Aid signal
Strong aid for lower incomes
Reported net price for the $0–30k band runs below average.
Source: IPEDS 2024
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University of California-Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz, CA
University of California-Santa Cruz at a glance
University of California-Santa Cruz is a public university in Santa Cruz, California with 19,938 students (IPEDS, fall 2024 enrollment). It admitted 66% of applicants (IPEDS, applicants for fall 2024). Its published in-state tuition is $16,005 (IPEDS, charges for academic year 2024-25); students who received federal aid paid an average net price of $17,890 a year after grants (College Scorecard, a prior cohort). 75% of students finish within the federal tracking window (IPEDS, Graduation Rates 2024 collection: 4-year cohort 2018, 2-year cohort 2021); 28% of students take federal loans, and borrowers leave with a median $16,666 (College Scorecard). By program, the highest graduate earnings four years after finishing are in Computer Engineering, bachelor's ($124,641) and Computer Science, bachelor's ($123,422) (College Scorecard, 2017-19 graduates).
Tuition
$16,005
2024-25
Acceptance
66%
Fall 2024 applicants
Students
19,938
Fall 2024
Type
University
Setting
Urban
Cost & Financial Aid
In-State Tuition
$16,005
Out-of-State Tuition
$50,205
Avg On-Campus Living
$19,948
Avg Off-Campus Living
$19,560
Financial Aid & Outcomes
College Scorecard
What will it actually cost?
Sticker price: $35,953
Net price (after aid): $17,890
Most students pay the net price after financial aid, not the sticker price.
Net price by family income
$0 – $30k: $8,717
$30k – $48k: $10,613
$48k – $75k: $14,418
$75k – $110k: $18,986
$110k+: $33,323 (above the federal borrowing ceiling)
Can federal loans cover it? (2026 limits)
For families earning $110k+, the average net price here is above the $25,500 a first-year dependent student and their parents can borrow federally from 1 July 2026, by up to $7,823. That part has to come from savings, income, work, or private loans.
The ceiling is $5,500 in the student’s own Direct Loan plus up to $20,000 in Parent PLUS, which requires that the parent has no adverse credit history. Net prices are averages for a prior cohort of aid recipients, not a quote. Source: Federal Student Aid loan limits. Where this gap is largest.
After graduation
Median earnings (10yr): $68,396
Median debt at graduation: $16,666
Est. monthly loan payment: $177
Earnings-to-debt ratio
Strong · 4.1×Graduates earn about 4.1× their median debt every year.
Financial access
Students on Pell Grants: 32%
Pell Grants are federal aid for students from low-income families.
Students with federal loans: 28%
Share of students who borrowed to pay for school.
Some fields may not be reported by this institution. Verify final details with the school directly.
How does cost line up with outcomes across colleges? See our analysis of college cost vs. graduation and earnings, an association shaped by selectivity and sector, not proof a pricier college pays off.
FAFSA earnings check
: Not flaggedUniversity of California-Santa Cruz does not trigger the FAFSA's "lower earnings" notice. Its graduates' median earnings four years after completing were $70,747, above the $36,565 median for high school graduates aged 25 to 34 in California.
This is one figure for the whole institution, not for any program: earnings differ by credential and field. It covers graduates who completed in 2017-18 and 2018-19, received federal aid, and were working and not enrolled when earnings were measured in 2022 and 2023, in January 2026 dollars. The Department says the notice is informational only: it does not change aid eligibility. Source: U.S. Department of Education, FSA Data Center, March 2026 release. Which colleges are flagged, and what changed.
Student Outcomes
Graduation Rate
75%
Freshman Retention
88%
Source: IPEDS, charges for academic year 2024-25 (provisional release)
Final aid offers, scholarships, and net price vary per family. Always verify with the school's financial aid office.
Scholarships available
Decision support · Cost & value
Quick Decision Highlights
The strongest cost, aid, and value reasons to consider this school.
