University of California Acceptance Rate & Tuition (2026)
University of California-Santa Cruz is a public research university in Santa Cruz, California, with about 17,940 students. Admission is moderately selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 65.79% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $68,396 among students who received federal aid.
Key Facts
- 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $16,005
- 2024 Average Net Price: $17,890 After Financial Aid
- 2024 Acceptance Rate: 65.79% Moderate Selectivity
- 2024 Enrolled Students: 17,940 97.1% Full-Time
- 2024 Graduation Rate: 75.09%
- Carnegie Classification: Doctoral Universities: Very High Research Activity
- First-Generation Students: 36.7%
- Tuition trend: In-state tuition increase of 2.2% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Net price trend: Average net price decrease of 5.6% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Full-Time Faculty: 84.9%
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 19,317
- Applicants (IPEDS): 68,845
- Room & Board: $19,948 annual estimate
University of California-Santa Cruz: what the data shows
Common questions about University of California-Santa Cruz, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.
Where is University of California-Santa Cruz?
University of California-Santa Cruz is located in Santa Cruz, CA (ZIP 95064-1011).
NCES locale classification: Town.
Is University of California-Santa Cruz public or private?
University of California-Santa Cruz is a Public institution.
How much does University of California-Santa Cruz cost?
Published tuition: $16,005 in-state, $50,205 out-of-state.
Average net price after aid: $17,890.
| Family income band | Avg. net price |
|---|---|
| Family income $0–$30,000 | $8,717 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $10,613 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $14,418 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $18,986 |
| $110,001+ | $33,323 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $64,020.
How hard is it to get into University of California-Santa Cruz?
Admission rate: 65.79%.
Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.
How big is University of California-Santa Cruz?
Total enrollment: 17,940 students.
Undergraduate enrollment: 19,317 students.
Graduate enrollment: 1,998 students.
About 97% enroll full-time in our extract.
What is the graduation rate at University of California-Santa Cruz?
150%-time completion rate: 75.09%.
First-year retention: 87.9%.
What do graduates of University of California-Santa Cruz earn?
Median earnings: $49,716 six years after entry; $68,396 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).
How much debt do students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers: $16,666.
31.57% of students receive Pell grants.
What is University of California-Santa Cruz known for?
Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:
- Computer Science (719 completions)
- Psychology, General (524 completions)
- Business/Managerial Economics (306 completions)
- Cell/Cellular and Molecular Biology (199 completions)
- Film/Video and Photographic Arts, Other (179 completions)
- Sociology, General (176 completions)
- Political Science and Government, General (173 completions)
- Game and Interactive Media Design (149 completions)
- Environmental Studies (145 completions)
- Cognitive Science, General (143 completions)
See ROI & Programs for more.
Is University of California-Santa Cruz a good school?
We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show admission rate 65.79%; completion rate 75.09%; median earnings $68,396 at 10 years; net price $17,890. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.
Tuition & Cost
Tuition Costs
$16,005
2024 Undergraduate Tuition
In 2024, the cost of tuition at University of California-Santa Cruz was $16,005.
Tuition comparison with similar institutions.
Average Net Price
$17,890
2024 Value
In 2024 University of California-Santa Cruz had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $17,890.
Average net price comparison with similar institutions.
Total Cost of Attendance
$71,560 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost
$17,890 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)
$64,020 4-Year In-State Tuition
$200,820 4-Year Out-of-State Tuition
$19,948 Room & Board (annual, on-campus estimate)
$1,192 Books & Supplies (annual estimate)
$37,145 Estimated Annual Sticker (tuition + room/board + books)
$148,580 Estimated 4-Year Sticker (before aid)
4-year total cost breakdown for University of California-Santa Cruz.
Financial Aid by Income Level
31.57% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
28.36% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
0.00%
3-year cohort default rate (College Scorecard)
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at University of California-Santa Cruz was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for University of California-Santa Cruz in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $13,397 | $36,275 | $15,107 |
| 2014 | $13,397 | $36,275 | $16,086 |
| 2015 | $13,461 | $38,169 | $17,205 |
| 2016 | $13,539 | $40,221 | $16,989 |
| 2017 | $14,020 | $42,034 | $17,884 |
| 2018 | $13,960 | $42,952 | $17,699 |
| 2019 | $13,991 | $43,745 | $18,186 |
| 2020 | $14,025 | $43,779 | $17,930 |
| 2021 | $14,070 | $43,824 | $18,828 |
| 2022 | $14,240 | $44,312 | $17,601 |
| 2023 | $14,560 | $45,337 | $16,607 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
Acceptance Rate & Admissions
Acceptance Rate
65.79% Acceptance Rate
68,845 Total Applicants
43,054 Students Admitted
4,381 First-Time Students Enrolled
10.18% Yield (enrolled ÷ admitted)
This institution has a moderate acceptance rate, accepting most qualified applicants.
Acceptance rate compared to national average.
Test Scores
Test score data is not available for this institution.
Average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students.
