University of California-Santa Cruz is a public 4-year college in Santa Cruz, California with 17,940 undergraduates. It admits 66% of applicants, costs an average of $18,549 a year after grants and graduates 74% of its students.
Figures from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, released October 15, 2026. What each number covers.
University of California-Santa Cruz acceptance rate and admissions
University of California-Santa Cruz admitted 66% of applicants for fall 2024. The median acceptance rate at 4-year colleges is 77%.
Test scores: Neither required nor recommended (as reported for fall 2024 admission). That means you can apply without SAT or ACT scores. Check the admissions office for the current policy.
University of California-Santa Cruz tuition, cost and net price
| Tuition and fees, in-state (2025-26) | $16,585 |
|---|---|
| Tuition and fees, out-of-state (2025-26) | $54,187 |
| On-campus housing and food (2025-26) | $20,929 |
| Total cost of attendance (2024-25) | $43,867 |
| Average net price after grants (2024-25) | $18,549 |
Students who get federal aid pay an average of $18,549 a year after grants and scholarships, $25,318 less than the full cost of attendance. This figure covers in-state students.
What families pay, by income
Average yearly cost after grants for aided first-time students paying in-state tuition, by family income (2024-25):
Your own price depends on your family's full situation. Run University of California-Santa Cruz's net price calculator for a personal estimate, or make a "what it costs us" card.
University of California-Santa Cruz graduation rate, earnings and debt
- 74% of first-time, full-time students finished within six years (students who started in 2019).
- Former students earned a median of $73,362 a year, 10 years after they started (students who received federal aid and were working).
- Students who completed left with a median of $15,000 in federal student loans.
Earnings compared
Debt compared
Median debt is 20% of median earnings 10 years after entry. Many advisers suggest keeping total student debt below one year of expected pay. See the monthly payment.
University of California-Santa Cruz majors and what graduates earn
University of California-Santa Cruz awarded bachelor's degrees in 49 fields recently. The best-paid graduates four years out came from computer engineering ($124,641).
All 49 majors at University of California-Santa Cruz
| Major | Graduates (2023-24) | Earnings 1 yr after | Earnings 4 yrs after | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer engineering | 154 | $103,729 | $124,641 | $18,146 |
| Computer science | 655 | $82,863 | $123,422 | $15,482 |
| Electrical engineering | 50 | $84,803 | $118,290 | $20,999 |
| Biomedical engineering | 4 | $72,918 | $98,567 | n/a |
| IT and network administration | 107 | $65,266 | $94,589 | $14,083 |
| Biochemistry and molecular biology | 43 | $52,133 | $88,305 | $15,000 |
| Business/Managerial Economics | 306 | $59,361 | $82,064 | $13,500 |
| Economics | 132 | $52,535 | $76,382 | $14,500 |
| Cognitive Science | 143 | $40,140 | $72,125 | $12,000 |
| Chemistry | 38 | $56,661 | $71,348 | $13,850 |
| Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences | 184 | $47,445 | $69,849 | $15,000 |
| Neuroscience | 37 | $45,764 | $69,027 | $18,032 |
| Graphic and industrial design | 149 | n/a | $66,333 | n/a |
| Legal studies | 114 | $41,760 | $66,244 | $13,803 |
| Political science | 166 | $43,393 | $65,890 | $14,500 |
| Biology | 218 | $39,216 | $65,036 | $15,000 |
| Geology and earth sciences | 52 | $55,437 | $64,499 | $15,000 |
| History | 97 | $35,042 | $60,519 | $15,000 |
| Psychology | 507 | n/a | $59,948 | n/a |
| Mathematics | 57 | $41,374 | $59,214 | $14,250 |
| Community Organization and Advocacy | 26 | $43,689 | $56,620 | $13,000 |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies | 117 | $39,295 | $55,798 | $14,006 |
| Sociology | 170 | $40,718 | $55,338 | $13,500 |
| Environmental science | 166 | $35,486 | $55,240 | $14,020 |
| Anthropology | 101 | $28,719 | $52,315 | $15,000 |
| Romance languages | 17 | $39,769 | $51,519 | n/a |
| Philosophy | 48 | $33,889 | $51,398 | $15,000 |
| Ecology and evolutionary biology | 166 | $31,819 | $49,821 | $14,000 |
| Linguistics | 193 | $29,608 | $49,763 | $15,543 |
| Film and photography | 175 | $26,183 | $45,815 | $15,000 |
| Fine and studio arts | 144 | $28,838 | $40,156 | $15,117 |
| Theater | 34 | $29,817 | $30,524 | $17,500 |
| Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education | 80 | $30,814 | n/a | $15,051 |
| Physical Sciences, General | 66 | n/a | n/a | $14,620 |
| Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology | 50 | $74,517 | n/a | $18,211 |
| Applied mathematics | 45 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Physics | 43 | $72,553 | n/a | n/a |
| Astronomy | 36 | n/a | n/a | $17,273 |
| Agricultural Production Operations | 26 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Public health | 20 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Plant and soil science | 10 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Music | 10 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Biotechnology | 8 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | 5 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Teacher education by subject | 3 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Archeology | 2 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Area Studies | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Microbiological Sciences and Immunology | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Interdisciplinary studies, other | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
Four-year earnings: graduates of 2017-18 and 2018-19, measured in 2022 and 2023, in 2024 dollars. Fields with few graduates have no published earnings.
Graduate programs at University of California-Santa Cruz
67 graduate programs awarded degrees recently. Largest first.
Show 67 graduate programs
Students and location
- 17,940 degree-seeking undergraduates (fall 2024)
- 53% women, 47% men
- 22 students for every faculty member
- Setting: small city
- Accredited by Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission
Frequently asked questions
What is the acceptance rate at University of California-Santa Cruz?
University of California-Santa Cruz admitted 66% of applicants for fall 2024, according to the U.S. Department of Education.
How much does University of California-Santa Cruz cost?
Tuition and fees for 2025-26 are $16,585 for in-state students and $54,187 for out-of-state students. After grants and scholarships, aided students paid an average net price of $18,549 a year in 2024-25.
Is University of California-Santa Cruz test-optional?
For fall 2024 admission, University of California-Santa Cruz reported that test scores were: neither required nor recommended. Policies change, so confirm with the admissions office.
What is the graduation rate at University of California-Santa Cruz?
74% of first-time, full-time students finished within six years.
How much do University of California-Santa Cruz graduates make?
Former students who received federal aid earned a median of $73,362 a year 10 years after they started, in 2024 dollars.
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More: all colleges in California · University of California-Santa Cruz on the College Scorecard
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard, data release of October 15, 2026. What each figure means and the year it covers.