Skip to content
College Path Hub

University of California-Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz, California · Public · 4-year · City

Compare this college

Official website

At a glance

Average net price
$17,890What students typically pay per year after grants and scholarships.
Acceptance rate
66%
Graduation rate
75%Share of students who finish within 150% of the normal time.
Undergraduates
17,940
In-state tuition
$16,005Published price before aid.
Out-of-state tuition
$50,205
SAT midpoint
Not reported
Median earnings, 10 yrs
$68,396Median earnings of former students ten years after they first enrolled.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Data year: 2022-23 academic year. Updated September 2026. Figures are averages across all students and will differ from what any individual pays.

How it compares to similar colleges

Each rating covers one measure against public 4-year colleges nationally. Five stars means the top fifth on that measure. There is no overall score, because which of these matters is your call.

Affordability

$17,890

Better than 24% of public 4-year colleges (565 compared).

Completion

75%

Better than 89% of public 4-year colleges (566 compared).

Earnings

$68,396

Better than 85% of public 4-year colleges (590 compared).

Debt at graduation

$16,666

Better than 84% of public 4-year colleges (588 compared).

What these ratings are based on
Affordability
Based on average net price: what students receiving federal aid actually paid, after grants and scholarships. Your own cost depends on your family's finances.
Completion
Based on the share of first-time, full-time students who graduate within 150% of normal time. It excludes transfer and part-time students, which understates colleges serving many of them.
Earnings
Based on median earnings ten years after students first enrolled. It reflects the subjects a college teaches and the region it sits in as much as its teaching.
Debt at graduation
Based on median federal loan debt among students who completed. Private and parent loans are not included, so real totals are often higher.
Why there is no rating for selectivity
A lower acceptance rate is selectivity, not quality. Awarding stars for it would be us inventing a value judgement and hiding it behind a number.

What it actually costs

Published cost

$41,179

The sticker price: tuition, fees, housing, food and books for one academic year, before any aid.

Average net price

$17,890

What students receiving federal aid actually paid on average, after grants and scholarships. This is the more useful number, though your own figure depends on your family’s finances.

What would this cost me?
Use this college’s official net price calculator

Outcomes

Graduation, retention, debt and earnings for University of California-Santa Cruz
Graduation rateWithin 150% of normal time75%
Retention rateFirst-year students who return88%
Median debt at graduationFederal loans only, students who completed$16,666
Median earnings, 10 years after entryFormer students, working and not enrolled$68,396

What graduates of each major earn

Median earnings one year after finishing, for people who took that subject here. This is the figure a college-wide median hides: the spread between subjects at one college is usually far wider than the spread between colleges.

Bachelor’s programs at University of California-Santa Cruz by graduate earnings
MajorEarnings, 1 yrDegrees awarded
Computer Engineering$79,969125
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering$78,84230
Computer Science$75,150658
Biomedical/Medical Engineering$55,8565
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management$55,77392
Business/Managerial Economics$52,029280
Economics$50,518159
Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences$45,088178
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences$43,36255
Mathematics$40,79896
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology$40,32057
Chemistry$39,70054
Physics$37,85936
Biology, General$37,651215
Non-Professional Legal Studies$36,941126
Cognitive Science$35,384123
Astronomy and Astrophysics$35,17140
History$33,081104
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics$32,93416
Political Science and Government$31,882141
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies$31,140120
Psychology, General$30,730499
Philosophy$30,28551
Community Organization and Advocacy$29,61731
Natural Resources Conservation and Research$29,152167
Behavioral Sciences$28,709Not reported
Sociology$28,495192
Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology$25,810153
Graphic Communications$25,358Not reported
Neurobiology and Neurosciences$25,03446
Film/Video and Photographic Arts$23,614173
Anthropology$23,152124
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services$21,793175
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft$21,63824
Fine and Studio Arts$21,106115
Design and Applied ArtsNot reported132
Social and Philosophical Foundations of EducationNot reported70
Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational BiologyNot reported58
Physical Sciences, GeneralNot reported58
Applied MathematicsNot reported19
MusicNot reported15
Plant SciencesNot reported13
Agricultural Production OperationsNot reported13
BiotechnologyNot reported6
Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and LinguisticsNot reported5
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject AreasNot reported4
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, OtherNot reported2
ArcheologyNot reported1
Computer and Information Sciences, GeneralNot reportedNot reported
English Language and Literature/Letters, OtherNot reportedNot reported
Natural SciencesNot reportedNot reported
Area StudiesNot reportedNot reported
Computer Software and Media ApplicationsNot reportedNot reported
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services, OtherNot reportedNot reported
Religion/Religious StudiesNot reportedNot reported
Research and Experimental PsychologyNot reportedNot reported
Biological and Biomedical Sciences, OtherNot reportedNot reported

All 57 bachelor’s programs this college reported.

Similar colleges