University of California - Santa Cruz
About
The University of California, Santa Cruz is a public land-grant research university in Santa Cruz, California, United States. It is one of the ten campuses in the University of California system. Located in Monterey Bay, on the edge of the coastal community of Santa Cruz, the main campus lies on 2,001 acres (810 ha) of rolling, forested hills overlooking the Pacific Ocean. As of Fall 2024, its ten residential colleges enroll some 17,940 undergraduate and 1,998 graduate students. Satellite facilities in other Santa Cruz locations include the Coastal Science Campus and the Westside Research Park and the Silicon Valley Center in Santa Clara, along with administrative control of the Lick Observatory near San Jose in the Diablo Range and the Keck Observatory near the summit of Mauna Kea in Hawaii.
Admissions & acceptance rate
First-time freshman admissions: how selective the college is, and how many admitted students choose to enroll.
Graduation rate & outcomes
Completion, retention, and the equity gap between Pell and non-Pell students.
Pell equity
Non-Pell students graduate at a 5.6-point higher rate than Pell recipients.
Source: IPEDS Graduation Rates (GR) — Pell/SSL cohort, 2024 cohort.
Program outcomes
Federal Program Performance Data: how each program's graduate earnings and debt measure up under Financial Value Transparency and Gainful Employment.
Of 116 Title IV programs, 35 pass the federal Gainful Employment test and 1 fails. 80 have graduate earnings too small to publish, so they carry no pass/fail verdict.
Pass / fail distribution
- Passing35 · 30.2%
- No Data80 · 69.0%
- Failing1 · 0.9%
Severity spectrum
Tiers band programs by how far graduate earnings sit above or below the benchmark, from Critical (below −15%) through Safe (above +25%). No data means earnings were privacy-suppressed.
Earnings premium gap
Graduate earnings versus the federal benchmark, worst gaps first.
Debt vs earnings
Median completer debt against median graduate earnings, highest burden first.
Accreditation status & history
Who accredits the institution, current standing, and any past actions.
WASC Senior College and University Commission
Programmatic accreditations · 1
Action history · 4
- Mar 2024Grant Substantive Change: ProgramWASC Senior College and University Commission
- Aug 2023Grant Substantive Change: ProgramWASC Senior College and University Commission
- Dec 2022Renewal of AccreditationAmerican Psychological Association, Commission on Accreditation · Professional Psychology (IPSY) - Predoctoral internship programs
- Feb 2016Renewal of AccreditationWASC Senior College and University Commission
Tuition & cost
What families actually pay, broken down by family income.
Net price by family income
Negative values mean aid exceeds the published cost of attendance for that income band.
Federal aid volume & trends
Pell grants and federal Direct Loan volume disbursed to students, and how they've trended.
In AY 2024–25, 6,443 students received $42.7M in Pell grants, alongside $63.3M in federal Direct Loans.
Pell recipients · 5-year trend
Loan volume by type · AY 2024–25
Loan awards count each loan type a student holds, not unique borrowers; one student may carry several (e.g. subsidized and unsubsidized), so the per-type figures are the reliable detail.
Student loan default rate
The share of student borrowers who default on federal loans within three years, against the national benchmark.
Of 3,444 borrowers who entered repayment, 45 (1.3%) defaulted within three years — below the 2.3% national rate.
Default rate vs national, by cohort
* Cohorts 2020 and later read near 0% because the federal COVID-19 payment pause (CARES Act) suspended defaults nationwide. These years reflect a national policy, not institutional performance; the 2019 cohort is the last measured under normal repayment.
Academic programs at UCSC
Top program areas ranked by completions.
Top program families by completions
Enrollment trends & demographics
Fall headcount, 12-month unduplicated enrollment, and student body composition.
Gender split
Race / ethnicity composition
Athletics & Title IX gender equity
How athletic participation, aid, and spending are split between men and women.
Men vs women · spending splits
Sport-by-sport · 7
Campus safety & crime statistics
Reported on-campus crimes over the last three years, including violence and hate crimes.
3-year trend
Criminal offenses by type
By location
- On campus95
- Non-campus4
- Public property1
Includes 58 in residence halls (a subset of on-campus, not added to the total).
VAWA offenses
Hate crimes by bias
- Religion2
- National origin2
- Race1
Arrests vs disciplinary referrals
Residence-hall fires
- Cowell1 fireCookingDamage $50,000-$99,999
- Porter2 firesSmoking materialsDamage $1,000-$9,999
- Porter2 firesElectricalDamage $100-$999
- John. R Lewis1 fireElectricalDamage $1,000-$9,999
Data quality: 7 reports were later determined unfounded across the reporting period and are excluded from the totals above.
Student-faculty ratio
Student-to-faculty ratio and instructional staff counts.
UCSC vs Peer comparison
The peer institutions UCSC selected for federal comparison reporting.
