University of California at Santa Cruz
School Overview: Acceptance Rate, Tuition, and More
Work here? Claim your school's profile
$11,442
Avg in-state tuition
$41,196
Avg out-of-state tuition
BestColleges.com is an advertising-supported site. Featured or trusted partner programs and all school search, finder, or match results are for schools that compensate us. This compensation does not influence our school rankings, resource guides, or other editorially-independent information published on this site.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
Discover programs by subject area to find the best college for your future.
Search All ProgramsWork here? Claim your school's profile
About University of California at Santa Cruz
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.
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 awardsACT 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 awards19k
Students enrolled
97%
Online student enrollment
25:1
Student to faculty ratio
Ways Students Can Learn
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.
Explore Similar Schools
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
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
- Golf
- Volleyball
- All Track Combined
Degrees Awarded by Program
Degrees given for the 2020-2021 academic year.
1Agriculture, Agriculture Operations, And Related Sciences
BA
MA
DOC
Plant Sciences, General
BA
MA
DOC
2Area, Ethnic, Cultural, And Gender Studies
BA
MA
DOC
German Studies
BA
MA
DOC
Italian Studies
BA
MA
DOC
Ethnic Studies
BA
MA
DOC
Hispanic-American, Puerto Rican, and Mexican-American/Chicano Studies
BA
MA
DOC
Women's Studies
BA
MA
DOC
3Biological And Biomedical Sciences
BA
MA
DOC
Ecology, Evolution, Systematics and Population Biology, Other
BA
MA
DOC
Ecology
BA
MA
DOC
Bioinformatics
BA
MA
DOC
Environmental Toxicology
BA
MA
DOC
Cell/Cellular and Molecular Biology
BA
MA
DOC
Molecular Biochemistry
BA
MA
DOC
Biomedical Sciences, General
BA
MA
DOC
Biology/Biological Sciences, General
BA
MA
DOC
Neuroscience
BA
MA
DOC
Marine Biology and Biological Oceanography
BA
MA
DOC
4Business, Management, Marketing, And Related Support Services
BA
MA
DOC
Business/Managerial Economics
BA
MA
DOC
5Computer And Information Sciences And Support Services
BA
MA
DOC
Computer Science
BA
MA
DOC
Modeling, Virtual Environments and Simulation
BA
MA
DOC
Computer Software and Media Applications, Other
BA
MA
DOC
Computer/Information Technology Services Administration andManagement, Other
BA
MA
DOC
6Education
BA
MA
DOC
Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research, Other
BA
MA
DOC
7Engineering
BA
MA
DOC
Computer Engineering, Other
BA
MA
DOC
Biomedical/Medical Engineering
BA
MA
DOC
Computer Engineering, General
BA
MA
DOC
Systems Engineering
BA
MA
DOC
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering
BA
MA
DOC
8Foreign Languages, Literatures, And Linguistics
BA
MA
DOC
Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, General
BA
MA
DOC
Spanish Language and Literature
BA
MA
DOC
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services, Other
BA
MA
DOC
Applied Linguistics
BA
MA
DOC
Comparative Literature
BA
MA
DOC
Linguistics
BA
MA
DOC
9History
BA
MA
DOC
History, General
BA
MA
DOC
10Legal Professions And Studies
BA
MA
DOC
Legal Studies, General
BA
MA
DOC
11Mathematics And Statistics
BA
MA
DOC
Mathematical Statistics and Probability
BA
MA
DOC
Mathematics, General
BA
MA
DOC
Applied Mathematics
BA
MA
DOC
Computational and Applied Mathematics
BA
MA
DOC
12Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
BA
MA
DOC
Cognitive Science
BA
MA
DOC
Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
BA
MA
DOC
13Natural Resources And Conservation
BA
MA
DOC
Environmental Science
BA
MA
DOC
Environmental Studies
BA
MA
DOC
14Philosophy And Religious Studies
BA
MA
DOC
Philosophy
BA
MA
DOC
Jewish/Judaic Studies
BA
MA
DOC
15Physical Sciences
BA
MA
DOC
Physical Sciences
BA
MA
DOC
Astronomy
BA
MA
DOC
Astrophysics
BA
MA
DOC
Chemistry, General
BA
MA
DOC
Oceanography, Chemical and Physical
BA
MA
DOC
Physics, General
BA
MA
DOC
Geology/Earth Science, General
BA
MA
DOC
16Psychology
BA
MA
DOC
Psychology, General
BA
MA
DOC
17Public Administration And Social Service Professions
BA
MA
DOC
Community Organization and Advocacy
BA
MA
DOC
18Social Sciences
BA
MA
DOC
Political Science and Government, General
BA
MA
DOC
Sociology
BA
MA
DOC
Econometrics and Quantitative Economics
BA
MA
DOC
International Economics
BA
MA
DOC
Economics, General
BA
MA
DOC
Anthropology
BA
MA
DOC
Archeology
BA
MA
DOC
19Visual And Performing Arts
BA
MA
DOC
Game and Interactive Media Design
BA
MA
DOC
Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, General
BA
MA
DOC
Documentary Production
BA
MA
DOC
Film/Video and Photographic Arts, Other
BA
MA
DOC
Art/Art Studies, General
BA
MA
DOC
Fine/Studio Arts, General
BA
MA
DOC
Art History, Criticism and Conservation
BA
MA
DOC
Music Performance, General
BA
MA
DOC
Music Theory and Composition
BA
MA
DOC
Musicology and Ethnomusicology
BA
MA
DOC
Visual and Performing Arts, Other
BA
MA
DOC
Explore Rankings
Explore More Resources
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.
- Volleyball
Share this school