Strong post-grad earnings
$68.4k above avg
Manageable graduate debt
$16.7k below avg
Strong completion rate
75% above avg
Affordability snapshot
In-state tuition
$16k
Out-of-state
$50.2k
Net price
$17.9k
Pell
32%
Median debt
$16.7k
below avg
Earnings (10y)
$68.4k
above avg
“Avg” comparisons reference national IPEDS / College Scorecard averages (~2022–23); figures are directional and vary by school and year.
Admissions
Acceptance rate
66%
SAT range
Institution does not report this
Institution does not report this
ACT range
Institution does not report this
Institution does not report this
Source: IPEDS, applicants for fall 2024 (provisional release)
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Location
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UniversitiesCommunity Colleges1 school
Institution does not report this
Santa Cruz, CA 95064
Academics
Studying online: a small share study entirely online
In Fall 2023, 190 of University of California-Santa Cruz's 19,764 students (1%) were enrolled entirely at a distance. A further 5,613 (28%) took at least one distance course alongside in-person study.
Distance-education figures count STUDENTS enrolled in Fall 2023, not programs on offer. "Exclusively at a distance" means a student took only distance courses that term. A college with few or no such students may still run online courses or an online degree, so a low figure is not evidence that online study is unavailable, and a high one is not a judgement of quality either way.
U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS Fall Enrollment (distance education status), Fall 2023
Fields of study
University of California-Santa Cruz reported conferring credentials in 60 different fields to the federal government. See which ones, and at what credential level.
Campus & Student Life
Area Safety Rating
Decision support
Similar schools
Worth a closer look if University of California-Santa Cruz caught your interest.
University of California-Merced
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Tuition $15,623 91% acceptSame state. Similar tuition. Same school type.University of California-Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, CA
Tuition $16,414 33% acceptSame state. Similar tuition. Similar size.California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo, CA
Tuition $13,596 31% acceptSame state. Similar tuition. Similar size.University of California-Davis
Davis, CA
Tuition $16,774 42% acceptSame state. Similar tuition. Same school type.University of Massachusetts Global
Irvine, CA
Tuition $12,540 Open admissionSame state. Lower-cost option. Same school type.California State University-San Marcos
San Marcos, CA
Tuition $8,082 95% acceptSame state. Lower-cost option. Similar size.
Graduate earnings by program
What University of California-Santa Cruz graduates earn, by program
University of California-Santa Cruz's bachelor's graduates in Computer Science earned a median $123,422 four years after graduating, 15% above the $107,009 national median for the same program (2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23, College Scorecard). One year after graduating, a later class (2018-20 graduates, measured 2020-21) earned a median $75,150; the two figures describe different graduates, not one class's growth. Graduates who borrowed took out a median $16,499 in federal loans at this college (about $175 a month on a 10-year plan).
40 programs at University of California-Santa Cruz have federal earnings or debt figures, largest graduating classes first. Earnings: graduates of 2017-18 and 2018-19, earnings measured in 2022 and 2023, in 2024 dollars. Debt: graduates of 2018-19 and 2019-20. The national median is the same measure for every program in that field and credential in the U.S.
| Program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after | National median | Federal debt borrowed at this college (median) | Payment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Science, Bachelor's | $123,422 | $107,009, +15% | $16,499 | $175/mo |
| Psychology, Bachelor's | $59,948 | $50,706, +18% | $18,902 | $200/mo |
| Business/Managerial Economics, Bachelor's | $82,064 | $77,981, +5% | $16,519 | $175/mo |
| Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences, Bachelor's | $69,849 | $66,697, +5% | $18,534 | $196/mo |
| Sociology, Bachelor's | $55,338 | $52,657, +5% | $15,679 | $166/mo |
| Biology, Bachelor's | $65,036 | $57,214, +14% | $20,500 | $217/mo |
| Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services, Bachelor's | $49,763 | $49,984, about the same | $16,740 | $177/mo |
| Film and Photography, Bachelor's | $45,815 | $43,765, +5% | $15,692 | $166/mo |
| Economics, Bachelor's | $76,382 | $82,686, −8% | $18,017 | $191/mo |
| Natural Resources and Conservation, Bachelor's | $55,240 | $55,012, about the same | $18,487 | $196/mo |
| Political Science, Bachelor's | $65,890 | $63,293, +4% | $16,703 | $177/mo |
| Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology, Bachelor's | $49,821 | $48,842, about the same | $17,589 | $186/mo |
Compare what Computer Science pays at other colleges
What the job pays locally
- Electrical Engineering graduates train as electrical engineers: median $144,040 in California.
