More selective than 57% of California colleges we cover.
College Scorecard, Fall 2024 entering class
Average after grants for all families receiving federal aid. Pick your income above.
Sticker price $41,179. College Scorecard.
Higher than 71% of California colleges we cover and 86% of colleges nationwide. U.S. median 54%.
Within 6 years · College Scorecard
Higher than 63% of California colleges we cover and 84% of colleges nationwide. U.S. median $53,263.
Median, 10 years after starting · College Scorecard
University of California-Santa Cruz acceptance rate & admissions
Of 68,845 applicants, University of California-Santa Cruz admitted 43,054 and 4,381 enrolled (IPEDS, Fall 2023 entering class).
IPEDS Admissions, Fall 2023 entering class
Test scores: College Scorecard, Fall 2024. Other figures: College Scorecard; IPEDS
University of California-Santa Cruz tuition, cost & net price
What families actually pay per year, by income
Average net price after grants and scholarships for California residents who receive federal aid. Tap your income band.
College Scorecard, latest reported year (in-state, federal aid recipients)
Sticker price (before aid)
IPEDS 2023-24 cost items; total from College Scorecard
College Scorecard; Urban Institute Education Data Portal
State aid: California residents who meet income, asset and GPA standards may receive a Cal Grant (California Student Aid Commission); apply with the FAFSA or California Dream Act Application. At University of California and California State University campuses, the Middle Class Scholarship can also help families with income and assets up to $250,000 (2026-27, dependent students). Not included in the prices above. California Student Aid Commission
University of California-Santa Cruz majors, earnings & careers
University of California-Santa Cruz offers 57 bachelor's majors across 9 areas. Earnings below are for this school's graduates of each major, four years after finishing.
- Science & Math · 20
- Humanities & Languages · 10
- Social Sciences & Public Service · 9
- Arts & Design · 5
- Technology & Computing · 5
- Engineering · 3
- Business & Finance · 2
- Education · 2
- Communications & Media · 1
Highest-earning majors at University of California-Santa Cruz
| Major | Earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|
| Computer Engineering | $124,641 | $23,392 |
| Computer Science | $123,422 | $16,666 |
| Electrical Engineering | $118,290 | $17,048 |
| Biomedical Engineering | $98,567 | $22,500 |
| Information Technology | $94,589 | $20,020 |
| Biochemistry | $88,305 | $18,959 |
| Business Economics | $82,064 | $16,500 |
| Economics | $76,382 | $18,017 |
Quick list of all 57 majors
- Agricultural Production Operations—
- Anthropology$52,315
- Applied Mathematics—
- Archeology—
- Area Studies—
- Astronomy and Astrophysics—
- Behavioral Sciences$54,606
- Biochemistry$88,305
- Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Other—
- Biology$65,036
- Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology—
- Biomedical Engineering$98,567
- Biotechnology—
- Business Economics$82,064
- Cell / Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences$69,849
- Chemistry$71,348
- Classics—
- Cognitive Science$72,125
- Community Organization and Advocacy$56,620
- Computer and Information Sciences—
- Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services, Other—
- Computer Engineering$124,641
- Computer Science$123,422
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology$49,821
- Economics$76,382
- Education (Subject Teaching)—
- Electrical Engineering$118,290
- English Language and Literature / Letters, Other—
- Environmental Science / Conservation$55,240
- Ethnic / Gender Studies$55,798
- Film and Photography$45,815
- Geology / Earth Science$64,499
- Graphic / Interior / Fashion Design$66,333
- Graphic Communications$58,163
- History$60,519
- Information Technology$94,589
- Legal Studies / Paralegal$66,244
- Linguistics$49,763
- Mathematics$59,214
- Multi / Interdisciplinary Studies, Other—
- Music—
- Natural Sciences—
- Neuroscience$69,027
- Philosophy$51,398
- Physical Sciences—
- Physics—
- Plant Sciences—
- Political Science$65,890
- Psychology$59,948
- Psychology (Research)—
- Religious Studies—
- Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education—
- Sociology$55,338
- Software and Media Applications—
- Spanish / French / Romance Languages$51,519
- Studio Art$40,156
- Theatre$30,524
— means too few graduates to report earnings.
