18 June 2026: QS World University Rankings 2027 has been released on 18 June 2026. University of California, Santa Cruz is ranked #458 among 1,500+ universities. Check out QS World University Rankings 2027 trend analysis
University of California [UCSC]: Ranking, Courses, Fees, Admission 2022 & Scholarships
Santa Cruz, California
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Why Study at University of California, Santa Cruz?
- Programs: University of California, Santa Cruz offers 64 undergraduate majors, 41 minors, and 65 graduate programs. Top ranked programs at UCSC are Geophysics and Linguistics with ranks #51 and #53 respectively.
- Admission Requirement: To secure admission at University of California-Santa, Applicants are required to have an average GPA of 3.6. However, students are recommended to strive for a 3.78 GPA. In addition, students admitted to UC Santa Cruz have an average SAT score of 1200-1380.
- Cost of Attendance: UC students at all campuses pay the same USD 12,570 in systemwide tuition and fees. However, international students pay an additional USD 29,754 in nonresident supplemental tuition, which makes a total of USD 42,324 i.e 31.54 lakhs. Also Check: Cost of Living in USA.
- Campus: Student Organizations, Advising, and Resources (SOAR) facilitate up to 174 student organizations pertaining to different interests of students at the campus of UCSC. The university also has 21 competitive sports clubs and 15 recreational sports.
University of California, Santa Cruz Rankings
It is one of the most reputed universities in the USA. The rankings of the University of California Santa Cruz by reputed agencies are tabulated below:
- #347 QS World University Rankings 2022
- #80 US Universities by QS Ranking 2022
- #103 in National Universities by US News & World Report 2022
- #70 in Most Innovative Schools by US News & World Report 2022
- #191 in Best Value Schools by US News & World Report 2022
- #46 in Top Public Schools by US News & World Report 2022
Highlights
| Institution Type | Public |
| Establishment Year | 1965 |
| Location | Santa Cruz, California |
| Campus Setting | Suburban |
| Student population | 19,494 |
| % of international students | 7.6% |
| Acceptance Rate | 64.7% |
| Retention Rate | 89% |
| Graduation Rate | 75% |
| Student to faculty ratio | 25:1 |
| No. of Campuses | 10 |
| Financial Aid | Scholarships |
University of California, Santa Cruz Campus
University of California, Santa Cruz campus covers 2,000 acres of land overlooking the scenic Monterey Bay. Out of the total area, 55% of the land has been designated as a protected natural landscape. There is one main campus and two satellite campuses in Silicon Valley Campus, and Santa Clara Coastal Science Campus.
- The University has two library buildings - McHenry Library, and Science and Engineering Library that provides access to a large number of research guides, digital collections, video games, journals, general books, both remotely and physically to students.
- Student Organizations, Advising, and Resources (SOAR) facilitates up to 174 student organizations pertaining to the different interests of students.
- As a part of UC Santa Cruz Athletics and Recreation, some sports and recreational facilities are available at the university’s east and west campuses. These include a swimming pool, dance studio, gym, golf court, lower field, fitness center, basketball courts, multi-purpose room, martial arts studio, racquetball courts, tennis courts, etc
- There are 21 competitive sports clubs and 15 recreational sports are open to students at the university.
University of California, Santa Cruz Accommodation
There are mainly four types of accommodation facilities available at UCSC namely In-class accommodation, Coursework accommodation, Exam accommodation, and other accommodation
- The facility includes in-house halls are furniture, adaptive equipment, dining halls, ADA accessible rooms, debunked beds, visual fire alarm, parking and van service, etc
- All undergraduate students living in residence halls must select a 7-Day or 5-Day Meal plan.
- Slug meals are easy and affordable dining options for students living off-campus.
- Rents for resident halls, suite and all undergraduate apartments as well as meal plan costs are billed at the beginning of each semester.
Also Check:
University of California, Santa Cruz Courses
- Programs offered at the UCSC include 64 undergraduate majors, 41 minors, and 65 graduate programs.
- Graduate programs are offered in 60 degree tracks.
- The University offers programs through 5 divisions i.e. Arts, Engineering, Humanities, Physical and Biological Sciences, and Social Sciences.
- Through a part of the school’s academic facet called USSC Extension, are offered online programs that comprise 350 courses, 27 certificates, 151 open sections, and 243 online instructors.
- Different types of programs such as Pre Law, Premedicine, Education, etc. are offered at the university which serves as pathways for different majors.