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025: everyone working in the job, every experience level, not only recent graduates.
Show 28 more programs
| Program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after | National median | Federal debt borrowed at this college (median) | Payment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Engineering, Bachelor's | $124,641 | $109,015, +14% | $23,434 | $248/mo |
| Non-Professional Legal Studies, Bachelor's | $66,244 | $61,959, +7% | $17,883 | $190/mo |
| Cognitive Science, Bachelor's | $72,125 | $81,496, −11% | $18,981 | $201/mo |
| Design and Applied Arts, Bachelor's | $66,333 | $51,490, +29% | — | — |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies, Bachelor's | $55,798 | $51,710, +8% | $19,500 | $207/mo |
| Anthropology, Bachelor's | $52,315 | $46,676, +12% | $16,035 | $170/mo |
| Fine and Studio Arts, Bachelor's | $40,156 | $41,367, −3% | $19,500 | $207/mo |
| Mathematics, Bachelor's | $59,214 | $69,562, −15% | $19,050 | $202/mo |
| History, Bachelor's | $60,519 | $50,680, +19% | $18,100 | $192/mo |
| IT Administration and Management, Bachelor's | $94,589 | $85,063, +11% | $20,020 | $212/mo |
| Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research, Master's | $73,343 | $66,232, +11% | $30,726 | $350/mo |
| Philosophy, Bachelor's | $51,398 | $54,455, −6% | $15,000 | $159/mo |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences, Bachelor's | $69,027 | $62,451, +11% | $19,000 | $201/mo |
| Chemistry, Bachelor's | $71,348 | $65,120, +10% | $15,000 | $159/mo |
| Biochemistry, Bachelor's | $88,305 | $65,466, +35% | $18,959 | $201/mo |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences, Bachelor's | $64,499 | $60,190, +7% | $20,833 | $221/mo |
| Astronomy and Astrophysics, Bachelor's | — | $68,333 | $20,400 | $216/mo |
| Physics, Bachelor's | — | $76,786 | $16,250 | $172/mo |
| Electrical Engineering, Bachelor's | $118,290 | $100,647, +18% | $16,796 | $178/mo |
| Community Organization and Advocacy, Bachelor's | $56,620 | $51,936, +9% | $15,862 | $168/mo |
| Theatre, Bachelor's | $30,524 | $39,775, −23% | $19,500 | $207/mo |
| Economics, Master's | $110,425 | $100,743, +10% | — | — |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, Bachelor's | $51,519 | $55,000, −6% | $15,124 | $160/mo |
| Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology, Doctoral | $70,373 | $97,173, −28% | — | — |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering, Bachelor's | $98,567 | $93,451, +5% | $23,000 | $244/mo |
| Computer Engineering, Master's | — | $136,736 | — | — |
| Graphic Communications, Bachelor's | $58,163 | $43,283, +34% | $20,411 | $216/mo |
| Behavioral Sciences, Bachelor's | $54,606 | $48,673, +12% | $17,000 | $180/mo |
Median earnings of graduates who received federal student aid, worked, and were not enrolled in school; debt is the median federal loans borrowed at this college by graduates who borrowed (Direct Subsidized, Unsubsidized and Grad PLUS; not Parent PLUS, private loans or interest). Programs with too few graduates are suppressed by the Department of Education. Monthly payment assumes a standard 10-year plan. Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard, field-of-study data, 10 June 2026. Download every program (CSV). Same degree, different paycheck: what the national data show. Over the Cap: graduate programs where typical debt exceeds the federal loan limits in force since July 2026.