College Scorecard field of study, latest release
All majors by area with earnings 1 and 4 years out, and debt →Computer Science → Software developer
Median annual wage for all workers in this job, not only new graduates. U.S. jobs projected to grow 10.2% from 2025 to 2035.
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025; Employment Projections 2025-35
Environmental Science / Conservation → Environmental scientist
Median annual wage for all workers in this job, not only new graduates. U.S. jobs projected to grow 6.1% from 2025 to 2035.
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025; Employment Projections 2025-35
Living in Santa Cruz
Overall prices in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA area.
BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024
2 bedrooms $4,254. Housing costs 64% above the U.S. average.
HUD Fair Market Rent, FY2027
January and July average highs. 31 inches of rain a year, almost no snow.
NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
Highest: river flooding (relatively high).
FEMA National Risk Index, Santa Cruz County
Campus & students
IPEDS fall enrollment; Carnegie Classification; EADA via Urban Institute
Santa Cruz County at a glance
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year 2024
Compare University of California-Santa Cruz with similar schools
Similar public colleges in California by selectivity, graduation rate and size. Tap “Why?” to see where the price difference comes from.
| School | Acceptance | You'd pay | Graduation | Earnings, 10 yrs | Price gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of California-Santa Cruz | 66% | $17,890 | 75% | $68,396 | This school |
| University of California-Riverside | 76% | $14,304 | 76% | $67,699 | |
| California State Polytechnic University-Pomona | 75% | $11,531 | 68% | $71,902 | |
| Foothill College | — | $7,653 | 56% | $57,072 | |
| San Diego Mesa College | — | $5,814 | 35% | $45,120 |
College Scorecard, latest reported year. “You'd pay” follows your residency and income choices above.
Why the price is different
University of California-Santa Cruz would cost you $3,586 more per year than University of California-Riverside, on average.
- Higher sticker price at University of California-Santa Cruz, mostly from more University of California-Riverside students living at home, which lowers its average (+$2,207).
- University of California-Riverside gives aided families $1,349 more in grants, on average.
| Per year, California resident | University of California-Santa Cruz | University of California-Riverside | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition & fees | $16,005 | $15,606 | +$399 |
| Books & supplies | $1,315 | $1,748 | −$433 |
| Housing & meals | $18,785 | $19,433 | −$648 |
| Personal & travel | $5,646 | $4,934 | +$712 |
| Living-at-home adjustment | −$572 | −$2,779 | +$2,207 |
| Sticker price | $41,179 | $38,942 | +$2,237 |
| Average grants | −$23,289 | −$24,638 | +$1,349 |
| You pay | $17,890 | $14,304 | +$3,586 |
“+” means University of California-Santa Cruz costs more; “−” means it costs less. Grants are the sticker price minus the net price. Cost items: IPEDS, on-campus budget. Sticker and net price: College Scorecard, latest reported year; the adjustment reconciles the two. Net price is an average for first-time, full-time students receiving federal aid, not a quote.
Common questions about University of California-Santa Cruz
What is the University of California-Santa Cruz acceptance rate?
University of California-Santa Cruz accepts 66% of applicants (College Scorecard). In the latest IPEDS admissions year, 43,054 of 68,845 applicants were admitted.
How much does University of California-Santa Cruz cost per year?
The sticker price (cost of attendance) is $41,179 a year for in-state students. After grants and scholarships, students receiving federal aid pay $17,890 a year on average; families earning $0–30k pay $8,717 and families earning $110k+ pay $33,323.
How much do University of California-Santa Cruz graduates earn?
Former University of California-Santa Cruz students earn a median $68,396 ten years after starting college, compared with a U.S. median of $53,263 across the colleges we cover.
What is the University of California-Santa Cruz graduation rate?
75% of first-time, full-time students graduate within six years, and 88% return for their second year.
Is University of California-Santa Cruz the right fit for your family?
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Sources on this page: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS; U.S. Census Bureau (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS, Employment Projections); Bureau of Economic Analysis; HUD; NOAA; FEMA; Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-By); Wikidata. “Colleges we cover” means colleges awarding bachelor's degrees to at least 100 undergraduates. Averages are not quotes; confirm costs with the school. How we score
Data: download this school's data (JSON) · Markdown · all datasets
Cite this: “University of California-Santa Cruz: cost, admissions and outcomes,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/university-of-california-santa-cruz (College Scorecard and IPEDS data).