University of California-Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz, California · Public, 4-year
At a glance
Average net price
$17,890
In-state, after aid
6-year graduation rate
75.1%
Admission rate
66%
Undergrad size
17,940
In-state tuition
$16,005
Out-of-state tuition
$50,205
Cost of attendance
$41,179
Median earnings (10y)
$68,396
Admissions
- SAT average
- Not available
- ACT midpoint
- Not available
- Retention
- 87.9%
- Locale
- City
Programs breakdown
20 program areas reported · Academic mix is led by stem (46%), social sciences (26%), humanities & arts (20%).
- STEM46%
- Health0%
- Business7%
- Humanities & arts20%
- Social sciences26%
- Trades & services1%
- Computer science16.3%~2,919 students/yr · STEMCompare schools
- Biological sciences14.9%~2,677 students/yr · STEMCompare schools
- Social sciences10.2%~1,830 students/yr · Social sciencesCompare schools
- ~1,807 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
- Psychology9.6%~1,726 students/yr · Social sciencesCompare schools
- Business6.5%~1,171 students/yr · BusinessCompare schools
- ~870 students/yr · STEMCompare schools
- Engineering4.4%~797 students/yr · STEMCompare schools
- ~698 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
- ~612 students/yr · STEMCompare schools
- ~547 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
- ~404 students/yr · Social sciencesCompare schools
- Legal2.2%~400 students/yr · Social sciencesCompare schools
- Mathematics2.1%~370 students/yr · STEMCompare schools
- History2.0%~359 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
- Education1.6%~292 students/yr · Social sciencesCompare schools
- ~151 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
- Agriculture0.8%~138 students/yr · Trades & servicesCompare schools
- ~100 students/yr · Social sciencesCompare schools
- ~74 students/yr · HealthCompare schools
Share of all degrees and certificates awarded in each broad CIP-2 program area (U.S. Department of Education, latest reporting year). Estimated students/yr = share × undergrad size.
Specific majors offered
40 specific majors with reported completions. Earnings shown are median annual earnings 1 year after graduation; debt is median student-loan debt at graduation.
| Major | Credential | Grads | Median earnings | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Science. | Bachelor's | 1,265 | $63,040 | $16,666 |
| Psychology, General. | Bachelor's | 930 | $27,446 | $18,902 |
| Business/Managerial Economics. | Bachelor's | 567 | $46,826 | $16,500 |
| Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences. | Bachelor's | 415 | $34,270 | $19,000 |
| Sociology. | Bachelor's | 415 | $27,765 | $16,500 |
| Biology, General. | Bachelor's | 399 | $29,134 | $20,703 |
| Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services. | Bachelor's | 367 | $23,717 | $17,491 |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts. | Bachelor's | 345 | $24,155 | $16,439 |
| Economics. | Bachelor's | 321 | $41,483 | $18,017 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research. | Bachelor's | 320 | $28,054 | $18,500 |
| Political Science and Government. | Bachelor's | 313 | $29,390 | $16,782 |
| Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology. | Bachelor's | 277 | $26,448 | $18,887 |
| Computer Engineering. | Bachelor's | 257 | $75,207 | $23,392 |
| Non-Professional Legal Studies. | Bachelor's | 257 | $36,945 | $18,416 |
| Cognitive Science. | Bachelor's | 252 | $33,286 | $19,500 |
| Design and Applied Arts. | Bachelor's | 246 | $31,645 | — |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies. | Bachelor's | 242 | $29,282 | $19,747 |
| Anthropology. | Bachelor's | 234 | $27,008 | $17,875 |
| Fine and Studio Arts. | Bachelor's | 216 | $23,275 | $19,500 |
| Mathematics. | Bachelor's | 212 | $30,252 | $19,232 |
| History. | Bachelor's | 197 | $24,560 | $18,279 |
| Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management. | Bachelor's | 190 | $54,725 | $20,020 |
| Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education. | Bachelor's | 128 | — | — |
| Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research. | Master's | 114 | $53,511 | — |
| Philosophy. | Bachelor's | 111 | $28,735 | $15,832 |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences. | Bachelor's | 108 | $23,543 | $19,500 |
| Chemistry. | Bachelor's | 108 | $38,243 | $15,000 |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology. | Bachelor's | 106 | $38,972 | $18,959 |
| Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology. | Bachelor's | 104 | — | — |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences. | Bachelor's | 97 | $36,107 | $20,833 |
| Computer Science. | Master's | 95 | — | — |
| Astronomy and Astrophysics. | Bachelor's | 90 | — | $20,500 |
| Physical Sciences, General. | Bachelor's | 83 | — | — |
| Physics. | Bachelor's | 80 | $36,552 | $16,250 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering. | Bachelor's | 70 | $66,378 | $17,048 |
| Computer Software and Media Applications. | Master's | 66 | — | — |
| Community Organization and Advocacy. | Bachelor's | 62 | $29,789 | $17,750 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering. | Master's | 55 | — | — |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft. | Bachelor's | 55 | $20,333 | $19,500 |
| Economics. | Master's | 49 | — | — |
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard Field of Study. Earnings cover graduates who received federal financial aid and are working / not enrolled. Cells marked "—" are not reported or were suppressed for privacy.
