University of California-Santa Cruz
- Graduation Rate
- 75% B
- Solid completion rate — most students graduate
- Earnings (10yr)
- $68,396 A
- Top 8% nationally — exceptional earning power
- Net Price
- $17,890 C
- Close to the national average
- Acceptance Rate
- 66% B-
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A B overall grade — strong outcomes across the board. 29.8× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $29.8 over 20 years.
Every $1 spent returns $29.8 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $2,059,565.
What The Data Says
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A B overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
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Graduates earn 68% more than the national college median.
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A 75% graduation rate — 31% above the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $29.8 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why University of California-Santa Cruz Matters
University of California-Santa Cruz is a public research university in Santa Cruz, CA and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a top-tier research enterprise and a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduates whose earnings land in the top 8% of all U.S. colleges.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public Research University
- Carnegie Class
- R1 · Very High Research
- Enrollment
- 17,940
- Setting
- Urban
- Designations
- HSI
- Primary Strengths
- Computer Science & IT, Biology & Biomedical, Social Sciences, Visual & Performing Arts
Why students choose University of California-Santa Cruz
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Competitive — admits about 66% of applicants. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $17,890 a year after grants and scholarships — 4% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $68,396 ten years after enrolling — 68% above the typical college, against $16,666 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Strong cross-class social capital — an economic-connectedness score of 1.74 (Opportunity Insights).
See mobility →Overview
Seventy-five percent of students graduate from the University of California-Santa Cruz, a solid figure that indicates strong support for student success. With an acceptance rate of 66%, this public university welcomes a diverse range of students to its vibrant campus in Santa Cruz, California.
Graduates from UC Santa Cruz earn an average of $68,396 ten years after starting their degree. While specific mobility rates are not available, the university serves a significant number of Pell Grant recipients, indicating a commitment to serving students from low-income backgrounds. This environment fosters a high potential for upward mobility, especially for those who engage fully with available resources.
The net price of attendance is $17,890, and the median debt upon graduation is $16,666, making it a relatively affordable option for many students. Those who thrive here typically have interests in fields like Computer Science, Biology, Social Sciences, and the Arts. The supportive atmosphere and diverse academic offerings create a strong foundation for students aiming for successful careers.
Rankings
- #16 Best Computer Science Colleges in California
- #16 Best Data Science Colleges in California
- #26 Best Biology Colleges in California
- #27 Best Engineering Colleges in California
- #35 Best Bachelor's Programs in California
- #36 Best Master's Programs in California
- #38 Best MBA Programs in California
- #40 Best Online Colleges in California
Can I Get In?
How selective University of California-Santa Cruz is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into University of California-Santa Cruz? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Santa Cruz, California, University of California-Santa Cruz offers a realistic path to admission, with roughly 66% of applicants receiving an offer. The graduation rate is roughly 75%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 66%
- Retention Rate
- 88%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 85%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $17,994
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 23:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.76
- First-Gen Students
- 37%
- Applicants
- 65,912
- Admitted
- 30,926
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend University of California-Santa Cruz? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at University of California-Santa Cruz is $50,205, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $17,890. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $8,717 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $16,666 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $16,005
- Out-of-State
- $50,205
- Avg Net Price
- $17,890
- Median Debt
- $16,666
- Pell Grant Rate
- 32%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 28%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $8,717
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $10,613
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $14,418
- Family Income $110K+
- $33,323
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Graduate Outcomes
Is University of California-Santa Cruz Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of University of California-Santa Cruz earn a median of $68,396, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $49,716
- 8 Years
- $59,302
- 10 Years
- $68,396
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.24x
- Earning > $25K
- 61%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (2,204)
- 55%
- 100% (2,204)
- 55%
- 100% (2,204)
- 55%
- 100% (2,204)
- 55%
How University Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
College ROI Calculator
Is University of California-Santa Cruz Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, University of California-Santa Cruz delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $17,890/year ($71,560 total). Graduates earn $68,396 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $2,131,125 in total earnings — a net gain of $2,059,565 (29.8× your investment). The median debt is $16,666, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 75% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $71,560
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $2,131,125
- Net Return
- $2,059,565
- ROI Multiple
- 29.8×
- Cost Per Year
- $17,890
- Median Debt
- $16,666
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 75%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
Top Programs
The fields University of California-Santa Cruz awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Each links to its degree guide — with salary, growth, and the schools with the strongest outcomes.
- Computer Science & IT 16%
- Biology & Biomedical 15%
- Social Sciences 10%
- Visual & Performing Arts 10%
- Psychology 10%
- Business & Marketing 7%
- Physical Sciences 5%
- Engineering 4%
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for University of California-Santa Cruz's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- CPhysicist$142,850 · 5% growthAdaptable 66
- CAstronomer$142,850 · 4% growthAdaptable 66
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into University of California-Santa Cruz? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Santa Cruz, California, University of California-Santa Cruz offers a realistic path to admission, with roughly 66% of applicants receiving an offer. The graduation rate is roughly 75%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend University of California-Santa Cruz? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at University of California-Santa Cruz is $50,205, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $17,890. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $8,717 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $16,666 in federal student loans.
Is University of California-Santa Cruz Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of University of California-Santa Cruz earn a median of $68,396, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
How Connected Is University of California-Santa Cruz? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at University of California-Santa Cruz. Its economic connectedness score is 1.74, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 12% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Compare University of California-Santa Cruz
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to University of California-Santa Cruz.
- The University of Texas at DallasRichardson, TX · Close peer75% grad $68,227 earn 65% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- University of DelawareNewark, DE · Close peer80% grad $72,950 earn 71% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- University at BuffaloBuffalo, NY · Close peer74% grad $70,814 earn 74% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- University of California-RiversideRiverside, CA · Close peer76% grad $67,699 earn 76% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Towson UniversityTowson, MD · Close peer69% grad $64,390 earn 82% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- University at AlbanyAlbany, NY · Close peer63% grad $67,979 earn 69% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is University of California-Santa Cruz? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at University of California-Santa Cruz. Its economic connectedness score is 1.74, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 12% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note