

Degrees given for the 2020-2021 academic year.

1

Agriculture, Agriculture Operations, And Related Sciences

BA

MA

DOC

2

Area, Ethnic, Cultural, And Gender Studies

BA

MA

DOC

3

Biological And Biomedical Sciences

BA

MA

DOC

4

Business, Management, Marketing, And Related Support Services

BA

MA

DOC

5

Computer And Information Sciences And Support Services

BA

MA

DOC

6

Education

BA

MA

DOC

7

Engineering

BA

MA

DOC

8

Foreign Languages, Literatures, And Linguistics

BA

MA

DOC

9

History

BA

MA

DOC

10

Legal Professions And Studies

BA

MA

DOC

11

Mathematics And Statistics

BA

MA

DOC

12

Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies

BA

MA

DOC

13

Natural Resources And Conservation

BA

MA

DOC

14

Philosophy And Religious Studies

BA

MA

DOC

15

Physical Sciences

BA

MA

DOC

16

Psychology

BA

MA

DOC

17

Public Administration And Social Service Professions

BA

MA

DOC

18

Social Sciences

BA

MA

DOC

19

Visual And Performing Arts

BA

MA

DOC

Resource

Financial Aid Overview

Resource

Understanding Grants & Scholarships

Explore Rankings

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Data collected from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), [2020-2021]. In the absence of IPED data, information was collected directly from the school and is accurate as of the date of collection. Contact the school directly for the most current and complete information.