More selective than 57% of California colleges we cover. U.S. median 77%.
College Scorecard, Fall 2024 entering class
Share of students sending scores not reported.
IPEDS Admissions, Fall 2023 entering class
Called “yield.” A high yield means many admitted students choose University of California-Santa Cruz over other offers.
IPEDS Admissions, Fall 2023 entering class
Applicants, admits and enrollment
IPEDS Admissions, Fall 2023 entering class (first-time, degree-seeking undergraduates). Newer counts arrive with the next IPEDS release.
GPA and test scores of admitted students
The middle 50% of students University of California-Santa Cruz admitted. A quarter of admitted students were below the lower number and a quarter above the upper one. GPAs are weighted, as the source defines them.
| Admitted for | GPA | SAT | ACT | CLT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall 2026 | 3.79–4.2 | — | — | — |
University of California Office of the President (UC Admissions), First-year admit data, fall 2026 (one page per campus). UC GPA (A-G courses, grades 10-11, honors points capped); 79,048 applicants, 64,867 admits; UC does not consider SAT/ACT Federal ranges below describe enrolled students; use the admitted ranges to judge your chances.
University of California-Santa Cruz admissions year over year
| Entering class | Acceptance | SAT reading | SAT math | ACT | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall 2024 | 66% | — | — | — | College Scorecard |
| Fall 2023 | 63% | — | — | — | IPEDS |
Score ranges are the 25th–75th percentiles. Each year is kept as published; we add a year with every federal release.
How selective is University of California-Santa Cruz compared with other California colleges?
University of California-Santa Cruz has the 40th-lowest acceptance rate of 92 California colleges we cover. Schools around it:
| Rank | College | Acceptance | Graduation | Avg. net price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36 | Vanguard University of Southern California | 62% | 57% | $21,241 |
| 37 | Pepperdine University | 63% | 83% | $58,098 |
| 38 | Fresno Pacific University | 64% | 50% | $13,630 |
| 39 | Chapman University | 65% | 82% | $46,555 |
| 40 | University of California-Santa Cruz | 66% | 75% | $17,890 |
| 41 | Concordia University-Irvine | 66% | 58% | $28,115 |
| 42 | Menlo College | 68% | 54% | $31,100 |
| 43 | University of La Verne | 71% | 63% | $20,161 |
| 44 | University of the Pacific | 71% | 69% | $25,447 |
College Scorecard, Fall 2024 entering class. All California colleges →
Who enrolls at University of California-Santa Cruz
College Scorecard; IPEDS
University of California-Santa Cruz admissions questions
What is the University of California-Santa Cruz acceptance rate?
University of California-Santa Cruz accepts 66% of applicants, about 1 in 2. For the Fall 2023 entering class, 43,054 of 68,845 applicants were admitted.
Does University of California-Santa Cruz require the SAT or ACT?
University of California-Santa Cruz does not consider SAT or ACT scores (test-blind), according to its federal admissions report for Fall 2023.
What GPA and SAT score do you need for University of California-Santa Cruz?
The middle 50% of students admitted to University of California-Santa Cruz for Fall 2026 had a weighted GPA of 3.79–4.2 (First-year admit data, fall 2026 (one page per campus)). Below the lower number on any measure makes University of California-Santa Cruz a reach; at or above the upper number on every measure makes it likely.
How many admitted students enroll at University of California-Santa Cruz?
10% of admitted students enrolled in Fall 2023 (4,381 of 43,054).
Is University of California-Santa Cruz getting harder to get into?
University of California-Santa Cruz accepted 66% of applicants for Fall 2024, compared with 63% for Fall 2023.
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Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS Admissions; years shown with each figure. “Colleges we cover” means colleges awarding bachelor's degrees to at least 100 undergraduates. Back to University of California-Santa Cruz overview