Frequently asked questions
About University of California-Santa Cruz
Built from CampusPin profile data. Always verify final admissions, cost, financial aid, and program details with the institution before applying. See our data methodology and data dictionary.
- Where is University of California-Santa Cruz located?
- University of California-Santa Cruz is located in Santa Cruz, CA, in the United States.
- What type of institution is University of California-Santa Cruz?
- University of California-Santa Cruz is a public university based in CA. CampusPin classifies institutions as either four-year universities or two-year community colleges, with control labeled public or private.
- What is the acceptance rate at University of California-Santa Cruz?
- The most recently reported acceptance rate at University of California-Santa Cruz is approximately 66% (IPEDS, applicants for fall 2024). Acceptance rate signals selectivity but does not predict any individual applicant's outcome and is not a measure of school quality. CampusPin reports the federally-published value; verify the current cycle with the institution.
- What is the tuition at University of California-Santa Cruz?
- University of California-Santa Cruz's published in-state tuition is approximately $16,005 per year (IPEDS, charges for academic year 2024-25). This is the published price before financial aid; the net price most students actually pay is typically lower. Verify the current academic-year tuition with the institution before applying.
- How many students attend University of California-Santa Cruz?
- University of California-Santa Cruz reports total enrollment of approximately 19,938 students (undergraduate plus graduate) (IPEDS, fall 2024 enrollment). Total enrollment is a useful sizing signal, see the institutional profile for additional breakdowns when available.
- How much does University of California-Santa Cruz actually cost after financial aid?
- The average net price at University of California-Santa Cruz is approximately $17,890 per year. Net price is the total cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships that never have to be repaid, so it is what students actually paid rather than the published sticker price. What families pay varies with income: students from families earning under $30,000 paid about $8,717 on average, and those from families earning $110,000 or more about $33,323. These are averages for students who received federal aid in a prior cohort, not a quote for any individual family. Run the institution's own Net Price Calculator for a figure specific to you.
- What is the graduation rate at University of California-Santa Cruz?
- University of California-Santa Cruz reports a graduation rate of approximately 75% (IPEDS, Graduation Rates 2024 collection: 4-year cohort 2018, 2-year cohort 2021). This measures the share of a prior entering cohort who completed their degree within the federal tracking window. It reflects who enrolls as much as what the institution does, so it is not on its own a measure of teaching quality, and it is not comparable across institutions serving very different students.
- How much student debt do graduates of University of California-Santa Cruz have?
- Students who borrowed at University of California-Santa Cruz left with a median of approximately $16,666 in federal loans, and about 28% of students took federal loans at all. Both numbers matter: a median describes only the students who borrowed, so it reads very differently at a school where most students borrow than at one where few do. Federal loans only, so private and parent borrowing are not included.
- How much do graduates of University of California-Santa Cruz earn?
- Median earnings approximately ten years after entry are $68,396 for students who received federal financial aid at University of California-Santa Cruz. This reflects the mix of programs the institution offers and the students who enroll, not the effect of attending, and it covers aid recipients rather than all graduates.
- How should I verify final details about University of California-Santa Cruz?
- CampusPin compiles institutional data from public datasets like IPEDS and the College Scorecard, plus institutional websites and editorial review. Before applying, paying a deposit, or making a final decision, confirm admissions requirements, current tuition, financial aid, deadlines, and program details directly with University of California-Santa Cruz.
- How much do Computer Science graduates from University of California-Santa Cruz earn?
- University of California-Santa Cruz's bachelor's graduates in Computer Science earned a median $123,422 four years after graduating, 15% above the $107,009 national median for the same program (2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23, College Scorecard). One year after graduating, a later class (2018-20 graduates, measured 2020-21) earned a median $75,150; the two figures describe different graduates, not one class's growth. Graduates who borrowed took out a median $16,499 in federal loans at this college (about $175 a month on a 10-year plan).
- How much do Psychology graduates from University of California-Santa Cruz earn?
