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© 2025 Tuition Covered. All Rights Reserved.
OverviewTuition & CostsReturn on EducationAdmissionsMajors & DegreesStudentsReviews
  1. Colleges
  2. Catalog
  3. University of California-Santa Cruz

Estimated Net Cost
Average for college across all majors
 

(per year)
$17k

Estimated Post Grad Salary
Average for college across all majors
 

(per year)
$53k

Return on Education

(post 4-year graduation)
Excellent
The University of California-Santa Cruz is a public university located in Santa Cruz, California, founded in 1965. Known for its picturesque campus overlooking the Pacific Ocean, UC Santa Cruz is recognized for its strong programs in environmental studies and marine sciences. The university is also famous for its unique mascot, the Banana Slug.

Pros

  • Beautiful natural surroundings

  • Strong research programs

  • Diverse student body

  • Focus on environmental sustainability

Cons

  • High cost of living

  • Limited public transportation options

  • Distance from major urban centers

  • Can feel isolated from other UC campuses

Tuition and Costs

Understanding Tuition Costs at University of California-Santa Cruz: Navigating college expenses doesn't have to be complicated. Our comprehensive guide to tuition, fees, and other associated costs breaks down everything you need to know about financing your education at University of California-Santa Cruz. Find out how we make higher education affordable and what financial options are available to you.

Most Recent Tuition Costs

Understanding Tuition Costs at University of California-Santa Cruz: Navigating college expenses doesn't have to be complicated. Our comprehensive guide to tuition, fees, and other associated costs breaks down everything you need to know about financing your education at University of California-Santa Cruz. Find out how we make higher education affordable and what financial options are available to you.

Yearly4 years
Tuition and Fees
Average Tuition, including fees before grants and scholarships.
 
$14,560$58,240
Room and Board
This is the average, based on staying on-campus
 
$18,785$75,140
Books and Supplies
The expenditure on books and supplies for an average student at University of California-Santa Cruz
 
$1,315$5,260
Other expenses
The amount of money (estimated by the financial aid office at University of California-Santa Cruz) needed by a student to cover expenses such as laundry, transportation, entertainment, and furnishings.
 
$5,646$25,056
Sticker Price$40,306$163,696

Historical Tuition Costs

Based on historical data, in-state tuition is expected to rise by approximately $505 per year over the next three years, reaching $16,630 in 2024, and $17,134 in 2025, and $17,639 in 2026.

Return On Education

Admissions

University of California-Santa Cruz admissions is selective with an acceptance rate of 47%. The application deadline can be found on the institution's website.
47%Admission Rate
77%Graduation Rate

Admissions Requirements

SAT Range
ACT Range -
High School GPA

N/A

Key dates

Application DeadlineSee college website
Early Decision DateSee college website
Early Action DateSee college website

Majors & Degrees

Explore the range of academic programs offered at this institution.
EngineeringBachelor's Degree
⌄
Computer Engineering•Bachelor's Degree, Master's Degree, Doctoral Degree – Research
Electrical Engineering•Bachelor's Degree, Master's Degree, Doctoral Degree – Research
Systems Engineering•Master's Degree, Doctoral Degree – Research
HistoryBachelor's Degree, Master's Degree, Doctoral Degree – Research
⌄
Political Science•Bachelor's Degree, Master's Degree, Doctoral Degree – Research
LinguisticsBachelor's Degree, Master's Degree, Doctoral Degree – Research
⌄
Romance Languages, Literatures & Linguistics•Bachelor's Degree
Classic Languages, Literatures & Linguisitics•Bachelor's Degree
EducationMaster's Degree, Doctoral Degree – Research
⌄
Education Assessment•Master's Degree, Doctoral Degree – Research
Teaching•Bachelor's Degree
BiologyBachelor's Degree
⌄
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology•Bachelor's Degree
Biomathematics•Bachelor's Degree, Master's Degree, Doctoral Degree – Research
Ecology•Bachelor's Degree, Master's Degree, Doctoral Degree – Research
MathematicsBachelor's Degree, Master's Degree, Doctoral Degree – Research
⌄
Applied Mathematics•Master's Degree, Doctoral Degree – Research
Statistics•Master's Degree, Doctoral Degree – Research
ChemistryBachelor's Degree, Master's Degree, Doctoral Degree – Research
PhysicsBachelor's Degree, Master's Degree, Doctoral Degree – Research
AnthropologyBachelor's Degree, Master's Degree, Doctoral Degree – Research
ArcheologyBachelor's Degree
SociologyBachelor's Degree, Master's Degree, Doctoral Degree – Research

Student Life

Learn about the community, campus culture, and experiences that shape student life at this college.

Student Breakdown

Total Enrollment4,381
Full-time Students4,365
Part-time Students16

Faculty

Faculty-Student Ratio:23:1
Full-Time FacultyN/A
Part-Time FacultyN/A

Reviews and Ratings

For complete transparency we combine scores from across the web to give you a true picture of what students think about University of California-Santa Cruz. Additionally, we have our own score which can be used alongside these external sources.

Tuition Covered Rating
(4.0)
Niche
(3.6)
US News
(4.2)

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Investing in higher education is a pivotal step towards future prosperity. It's essential to weigh the upfront costs against the potential for increased lifetime earnings and career opportunities. Our ROEdu score aims to help you understand tuition, living expenses, and financial aid, alongside the long-term benefits of earning a degree. By making informed decisions about where and what you study, you can maximize the return on your educational investment, turning the cost of your degree into a foundation for future success and financial security.

RoEDU
843
University of California-Santa Cruz is distinguished by a high ROEdu, suggesting graduates enjoy considerable financial and professional rewards that surpass the costs of their education.

University of California-Santa Cruz

Public
Santa Cruz, CA
City