University of California, Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz, CA
Acceptance Rate
--
Class of 2029
Avg. Net Price
--
Overall Ranking ?
--
School Size
--

Is This College Right for You?

See your chances →

Key Facts

Acceptance Rates

SAT Range

GPA Range

Admissions Advantages

    Application Rounds

    Loading application data...

    Programs by Median Earnings (1 Year After Graduation)

    Loading program data...

    Faculty & Research

    234 faculty · 316 courses · data as of 2026-07-02

    Computer Science40 faculty · 40 courses avg h-index 31.7 #34 of 88 in Computer Science
    James Edward Davis, Professor h-index 91
    Notable: “Surface ionization and complexation at the oxide/water interface” (1978) · 1,544 citations
    Martin Abadi, Professor Emeritus h-index 77
    Notable: “TensorFlow: Large-Scale Machine Learning on Heterogeneous Distributed Systems” (2016) · 9,781 citations
    Jose Joaquin Garcia-Luna-Aceves, Distinguished Professor Emeritus h-index 68
    Notable: “An efficient routing protocol for wireless networks” (1996) · 1,242 citations
    Lise C Getoor, Distinguished Professor, Jack Baskin Chair h-index 64
    Notable: “Collective Classification in Network Data” (2008) · 3,290 citations
    Courses: Computing Technology in a Changing Society · Introduction to Programming in Java · Introduction to Computer Science · Computer Systems and Assembly Language and Lab · Computer Systems and C Programming · Applied Discrete Mathematics +34 more
    Ecology40 faculty · 39 courses avg h-index 36.7 #13 of 123 in Biological Sciences
    Daniel P Costa, Distinguished Professor h-index 106
    Notable: “Tracking apex marine predator movements in a dynamic ocean” (2011) · 1,281 citations
    Beth Alison Shapiro, Professor h-index 94
    Notable: “Whole-genome analyses resolve early branches in the tree of life of modern birds” (2014) · 2,025 citations
    Giacomo Bernardi, Professor h-index 81
    Notable: “The Mosaic Genome of Warm-Blooded Vertebrates” (1985) · 888 citations
    John N Thompson, Distinguished Research Professor h-index 80
    Notable: “The Population Biology of Invasive Species” (2001) · 3,896 citations
    Courses: Introduction to Horticulture · Biodiversity in the Age of Humans · Development and Physiology · Ecology and Evolution · Field Biology in Practice · Scientific Diving Methods +33 more
    Psychology, General40 faculty · 39 courses avg h-index 29.9 #21 of 89 in Psychology
    Thomas F Pettigrew, Professor Emeritus h-index 73
    Notable: “A meta-analytic test of intergroup contact theory.” (2006) · 8,760 citations
    Dominic W Massaro, Professor Emeritus h-index 70
    Notable: “Communication and Persuasion: Central and Peripheral Routes to Attitude Change” (1988) · 1,027 citations
    Barbara Rogoff, UCSC Foundation Distinguished Professor h-index 66
    Notable: “Cultural Ways of Learning: Individual Traits or Repertoires of Practice” (2003) · 2,135 citations
    Elliot Aronson, Professor Emeritus h-index 63
    Notable: “The effect of severity of initiation on liking for a group.” (1959) · 1,297 citations
    Courses: Introduction to Psychology · Introduction to Psychological Statistics · Introduction to Developmental Psychology · Cognition: Fundamental Theories · Introduction to Social Psychology · Introduction to Personality Psychology +33 more
    Economics40 faculty · 39 courses avg h-index 32.9 #42 of 104 in Economics
    Michael M Hutchison, Distinguished Professor h-index 103
    Notable: “Does Trade Cause Growth?” (1999) · 5,374 citations
    Robert W Fairlie, Research Associate h-index 61
    Notable: “An extension of the Blinder-Oaxaca decomposition technique to logit and probit models” (2005) · 1,067 citations
    Yin-Wong Cheung, Professor Emeritus h-index 56
    Notable: “FINITE‐SAMPLE SIZES OF JOHANSEN's LIKELIHOOD RATIO TESTS FOR COINTEGRATION” (1993) · 1,225 citations
    Daniel Friedman, Distinguished Professor Emeritus h-index 42
    Notable: “The Adaptive Character of Thought” (1991) · 2,240 citations
    Courses: Introductory Microeconomics: Resource Allocation and Market Structure · Introductory Macroeconomics: Aggregate Economic Activity · Economics of Accounting · Economics of Accounting II · Economics for Non-Majors · Introduction to Python for Data Science +33 more
    Sociology40 faculty · 39 courses avg h-index 13.4 #20 of 39 in Sociology
    Julie H Guthman, Distinguished Professor Emerita h-index 40
    Notable: “Bringing good food to others: investigating the subjects of alternative food practice” (2008) · 627 citations
    Katharyne W Mitchell, Distinguished Professor h-index 36
    Notable: “Educating the national citizen in neoliberal times: from the multicultural self to the strategic cosmopolitan” (2003) · 485 citations
    Candace West, Professor h-index 27
    Notable: “Doing Gender” (1987) · 8,658 citations
    John R Hall, Research Professor h-index 23
    Notable: “The Meanings of Social Life: A Cultural Sociology” (2005) · 101 citations
    Courses: Introduction to Sociology · The Evaluation of Evidence · Statistical Methods · Issues and Problems in American Society · World Society · Introduction to Digital Justice Studies +33 more
    Government34 faculty · 40 courses avg h-index 16 #58 of 100 in Political Science
    Matthew B Sparke, Distinguished Professor of Politics h-index 30
    Notable: “A neoliberal nexus: Economy, security and the biopolitics of citizenship on the border” (2006) · 436 citations
    Kent H Eaton, Distinguished Professor of Politics h-index 26
    Notable: “The Downside of Decentralization: Armed Clientelism in Colombia” (2006) · 204 citations
    Ronnie D Lipschutz, Emeritus Professor of Politics h-index 24
    Notable: “Reconstructing World Politics: The Emergence of Global Civil Society” (1992) · 565 citations
    Sara J Niedzwiecki, Associate Professor h-index 19
    Notable: “Language difference and regional authority” (2020) · 132 citations
    Courses: Politics: Power, Principle, Process, and Policy · Keywords: Concepts in Politics · Citizenship and Action · U.S. and the World Economy · American Politics · Governing the Golden State +34 more