University of California, Santa Cruz Application Process
Candidates seeking admission to the University of California, Santa Cruz must note that the admission process and requirements vary for undergraduate and graduate applicants. An international applicant can apply either as a freshman or transfer student. The University only offers Fall enrollment. International applicants must take note of the following details before applying:
Application Portal: University of California Application for Admission
Application Fee: 80 USD
Admission Requirements:
- High/secondary school transcripts with records of grades/ marks in each subject
- Certificate of completion
- SAT/ ACT scores (optional for Fall 2021 and 2022)
- Letter of Recommendation
- Copy of passport
- Financial documents
- English language proficiency test scores
- TOEFL iBT- 6.5
- IELTS- 80
University of California, Santa Cruz Cost of Attendance
The annual budget for undergraduate and graduate students enrolling in 2022-23 Fall, Winter, and Spring is given in the table below. The cost of attendance for international undergraduate students is as follows:
| Category | Cost for UG in INR | Cost for PG in INR |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition and Fees | 33.49 lakhs | 22.16 lakhs |
| Room and Board |
13.34 lakhs |
16.42 lakhs |
| Books and Supplies |
0.87 lakhs |
0.49 lakhs |
| Transportation |
0.61 lakhs |
1.35 lakhs |
| Personal Expenses |
1.17 lakhs |
1.74 lakhs |
|
Campus Health Insurance |
2.26 lakhs |
3.80 lakhs |
University of California, Santa Cruz Scholarships/Financial Aid
University of California, Santa Cruz offers a plethora of undergraduate scholarships with a cumulative value of over 3.7 million USD every year to all undergraduate students. International students are only eligible to apply for the Dean’s Award and Regents Scholarship. The details of these awards are as follows:
- Undergraduate Dean's Scholarships: With a varying value of 12,000 USD to 40,000 USD spread over four years, this scholarship is awarded to newly admitted non-resident freshmen who exhibit academic and cultural contributions to the community of scholars. It is an automatic scholarship, so there is no need for a separate application.
- Regents Scholarship: This is the highest honor awarded by the University to entering undergraduates. The value of this award is 20,000 USD paid over 4 years. Additionally, students also receive a housing guarantee as a part of the award. It is given to students with outstanding academic records.
- The University has also provided a list of private resources that can help international students to find scholarships to study in the U.S.
Also Check:
University of California, Santa Cruz Alumni Network
Over the years, University of California, Santa Cruz has produced more than 130,000 alumni around the world. The members of the university alumni association are entitled to several benefits and services that include:
- Library access like free borrowing privileges at participating UC campus libraries.
- Alumni can use the university's campus for wedding purposes at affordable rates.
- Alumni online locator service through the alumni Online Directory for old roommates and UCSC friends.
- Discounts on ticket prices for most of UCSC’s Arts Division Performances.
Notable Alumni:
- Dana Priest –American Journalist
- Jayne Ann Krentz -American writer
- Andy Samberg –Actor
- Cary Joji Fukunaga –American filmmaker
Also Check: Alumni Reviews of UCSC
University of California, Santa Cruz Placements
According to Payscale, the average salary of University of California, Santa Cruz graduates is 75,804 USD. The graduates working in the IT and Software development sector earn 108,000 USD every year on average according to Emolument. While Ph.D. graduates from UCSC earn a whopping 136,000 USD every year on average as reported by Emolument.
The University of Notre Dame offers its students a work-study facility where they and learn and earn at the same time
- University conducts regular workshops and events relating to internship & job fairs, webinars, etc
- UCSC also provides online career videos on-demand, online assessments, career coaches. It also has a CAN (Career Advice Network)
- The median starting salary of University of California Santa Cruz graduate/alumni according to US News is USD 53,400
- The salary of University of California Santa Cruz alumni after 10 years of graduation as per THE is USD 44,533
- A total of 91% of graduates get employed after 2 years of graduation
The average salaries of the University of California Santa Cruz graduates after 2 years of graduation is following:
| Basis | Salary (in USD/year) |
|---|---|
| Median Salary | 33,800 |
| 25% of graduate earn less than | 19,400 |
| 25% of graduate earn more than | 50,200 |
Also Check: High paying jobs in USA
According to a survey by UCSC Career Center, 36% of Computer Engineering graduates were employed full-time within 6 months of graduation and 84% were interested in pursuing advanced degrees in various fields from 2014-2016. The University also provides career services to students by organizing workshops, jobs and internship fairs, campus interviews, information sessions, speaker series, etc.
FAQs
Ques. What is the acceptance rate of the University of California Santa Cruz?
Ans. University of California Santa Cruz is quite selective while accepting candidates for final admissions. The acceptance rate in fall 2019 was 52% only.
Ques. Is the University of California Santa Cruz a reputed university?
Ans. It has been ranked 61st best undergraduate teaching college by US News. THE and QS have also ranked the University of California Santa Cruz in the top lists. Yes, it is a good school.
Ques. What are the major programs offered at UCSC?
Ans. Some major programs offered here are Engineering, Biology, Arts, Humanities, and Social Science.
Ques. What is the University of California Santa Cruz known for?
Ans. It comes under the prestigious University of California. UCSC is public liberal arts and research university.
Ques. What is the national ranking of the University of California Santa Cruz?
Ans. US News has ranked it 97th in the US while Times Higher Education has ranked under 255th in US College ranking 2021.
Ques. What is the application deadline of the University of California Santa Cruz?
Ans. The admission deadline for fall 2021 for freshmen is March 31.
Ques. What is the median salary of UCSC graduates/alumni?
Ans. The median salary of the University of California Santa Cruz after 2 years of graduation is USD 33,800 annually.
Ques. Does UCSC provide on-campus housing facilities?
Ans. Yes. There are mainly four types of accommodation facilities available at UCSC namely In-class accommodation, Coursework accommodation, Exam accommodation, and other accommodation
Top Courses, Fees & Eligibility
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College Faculty
Total Faculty: 11427
Part Time: 4641
Full Time: 6786
Graduate Assistants: 1467
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