About University of California-Santa Cruz
University of California-Santa Cruz is a very large institution located in Santa Cruz, California, primarily awarding the bachelor's degree. It enrolls roughly 17,940 undergraduate students in a city setting. The most popular fields of study include Computer science, Biological sciences, Social sciences.
Cost & tuition
The average net price at University of California-Santa Cruz — what a typical student actually pays after grants and scholarships — is $17,890 per year, which is moderately priced compared to other U.S. institutions. Sticker tuition runs $16,005 for in-state students and $50,205 for out-of-state students before aid. Total cost of attendance, including housing, books, and living expenses, comes to about $41,179 annually.
Graduation & earnings outcomes
The 6-year graduation rate is 75.1%, a strong completion outcome. 87.9% of first-time students return for a second year, a useful proxy for student satisfaction and academic fit. Ten years after enrolling, the median graduate earns $68,396 per year according to U.S. Department of Education earnings tracking.
Programs & majors
University of California-Santa Cruz confers degrees and certificates across 20 broad program areas, with the largest concentrations of completions in Computer science, Biological sciences, Social sciences. Grouped into wider academic categories, the mix is led by stem (46% of credentials), social sciences (26% of credentials), humanities & arts (20% of credentials), which gives a quick read on the school's overall academic profile. Use the programs breakdown below to see every reported area, an estimated number of students per program per year, and links to compare other U.S. colleges in the same field.
Admissions
University of California-Santa Cruz accepts 66% of applicants, making it moderately selective.
Location & campus
Set in Santa Cruz, California (city), University of California-Santa Cruz draws students from across California and beyond. Prospective students often weigh proximity, cost of living, and local industry demand when choosing between schools in this area.
Frequently asked questions about University of California-Santa Cruz
Q.How much does University of California-Santa Cruz cost?
The average net price at University of California-Santa Cruz is $17,890 per year after grants and scholarships, with total cost of attendance around $41,179.
Q.What is the graduation rate at University of California-Santa Cruz?
University of California-Santa Cruz has a 6-year graduation rate of 75.1% according to the latest U.S. Department of Education data.
Q.How hard is it to get into University of California-Santa Cruz?
University of California-Santa Cruz admits 66% of applicants, which is considered moderately selective.
Q.How much do University of California-Santa Cruz graduates earn?
Ten years after enrolling, the median University of California-Santa Cruz graduate earns $68,396 per year.
Q.What is tuition at University of California-Santa Cruz?
Published tuition is $16,005 in-state and $50,205 out-of-state. Most students pay less than the sticker price after financial aid.
Q.Where is University of California-Santa Cruz located?
University of California-Santa Cruz is located in Santa Cruz, California (ZIP 95064).
Data on this page comes from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS, the federal sources colleges are required to report to. Net price, graduation rate, and earnings figures reflect the latest available federal release. Always verify current tuition and program availability directly with University of California-Santa Cruz at their official website.