Santa Cruz, California · Public ·City
University of California-Santa Cruz
At a glance
Basics
- Type
- Public
- Setting
- City
- Enrollment
- 17,940 students
- Women / Men
- 52.8% / 47.2%
Admissions
- Acceptance rate
- 65.8%
Cost
- Avg net price
- $17,890
- Sticker price
- $41,179
- Tuition (in-state)
- $16,005
- Tuition (out-of-state)
- $50,205
Outcomes
- Graduation rate
- 75.1%
- Retention rate
- 88%
- Median earnings (10y)
- $68,396
- Median debt
- $16,666 (~$181/mo)
Financial aid
- On Pell grants
- 31.6%
- Take federal loans
- 28.4%
All majors at University of California-Santa Cruz
70 programs listed in federal data. Every row opens a school-specific page; listings without a positive program signal stay available for users but out of Google's index.
Cost & ROI
Is University of California-Santa Cruz worth it?
Pay $17,890/yr after aid. Graduates earn a median of $68,396 ten years out — about 3.8× the annual cost. Value grade: B.
- Avg net price
- $17,890/yr
- Median earnings
- $68,396/yr (10y out)
- Median debt
- $16,666~$181/mo
- 4-year est. cost
- $71,560net of aid
Frequently asked questions
What is University of California-Santa Cruz's acceptance rate?
University of California-Santa Cruz admits 65.8% of applicants — accessible on admissions, compared to the national average of 72.3%.
How much does University of California-Santa Cruz cost per year?
The average annual net price — what students actually pay after grants and scholarships — is $17,890. The sticker price before any aid is $41,179, so most students receive substantial discounts. Over four years that net cost adds up to roughly $71,560.
How much debt do University of California-Santa Cruz graduates have?
Graduates leave University of California-Santa Cruz with a median federal student loan balance of $16,666, which works out to about $181 per month on a standard 10-year repayment plan. About 28.4% of students take federal loans.
Is University of California-Santa Cruz worth the cost?
Ten years after enrolling, University of California-Santa Cruz graduates earn a median of $68,396 per year (national median: $50,834). That's about 3.8× the annual net price. EduGradify assigns University of California-Santa Cruz a value grade of B.
What is the graduation rate at University of California-Santa Cruz?
75.1% of full-time undergraduates graduate from University of California-Santa Cruz within six years of enrolling — national average is 49.9%. First-year retention is 88%.
What are the most popular majors at University of California-Santa Cruz?
70 programs are listed in federal data; 58 have positive share data. The largest reported major at University of California-Santa Cruz is Computer Science (12.3%), followed by Psychology, General (8.3%).
What percent of University of California-Santa Cruz students receive financial aid?
31.6% of University of California-Santa Cruz students receive a federal Pell Grant — the main need-based federal aid program. 28.4% take federal student loans.
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