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University of California-Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz, CA·Public·~66% acceptance

University of California-Santa Cruz is a public university based in Santa Cruz, CA. It has fairly open admissions, accepting about 66% of applicants. The average net price after aid is about $17,890 per year. About 75% of students graduate, and alumni earn a median of about $68,396 ten years after enrolling.

Average cost
$17,890/yr avg net price after aid
Full cost $41,179
Aid cuts ~$23,289/yr on average

Average across all aided students (U.S. College Scorecard). Your actual price depends on your family's income. Take the free Matchmaker for an estimate based on your numbers.

Deadlines
ED
EA
RD
Nov 30

RD not confirmed with the college yet. Check their site before you rely on it.

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Your fit

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Admissions
GPA range3.49–3.99
SAT (middle 50%)Not considered
ACT (middle 50%)Not considered
Test policyTest blind
Programs
Computer Science
Data Science / Statistics
Information Systems / IT
Mathematics
Physics
Chemistry
Biology
Environmental Science
Outcomes
75%
graduation rate
88%
freshman retention
$49,716
median earnings, 6yr
$68,396
median earnings, 10yr
How University of California-Santa Cruz reads an application

What University of California-Santa Cruz values

Very important
Course rigorGrades (GPA)Application essaysState residency
Important
ExtracurricularsTalent / abilityCharacter / personal qualitiesFirst-generation statusGeographic residence
Also considered
Volunteer workWork experience

From University of California-Santa Cruz’s Common Data Set. Put your effort where it counts most.

What University of California-Santa Cruz requires

Required
Grades (GPA)Course rigorCollege-prep programTOEFL / English proficiency

From federal IPEDS data — what University of California-Santa Cruz requires vs considers (not how heavily each is weighed).

Frequently asked questions
What is University of California-Santa Cruz's acceptance rate?
University of California-Santa Cruz admits about 66% of applicants.
How much does University of California-Santa Cruz cost?
At University of California-Santa Cruz, the average net price after aid is about $17,890 per year, and the full cost of attendance is about $41,179 per year before aid. Your actual price depends on your family's income. Take Blueprint's free Matchmaker for an estimate based on your numbers.
What SAT or ACT scores do you need for University of California-Santa Cruz?
None. University of California-Santa Cruz is test blind: SAT and ACT scores are not considered in admissions decisions.
What are University of California-Santa Cruz's application deadlines?
University of California-Santa Cruz's deadline is Regular Decision around Nov 30. Always confirm exact dates on the school's official site.
What does University of California-Santa Cruz value most in applicants?
In its most recent Common Data Set, University of California-Santa Cruz rates Course rigor, Grades (GPA), Application essays, and State residency as "very important" in admissions decisions, and also weighs Extracurriculars, Talent / ability, Character / personal qualities, First-generation status, and Geographic residence. Take Blueprint's free Matchmaker to see how your profile lines up.

See if University of California-Santa Cruz is a fit for you

Two free steps: find your best-fit majors with the Discovery quiz, then run the College Matchmaker for your real admission odds and net price at University of California-Santa Cruz, side by side with your other schools.