A larger shape on any axis means this institution outperforms its peers on that dimension. For acceptance rate and net price, lower raw values are inverted so "more selective" and "more affordable" appear larger.
| Carnegie | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SubjectUniversity of California-Santa Cruz | 75% | 65.8% | 19,938 | $17,890 | R1 Research |
| 82% | 38.6% | 18,816 | $21,620 | R1 Research | |
| 82% | 60.7% | 8,044 | $28,690 | R1 Research | |
| Not reported | 68.5% | 9,536 | No freshman cohort | R1 Research | |
| 71% | 81.7% | 20,295 | $19,406 | R1 Research | |
| 64% | 86.3% | 26,374 | $20,787 | R1 Research | |
| 67% | 77.6% | 23,150 | $17,595 | R1 Research | |
| 57% | 82.1% | 17,135 | $22,499 | R1 Research | |
| 73% | 65.1% | 13,247 | $16,504 | R1 Research | |
| 64% | 95.0% | 11,952 | $15,543 | R1 Research | |
| 65% | 85.0% | 26,323 | $21,637 | R1 Research | |
| 68% | 75.0% | 27,278 | $17,447 | R1 Research | |
| 46% | 90.4% | 23,743 | $14,638 | R1 Research | |
| 49% | 95.9% | 10,811 | $16,784 | R1 Research | |
| 50% | 99.9% | 25,039 | $9,403 | R1 Research | |
| 61% | 69.1% | 17,560 | $17,167 | R1 Research | |
| 64% | 88.2% | 20,905 | $18,749 | R1 Research | |
| 64% | 68.6% | 8,564 | $18,796 | R1 Research | |
| 46% | 74.7% | 23,124 | $11,900 | R1 Research | |
| 64% | 86.6% | 20,028 | $15,664 | R1 Research | |
| 69% | 93.5% | 29,792 | $18,059 | R1 Research | |
| 53% | 87.0% | 15,665 | $13,530 | R1 Research | |
| 61% | 79.4% | 23,065 | $17,988 | R1 Research | |
| 55% | 96.6% | 12,029 | $17,510 | R1 Research | |
| 69% | 72.4% | 13,906 | $16,467 | R1 Research | |
| 51% | 72.0% | 20,276 | $12,397 | R1 Research | |
| 72% | 96.6% | 26,449 | $13,314 | R1 Research | |
| 67% | 87.5% | 24,393 | $17,747 | R1 Research | |
| 61% | 73.7% | 23,024 | $15,927 | R1 Research | |
| 76% | 88.2% | 13,554 | $23,805 | R1 Research | |
| 54% | 95.2% | 23,124 | $15,489 | R1 Research | |
| 72% | 88.3% | 24,404 | $22,182 | R1 Research | |
| 49% | 99.1% | 13,170 | $21,708 | R1 Research | |
| 53% | 90.7% | 22,450 | $15,014 | R1 Research | |
| 57% | 92.5% | 28,904 | $14,936 | R1 Research | |
| 58% | 81.2% | 23,803 | $12,766 | R1 Research | |
| Peer group median | 64% | 85.7% | 20,600 | $17,447 |
Institutions like UCSC
Explore the federal data for institutions in UCSC's comparison group.
- R1 ResearchNew York
Binghamton University
Grad rate82%Admit rate38.6%Enrollment18,816Net price$21,620View data - R1 ResearchColorado
Colorado School of Mines
Grad rate82%Admit rate60.7%Enrollment8,044Net price$28,690View data - R1 ResearchNew York
CUNY Graduate School and University Center
Grad rateNot reportedAdmit rate68.5%Enrollment9,536Net priceNo freshman cohortView data - R1 ResearchKansas
Kansas State University
Grad rate71%Admit rate81.7%Enrollment20,295Net price$19,406View data - R1 ResearchOhio
Kent State University at Kent
Grad rate64%Admit rate86.3%Enrollment26,374Net price$20,787View data - R1 ResearchMississippi
Mississippi State University
Grad rate67%Admit rate77.6%Enrollment23,150Net price$17,595View data - R1 ResearchMontana
Montana State University
Grad rate57%Admit rate82.1%Enrollment17,135Net price$22,499View data - R1 ResearchNew Jersey
New Jersey Institute of Technology
Grad rate73%Admit rate65.1%Enrollment13,247Net price$16,504View data - R1 ResearchNorth Dakota
North Dakota State University-Main Campus
Grad rate64%Admit rate95.0%Enrollment11,952Net price$15,543View data - R1 ResearchOhio
Ohio University-Main Campus
Grad rate65%Admit rate85.0%Enrollment26,323Net price$21,637View data - R1 ResearchOklahoma
Oklahoma State University-Main Campus
Grad rate68%Admit rate75.0%Enrollment27,278Net price$17,447View data - R1 ResearchVirginia
Old Dominion University
Grad rate46%Admit rate90.4%Enrollment23,743Net price$14,638View data - R1 ResearchMontana
The University of Montana
Grad rate49%Admit rate95.9%Enrollment10,811Net price$16,784View data - R1 ResearchTexas
The University of Texas at El Paso
Grad rate50%Admit rate99.9%Enrollment25,039Net price$9,403View data - R1 ResearchNew York
University at Albany
Grad rate61%Admit rate69.1%Enrollment17,560Net price$17,167View data - R1 ResearchAlabama
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Grad rate64%Admit rate88.2%Enrollment20,905Net price$18,749View data - R1 ResearchAlabama
University of Alabama in Huntsville
Grad rate64%Admit rate68.6%Enrollment8,564Net price$18,796View data - R1 ResearchColorado
University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus
Grad rate46%Admit rate74.7%Enrollment23,124Net price$11,900View data - R1 ResearchHawaii
