University

University of California-Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz, California, United States

Verified · last verified 2026-09-02

University details

Institution type: Public
Campus setting: Urban
Application platforms: Not available
Testing policy: Not available
In-state tuition: $16,005
Out-of-state tuition: $50,205
Cost of attendance: Not available (2024–2025)
Undergraduate enrollment: 17,940

Website

Common Data Set

Institution-reported facts by reporting cycle. Missing and withheld values are shown explicitly.

2024–2025 · most recent available

First-year admission rate

65.8%

Calculated from applications and admissions reported in CDS C1. This is a factual calculation, not a CollegePath rating.

First-year admission

High-school GPA distribution · GPA 4.0 (C11): Not reported by institution
High-school GPA distribution · GPA 3.75-3.99 (C11): Not reported by institution
High-school GPA distribution · GPA 3.50-3.74 (C11): Not reported by institution
High-school GPA distribution · GPA 3.25-3.49 (C11): Not reported by institution

Majors

Agricultural Production Operations
Agriculture, Agriculture Operations, and Related Sciences
Anthropology
Social Sciences
Applied Mathematics
Mathematics and Statistics
Archeology
Social Sciences
Area Studies
Area, Ethnic, Cultural, Gender, and Group Studies
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Physical Sciences
Behavioral Sciences
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology
Biological and Biomedical Sciences
Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Other
Biological and Biomedical Sciences

Deadlines

Regular decision · 2026–2027
2026-11-30 — Fall first-year application filing deadline for the UC system.
https://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/how-to-apply/applying-as-a-first-year/dates-and-deadlines.html

Supplemental essays

No supplemental essays are required for this university.

Application requirements

2026–2027

Application fee · Required
Value: $80
First-year UC application fee for U.S. applicants; the fee is paid per campus selected.
https://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/how-to-apply/applying-as-a-first-year/
Fee waiver · Optional
Value: Available
The UC application provides a fee waiver for eligible applicants.
https://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/how-to-apply/applying-as-a-first-year/
Personal essay · Required
Value: 4 personal insight questions
UC first-year applicants answer four personal insight questions in the application.
https://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/how-to-apply/applying-as-a-first-year/

Sources

Direct sources supporting this university’s facts, with retrieval dates.

Official source · supports deadlines:2026–2027
https://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/how-to-apply/applying-as-a-first-year/dates-and-deadlines.html
Retrieved 2026-09-02 — Official UC system first-year filing dates for all campuses.
Official source · supports requirements:2026–2027
https://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/how-to-apply/applying-as-a-first-year/
Retrieved 2026-09-02 — Official UC first-year application and personal insight question requirements.
Official source
https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?110714
Retrieved 2026-06-10

High-school GPA distribution · GPA 3.00-3.24 (C11)

Not reported by institution

High-school GPA distribution · GPA 2.50-2.99 (C11)

Not reported by institution

High-school GPA distribution · GPA 2.00-2.49 (C11)

Not reported by institution

High-school GPA distribution · GPA 1.00-1.99 (C11)

Not reported by institution

High-school GPA distribution · GPA below 1.0 (C11)

Not reported by institution

Average high-school GPA (C12)

Not reported by institution

First-year applications (C1)

71,722 applicants

IPEDS 2024 provisional statistic discovered via CollegeData.FYI; verify against the institution CDS

First-year students admitted (C1)

47,186 students

IPEDS 2024 provisional statistic discovered via CollegeData.FYI; verify against the institution CDS

First-year students enrolled (C1)

4,383 students

IPEDS 2024 provisional statistic discovered via CollegeData.FYI; verify against the institution CDS

Academics and class size

Student-to-faculty ratio (I2): Not reported by institution

Enrollment

Undergraduate enrollment (B1): 17,940 students; IPEDS 2024 provisional statistic discovered via CollegeData.FYI; verify against the institution CDS
Full-time undergraduate enrollment (B1): 17,414 students; IPEDS 2024 provisional statistic discovered via CollegeData.FYI; verify against the institution CDS
Part-time undergraduate enrollment (B1): 526 students; IPEDS 2024 provisional statistic discovered via CollegeData.FYI; verify against the institution CDS

Testing

Enrolled students submitting scores · SAT (C9): 89%; IPEDS 2024 provisional statistic discovered via CollegeData.FYI; verify against the institution CDS
Enrolled students submitting scores · ACT (C9): 32%; IPEDS 2024 provisional statistic discovered via CollegeData.FYI; verify against the institution CDS
SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing · 25th percentile (C9): 580 score; IPEDS 2024 provisional statistic discovered via CollegeData.FYI; verify against the institution CDS
SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing · 75th percentile (C9): 670 score; IPEDS 2024 provisional statistic discovered via CollegeData.FYI; verify against the institution CDS
SAT Math · 25th percentile (C9): 580 score; IPEDS 2024 provisional statistic discovered via CollegeData.FYI; verify against the institution CDS
SAT Math · 75th percentile (C9): 690 score; IPEDS 2024 provisional statistic discovered via CollegeData.FYI; verify against the institution CDS
ACT Composite · 25th percentile (C9): 25 score; IPEDS 2024 provisional statistic discovered via CollegeData.FYI; verify against the institution CDS
ACT Composite · 75th percentile (C9): 33 score; IPEDS 2024 provisional statistic discovered via CollegeData.FYI; verify against the institution CDS

Source: University of California-Santa Cruz Common Data Set 2024-2025 (institutional data not reported) · Retrieved 2026-09-02

Open the official institutional source

Document ID: url:https://www.ucsc.edu/ · Import: cds-2026-09-v85

2024–2025 · earlier reporting cycle

First-year admission rate

65.4%

Calculated from applications and admissions reported in CDS C1. This is a factual calculation, not a CollegePath rating.