    Faculty counts are directory headcounts; the named list may be a subset. h-index shown only for ORCID-backed or high-confidence OpenAlex matches. Partial — enrichment ongoing.

    Demographics

    Student Outcomes

    Loading outcomes data...

    About University of California, Santa Cruz. University of California, Santa Cruz in Santa Cruz, CA reports an overall acceptance rate of 65.6%, an early-round acceptance rate of 65.6%, a class size of 4,381, and a yield of 9.0% based on the most recent Common Data Set filings. Test-blind UC campus. Top-tier computer science and astrophysics programs. Forested campus overlooking Monterey Bay.

    Admissions and cost data as of July 3, 2026 (CDS 2024–25 cycle), from the most recent Common Data Set, IPEDS, and College Scorecard.

    University of California, Santa Cruz: key admissions facts

    University of California, Santa Cruz's overall acceptance rate is 65.6% (the most recent Common Data Set). University of California, Santa Cruz's early-round acceptance rate is 65.6% (the most recent Common Data Set). The average unweighted GPA of admitted students at University of California, Santa Cruz is about 3.7 (the most recent Common Data Set). University of California, Santa Cruz's yield rate (the share of admitted students who enroll) is 9.0% (the most recent Common Data Set). The average net price at University of California, Santa Cruz for families earning under $75,000 is about $11,249 per year (U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard/IPEDS data).

    Sources: Common Data Set (commondataset.org) · University of California, Santa Cruz on College Scorecard · NCES IPEDS · full source table

    How much does University of California, Santa Cruz cost for a family earning $75,000?

    A family earning under $30,000 pays about $8,717 per year in net price at University of California, Santa Cruz, while families earning over $110,000 pay about $33,323 (source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard/IPEDS data). A family earning $75,000 falls in the $48,001–$75,000 bracket and pays about $14,418 per year after grants and scholarships.

    University of California, Santa Cruz: average annual net price by household income (most recent College Scorecard/IPEDS data)
    Household incomeAverage net price per year
    Under $30,000$8,717
    $30,001–$48,000$10,613
    $48,001–$75,000$14,418
    $75,001–$110,000$18,986
    Over $110,000$33,323

    Frequently asked questions

    What is the acceptance rate at University of California, Santa Cruz?

    University of California, Santa Cruz's overall acceptance rate is 65.6%, based on the most recent Common Data Set. Its early-round (early decision or early action) acceptance rate is 65.6%.

    What SAT score and GPA do you need for University of California, Santa Cruz?

    Admitted students at University of California, Santa Cruz typically have an average unweighted GPA of about 3.7, according to the most recent Common Data Set. These are the middle of the range, so scores above them strengthen an application.

    Is it hard to get into University of California, Santa Cruz?

    Getting into University of California, Santa Cruz is moderately selective: it admits 65.6% of applicants. Your realistic odds depend on how your GPA and test scores compare to its middle-50% ranges and on your application round — you can estimate them with the free College Monte Carlo chances calculator.

    Does University of California, Santa Cruz offer early decision or early action?

    University of California, Santa Cruz does not offer a binding early-decision or early-action round; applicants apply in the regular round.

    How much does University of California, Santa Cruz cost after financial aid?

    The average net price at University of California, Santa Cruz — the real cost after grants and scholarships, not the sticker price — is about $11,249 per year for families earning under $75,000, based on U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard/IPEDS data. Higher-income families generally pay more; see the full net-price-by-income breakdown.

    How much does University of California, Santa Cruz cost for a family earning $75,000?

    A family earning under $30,000 pays about $8,717 per year in net price at University of California, Santa Cruz, while families earning over $110,000 pay about $33,323 (source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard/IPEDS data). A family earning $75,000 falls in the $48,001–$75,000 bracket and pays about $14,418 per year after grants and scholarships.

    Not sure how to read these numbers? Start with our guide on how to estimate your admission chances.