Academic Requirements
GPA requirements are not published by this institution. Contact the admissions office for specific academic requirements.
Estimated GPA and test score ranges.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
University of California-Santa Cruz reported total enrollment of about 17,940 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 47% male and 53% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (30.6%), Hispanic or Latino (28.6%), and Asian (24.3%). About 31.57% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 36.7% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
97.1% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at University of California-Santa Cruz in 2024 is 17,940 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 19,317 students. Graduate enrollment is about 1,998 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
87.9%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
The largest enrollment share in our College Scorecard extract is White at 30.6%.
Shares are for total enrollment (undergraduate and graduate combined when reported).
College Scorecard student demographics.
Graduates & Outcomes
Time to Complete
61.48% 100% Completion Time
75.09% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 61.48% of students graduating from University of California-Santa Cruz completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Computer Science: 80% male / 20% female
- Psychology, General: 28% male / 72% female
- Business/Managerial Economics: 69% male / 31% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Combined IPEDS award counts across reported programs; largest group: White.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
ROI & Programs
Financial value and program information for University of California-Santa Cruz.
Return on Investment
$16,666 Median Student Debt
$68,396 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)
24.37% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio
855.79% Return on Investment
2.4 years Estimated Payback Period
Financial value analysis for University of California-Santa Cruz.
Top Programs by Completions
10 largest programs by IPEDS completions (of 82 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
1. Computer Science: 719 completions
2. Psychology, General: 524 completions
3. Business/Managerial Economics: 306 completions
4. Cell/Cellular and Molecular Biology: 199 completions
5. Film/Video and Photographic Arts, Other: 179 completions
6. Sociology, General: 176 completions
7. Political Science and Government, General: 173 completions
8. Game and Interactive Media Design: 149 completions
9. Environmental Studies: 145 completions
Most popular programs at University of California-Santa Cruz.
Employment Outcomes
Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.
Earnings outcomes for University of California-Santa Cruz graduates.
Operations
Instructional staffing and expenditure indicators for University of California-Santa Cruz from College Scorecard (not a full IPEDS finance statement).
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 84.9%
- Average faculty salary (Scorecard): $17,994
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $13,595
Endowment and detailed non-instructional staff counts require IPEDS Finance/HR surveys and are not in this extract.
Scorecard instructional metrics where reported.
About
University of California-Santa Cruz is a public institution located in Santa Cruz, CA, classified as Doctoral Universities: Very High Research Activity. In the latest IPEDS completions in our extract, the largest programs by awards were Computer Science, Psychology, General, Business/Managerial Economics. Enrollment is approximately 17,940 students. Student body composition includes White (30.6%), Hispanic or Latino (28.6%), Asian (24.3%). The admission rate is 65.79%. The 150%-time completion rate is 75.09%. Approximately 31.57% of students receive Pell Grants. About 36.7% of students are first-generation college students.
Institution Type
Public
Carnegie Classification: Doctoral Universities: Very High Research Activity
Location
Santa Cruz, CA 95064-1011
Region: Far West
Insights and Analysis
Diverse Program Offerings: With over 82 distinct degree programs, University of California-Santa Cruz provides students with a wide range of academic options. This diversity allows students to explore various fields and find programs that align with their interests and career goals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is University of California-Santa Cruz located?
University of California-Santa Cruz is located in Santa Cruz, CA.
What is University of California-Santa Cruz's acceptance rate?
The acceptance rate at University of California-Santa Cruz is 65.8% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 68,845 applicants and 43,054 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.
How much does University of California-Santa Cruz cost?
Reported tuition is $16,005 and average net price is $17,890 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $19,948 annually.
What is the student body demographics at University of California-Santa Cruz?
University of California-Santa Cruz reports undergraduate enrollment of about 19,317 students, White (30.6%), Hispanic or Latino (28.6%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend University of California-Santa Cruz?
About 36.7% of students at University of California-Santa Cruz are first-generation college students.
What do graduates of University of California-Santa Cruz earn?
Median earnings are $49,716 six years after entry and $68,396 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at University of California-Santa Cruz?
The 150%-time completion rate is 75.1% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do University of California-Santa Cruz students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $16,666.
Is University of California-Santa Cruz public or private?
University of California-Santa Cruz is a public institution located in Santa Cruz, CA.
Is University of California-Santa Cruz an HBCU?
No. University of California-Santa Cruz is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is University of California-Santa Cruz a tribal college?
No. University of California-Santa Cruz is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Is University of California-Santa Cruz a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI)?
By the common federal eligibility proxy used here (≥25% Hispanic enrollment in College Scorecard), yes—University of California-Santa Cruz reports 28.6% Hispanic enrollment share.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
- California college costs
- California colleges by ROI
- Far West regional profile
- All state profiles
- Regional profiles
- National benchmarks
- School directory
- All schools in California
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology
Data for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, which provides comprehensive information on institutions of higher education in the United States.
All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Graduation rates and completion times are calculated according to federal standards.