Enrollment

Undergraduate enrollment (B1): 17,940 students
Full-time undergraduate enrollment (B1): 17,414 students; Sum of the official B1 full-time undergraduate gender totals.
Part-time undergraduate enrollment (B1): 526 students; Sum of the official B1 part-time undergraduate gender totals.

First-year admission

First-year applications (C1): 69,796 applicants
First-year students admitted (C1): 45,631 students
First-year students enrolled (C1): 4,367 students
High-school GPA distribution · GPA 4.0 (C11): 45.53%
High-school GPA distribution · GPA 3.75-3.99 (C11): 33.31%
High-school GPA distribution · GPA 3.50-3.74 (C11): 16.31%
High-school GPA distribution · GPA 3.25-3.49 (C11): 3.93%
High-school GPA distribution · GPA 3.00-3.24 (C11): 0.85%
High-school GPA distribution · GPA 2.50-2.99 (C11): 0.07%
High-school GPA distribution · GPA 2.00-2.49 (C11): 0%; The official CDS reports 0 percent.
High-school GPA distribution · GPA 1.00-1.99 (C11): 0%; The official CDS reports 0 percent.
High-school GPA distribution · GPA below 1.0 (C11): 0%; The official CDS reports 0 percent.
Average high-school GPA (C12): 3.92 GPA

Testing

Enrolled students submitting scores · SAT (C9): Not reported by institution; UC Santa Cruz states that SAT and ACT scores are not used in admission decisions; the official CDS does not report a SAT submitter percentage.
Enrolled students submitting scores · ACT (C9): Not reported by institution; UC Santa Cruz states that SAT and ACT scores are not used in admission decisions; the official CDS does not report an ACT submitter percentage.
SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing · 25th percentile (C9): Not reported by institution; The official CDS does not report SAT/ACT percentile scores for this test-free admissions policy.
SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing · 75th percentile (C9): Not reported by institution; The official CDS does not report SAT/ACT percentile scores for this test-free admissions policy.
SAT Math · 25th percentile (C9): Not reported by institution; The official CDS does not report SAT/ACT percentile scores for this test-free admissions policy.
SAT Math · 75th percentile (C9): Not reported by institution; The official CDS does not report SAT/ACT percentile scores for this test-free admissions policy.
ACT Composite · 25th percentile (C9): Not reported by institution; The official CDS does not report SAT/ACT percentile scores for this test-free admissions policy.

Academics and class size

Student-to-faculty ratio (I2): 22:1; The official CDS reports 22 to 1, based on 19,544 students and 899 faculty.

Source: University of California, Santa Cruz Common Data Set 2024-2025 · Retrieved 2026-09-02

Open the official institutional source

Document ID: url:https://mediafiles.ucsc.edu/iraps/common-data-set/common-data-set-2024-25.pdf · Import: cds-2026-09-v116-uc-santa-cruz

Biology, General

Biological and Biomedical Sciences

Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology

Biological and Biomedical Sciences

Biomedical/Medical Engineering

Engineering

Biotechnology

Biological and Biomedical Sciences

Business/Managerial Economics

Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services

Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences

Biological and Biomedical Sciences

Chemistry

Physical Sciences

Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics

Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics

Cognitive Science

Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies

Community Organization and Advocacy

Public Administration and Social Service Professions

Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services, Other

Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services

Computer and Information Sciences, General

Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services

Computer Engineering

Engineering

Computer Science

Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services

Computer Software and Media Applications

Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services

Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management

Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services

Design and Applied Arts

Visual and Performing Arts

Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft

Visual and Performing Arts

Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology

Biological and Biomedical Sciences

Economics

Social Sciences

Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering

Engineering

English Language and Literature/Letters, Other

English Language and Literature/Letters

Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies

Area, Ethnic, Cultural, Gender, and Group Studies

Film/Video and Photographic Arts

Visual and Performing Arts

Fine and Studio Arts

Visual and Performing Arts

Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences

Physical Sciences

Graphic Communications

Communications Technologies/Technicians and Support Services

Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services

Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics

Mathematics

Mathematics and Statistics

Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other

Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies

Music

Visual and Performing Arts

Natural Resources Conservation and Research

Natural Resources and Conservation

Natural Sciences

Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies

Neurobiology and Neurosciences

Biological and Biomedical Sciences

Non-Professional Legal Studies

Legal Professions and Studies

Philosophy

Philosophy and Religious Studies

Physical Sciences, General

Physical Sciences

Physics

Physical Sciences

Plant Sciences

Agriculture, Agriculture Operations, and Related Sciences

Political Science and Government

Social Sciences

Psychology, General

Psychology

Religion/Religious Studies

Philosophy and Religious Studies

Research and Experimental Psychology

Psychology

Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics

Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics

Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education

Education

Sociology

Social Sciences

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas

Education

Supplemental essays · Not required

No supplemental essays are required for this university.

https://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/how-to-apply/applying-to-uc/

ACT Composite · 75th percentile (C9)

Not reported by institution

The official CDS does not report SAT/ACT percentile scores for this test-free admissions policy.