- University of California-Santa Cruz's bachelor's graduates in Psychology earned a median $59,948 four years after graduating, 18% above the $50,706 national median for the same program (2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23, College Scorecard). One year after graduating, a later class (2018-20 graduates, measured 2020-21) earned a median $30,730; the two figures describe different graduates, not one class's growth. Graduates who borrowed took out a median $18,902 in federal loans at this college (about $200 a month on a 10-year plan).
- Which programs at University of California-Santa Cruz have the highest graduate earnings?
- Among the 32 programs at University of California-Santa Cruz with a federal earnings figure from at least 30 graduates, the highest medians four years after graduating were Computer Engineering, bachelor's ($124,641); Computer Science, bachelor's ($123,422); and Electrical Engineering, bachelor's ($118,290) (2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23, College Scorecard). That order is one federal measure, not a ranking of program quality: earnings reflect the field and where graduates go to work as well as the program.
- Does University of California-Santa Cruz get a "lower earnings" warning on the FAFSA?
- No. In the Department of Education's March 2026 data, which the FAFSA uses now, University of California-Santa Cruz's graduates' median earnings four years after completing were $70,747, above the $36,565 median for high school graduates aged 25 to 34 in California, so first-year students who list it do not see the lower-earnings notice. The figure describes the whole institution, not any one program.
Fields this college awarded credentials in
The 14 largest of 60 fields University of California-Santa Cruz reported, by credentials conferred in 2024-25, using the federal classification of each field. The level is the highest credential actually awarded, which is not always the one a field is best known for.
| Field | Awarded | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Computer Science | 773 | Graduate (80 graduate · 693 bachelor's) |
| Behavioral Sciences | 541 | Bachelor's |
| Business/Managerial Economics | 262 | Bachelor's |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | 208 | Graduate (24 graduate · 184 bachelor's) |
| Sociology | 199 | Graduate (11 graduate · 188 bachelor's) |
| Computer Engineering | 197 | Graduate (9 graduate · 188 bachelor's) |
| Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services | 193 | Graduate (13 graduate · 180 bachelor's) |
| Biology, General | 184 | Bachelor's |
| Cognitive Science | 182 | Bachelor's |
| Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology | 176 | Graduate (24 graduate · 152 bachelor's) |
| Political Science and Government | 157 | Graduate (5 graduate · 152 bachelor's) |
| Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences | 156 | Graduate (15 graduate · 141 bachelor's) |
| Fine and Studio Arts | 155 | Bachelor's |
| Graphic Communications | 144 | Bachelor's |
Fields are as classified in the federal IPEDS completions collection, which records credentials already conferred. A field listed here was awarded in the reporting year; it does not confirm the program is currently admitting students, and a field CampusPin has no guide for is still shown under its official federal title. Confirm current offerings with the institution.
Explore more
Compare colleges side by side. All colleges in California. California college costs by family income. Student debt at California colleges. Computer science in California. Business in California. Nursing in California. Psychology in California. Engineering in California.
Always verify final admissions, cost, financial aid, and program details with University of California-Santa Cruz before applying.
Data sources & methodology
Reporting period: 2024. Last verified: June 10, 2026.
Facts on this profile of University of California-Santa Cruz are compiled from federal datasets and the institution's own published information.
Sources used across this page
Not every source informs every figure. Each data point draws on the source appropriate to it see the relevant section and the data dictionary for field-level provenance.
IPEDS / NCES College Navigator
Federal enrollment, admissions, tuition, retention, and program data. Released annually with a 1–2 year lag.
U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard
Net price by income band, post-graduation earnings, and federal aid context.
Clery Act campus security reports
Annual campus security and fire-safety disclosures required of U.S. institutions.
Institutional websites
Each school's official admissions, registrar, and financial-aid pages are the authoritative source for current details.
Where a value is unavailable it is shown as unavailable, never as 0, free, or a negative judgment. Always confirm final details with the institution before applying.
Suggested citation
CampusPin. (2024). University of California-Santa Cruz, college profile. Retrieved from https://campuspin.com/schools/university-of-california-santa-cruz
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