PublicUrbanUniversity of California-Santa Cruz
UC Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz, California 95064-1011
Data last updated: August 29, 2026
Strong graduate outcomes — known for computer science
University of California-Santa Cruz is a public institution in Santa Cruz with particular strength in computer science and biology.
A large campus of 17.8K undergraduates with a 22:1 student-faculty ratio. The urban location puts students at the center of city life.
74% of students graduate within four years, and graduates earn a median of $68,396 a decade after enrollment. Net price after aid averages $16,607.
Rankings
More About This School
Varsity Sports
History & Fun Facts
- •The Cowell Lime Works operated on the entirety of what is now the Santa Cruz campus until 1920.
- •In December 1959, the Regents voted to focus their site selection process on the Almaden Valley in San Jose (i.
- •The formal design process for the Santa Cruz campus began in the late 1950s, culminating in the Long Range Development Plan of 1963.
- •1963 was also the year when the Regional History Project, an oral history project and the first major research project of UCSC, was started.
- •The first plan was to build the campus on what is now the Great Meadow, so it would be close to the existing city of Santa Cruz.
Source: Wikipedia
Schools Like This
University of California-San Francisco
San Francisco, CA · Urban · Public
University of California-Riverside
Riverside, CA · Urban · Public
California State Polytechnic University-Pomona
Pomona, CA · Suburban · Public
University of Massachusetts Global
Aliso Viejo, CA · Suburban · Public
Admissions
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard / IPEDS.
Typical Application Requirements
Cost & Financial Aid
Sticker Price
Net Price by Family Income
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Net price reflects most recent cohort of federally-aided undergraduates.
Debt & Aid Detail
Graduate w/ Zero Debt
71.0%
Median Debt at Grad
$14,334
Programs (134)
Outcomes
Median Earnings After Graduation
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings reflect federally-aided students 6 and 10 years after entry.
Student Life
Student Satisfaction
Retention Rate
90%
Student Body
Race & Ethnicity
Campus Safety
Total Incidents (2024)
137
Peer Average
92
3-Year Trend
Emergency System
24/7 campus police department, blue-light phone network, emergency mass notification system
Incident Breakdown (2024)
Burglary
Aggravated Assault
Robbery
Motor Vehicle Theft
Sex Offenses
Arson
Drug Arrests
Liquor Arrests
Source: U.S. Department of Education Campus Safety & Security data (Clery Act, 2024 reporting year).
Location & Lifestyle
Cost of Living
Estimated from CA state average + city premium