University of Hawaii at Manoa
Grad rate64%Admit rate86.6%Enrollment20,028Net price$15,664View data - R1 ResearchKansas
University of Kansas
Grad rate69%Admit rate93.5%Enrollment29,792Net price$18,059View data - R1 ResearchLouisiana
University of Louisiana at Lafayette
Grad rate53%Admit rate87.0%Enrollment15,665Net price$13,530View data - R1 ResearchKentucky
University of Louisville
Grad rate61%Admit rate79.4%Enrollment23,065Net price$17,988View data - R1 ResearchMaine
University of Maine
Grad rate55%Admit rate96.6%Enrollment12,029Net price$17,510View data - R1 ResearchMaryland
University of Maryland-Baltimore County
Grad rate69%Admit rate72.4%Enrollment13,906Net price$16,467View data - R1 ResearchTennessee
University of Memphis
Grad rate51%Admit rate72.0%Enrollment20,276Net price$12,397View data - R1 ResearchMississippi
University of Mississippi
Grad rate72%Admit rate96.6%Enrollment26,449Net price$13,314View data - R1 ResearchNebraska
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Grad rate67%Admit rate87.5%Enrollment24,393Net price$17,747View data - R1 ResearchNevada
University of Nevada-Reno
Grad rate61%Admit rate73.7%Enrollment23,024Net price$15,927View data - R1 ResearchNew Hampshire
University of New Hampshire-Main Campus
Grad rate76%Admit rate88.2%Enrollment13,554Net price$23,805View data - R1 ResearchNew Mexico
University of New Mexico-Main Campus
Grad rate54%Admit rate95.2%Enrollment23,124Net price$15,489View data - R1 ResearchOregon
University of Oregon
Grad rate72%Admit rate88.3%Enrollment24,404Net price$22,182View data - R1 ResearchMississippi
University of Southern Mississippi
Grad rate49%Admit rate99.1%Enrollment13,170Net price$21,708View data - R1 ResearchWisconsin
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Grad rate53%Admit rate90.7%Enrollment22,450Net price$15,014View data - R1 ResearchUtah
Utah State University
Grad rate57%Admit rate92.5%Enrollment28,904Net price$14,936View data - R1 ResearchMichigan
Wayne State University
Grad rate58%Admit rate81.2%Enrollment23,803Net price$12,766View data
UCSC Institutional Research office
The IR team responsible for the institution's federal reporting.
IRAPS provides accurate, timely, and contextualized information that is responsive to the needs of the campus community. Our work promotes university effectiveness, supports strategic planning, and informs decision making across the campus.
Visit IR office page- Cinnamon DanubeSenior Institutional Research Analyst
- Rory HigginsSenior Institutional Research Analyst
- Mallory JacksonInstitutional Research Analyst
- Yichen LeeSenior Institutional Research Analyst
- Shirley TruongInterim Director
- Randy UangSenior Survey Research Analyst
Common Data Set
UCSC's own annual Common Data Set: the most detailed self-reported reference for selectivity, cost, outcomes, and the student body.
Selectivity & Admissions
Admissions funnel
C166,374 applied → 48,274 admitted (72.7%) → 4,596 enrolled.
Selectivity
C1Accessible — 72.7% acceptance rate.
Admit rate by gender
C1Admit rate varies by gender.
Waitlist outcome
C29,881 offered a waitlist spot, 6,444 accepted it, 2,648 admitted (41.1% of those who stayed on).
What matters in admission
C7Relative importance of each admission factor.
Academic Experience
Degrees by discipline
JSTEM-dominant: ~41% of bachelor's degrees are in computing, engineering, math & sciences.
Student Body & Diversity
Undergrad vs graduate
B118,194 undergraduates and 1,946 graduate students.
Transfer Path
Transfer admissions
D112,832 transfer applicants → 8,860 admitted (69.0%) → 1,322 enrolled — more selective than first-year admission.
Source publications
Reports & documents (2)
Dashboards, factbooks, data dictionaries, and other reference material published by the IR office.
Notable alumni of UCSC (43)
A curated list of alumni recognized for notable achievements across industries.
- William Drea AdamsAcademia
- Michelle AndersonAcademia
- Yoav FreundAcademia
- Kristen R. GhodseeAcademia
- Victor Davis HansonAcademia
- Susie BrightArts and Letters
- William FinneganArts and Letters
- Laurie GarrettArts and Letters
- Steve MartiniArts and Letters
- David TalbotArts and Letters
- Jonah PerettiBusiness
- Susan WojcickiBusiness
Frequently asked questions about University of California-Santa Cruz
Quick answers to the questions most often asked about UCSC.
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About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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