Quad

University of California-Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz, CAQuad's selectivitySelective
Known forVery diverse
WebsiteAdmissionsApplyFinancial aid

Admissions · Fall 2024

7 in 10 applicants admitted

U. California-Santa Cruz admits about 7 in 10 applicants (66%). That puts it in the "Selective" tier, more selective than 69% of the 1,547 colleges that report admissions.

66%

66%

acceptance rateQuad's selectivitySelective

Applied

71,722

Admitted

47,186

Yield

9%

of admits enroll

Applications +76% since fall 2014 · admit rate 56% → 66%Over time

Getting in, in detail: funnel, what they look at, your scores

Students

Who's on campus

A large campus of 17,940 undergrads, where 32% receive Pell Grants, a typical share compared to other colleges.

17.9K

undergrads · larger than 94% of colleges

Diversity index

0.76

Pell Grant

32%

below the median

First generation

37%

above the median

Small cityNCAA D-III · Division III IndependentsStudy abroadUndergrad research
Steady · index 0.73 → 0.76 since fall 2014Over time

Students and campus life in detail

Academics

Majors and faculty

The most popular major is Computer Science (15% of graduates). 22 students for every faculty member, more than at 95% of colleges. 85% of faculty are full-time. Spends $13,595 a year on instruction per student.

22 to 1

students per faculty member · more than at 95% of colleges

Most popular major

Computer Science

15% of 2024–25 graduates

Top-earning major

Computer Engineering

$124.6K four years after completion

Full-time faculty

85%

of faculty

Instruction spending

$13.6K

per student a year

All majors with search, earnings by major, and faculty

Cost & aid · 2023–24

What it costs

In 2023–24, the average first-year paid an estimated $29,991 in total (tuition, housing, food, books and other costs, after grants), $5.7K more than the national median. The 57% who received grants paid $18,059 on average; the other 43% paid the full sticker price of $40,306 in-state / $71,083 out-of-state.

30%

$30K

average total cost per year, all first-years, after grants (est.) · $5.7K above the national median

$0$110K$400K+
Full price, in-state
$40,306 a year
tuition, housing, food, books, and other costs
Need-based aid
Published data end at $110K
use the college's net price calculator for higher incomes
Aid generosity

Moderate

grants cover 30% of full price

Federal loans

28%

of undergrads · national median 45%

Your price

Net price calculator

the college's own

Financial aid

Financial aid office Veterans' benefits
Cost steady · +1% after inflation since 2013–14Over time

Prices, who gets aid, and borrowing in detail

Outcomes

What it pays

Former students earn a median $68,396 ten years after enrolling, more than at 82% of colleges; 80% graduate within six years. Four years of net price is about 1.8 years of that salary.

80%

80%

graduate within six years · national median 59%

Median earnings

$68.4K

10 years after entry

Median debt

$16.7K

≈ $177/month for 10 years

Retention

88%

come back for year two

Graduation rate 77% → 75% since the class that entered fall 2008Over time

Earnings, finishing, 8-year outcomes, by group

Over time · since 2013–14

How it's changed

Since 2013–14, the full price fell 8% after inflation, while what the average first-year paid held about steady, as grants covered less of it. Applications rose 76% since fall 2014, and the acceptance rate went from 56% to 66%.

  • Cost

    Steady

    +1% after inflation

  • Applications

    Growing

    +76%

  • Selectivity

    Less selective

    admit rate 56% → 66%

  • Diversity

    Steady

    index 0.73 → 0.76

Every series, year by year

Keep exploring

Schools like this one

The University of Texas at Dallas

65% admit · SAT 1285 · 21.8K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar sizeAlso public
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The University of Arizona Global Campus

20.2K undergrads

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University of Maryland Global Campus

49.7K undergrads

Similar sizeAlso public
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Florida Atlantic University

66% admit · SAT 1140 · 23.8K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar sizeAlso public
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Sources for this overviewEvery dataset and year behind the numbers on this profile; tap any ⓘ for one number's source

Sources for this profile

  1. 1
    IPEDS directory (Institutional Characteristics: HD)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  2. 2
    College Scorecard

    U.S. Department of Education · most recent release; Entered fall 2023; Fall 2024; 2023–24; Fall 2023 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  3. 3
    IPEDS Admissions survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  4. 4
    IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  5. 5
    IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  6. 6
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part D)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  7. 7
    IPEDS Completions survey (degrees awarded by field)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2024–25 graduates · retrieved 2026-10-12

  8. 8
    College Scorecard Field of Study data

    U.S. Department of Education · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12

  9. 9
    IPEDS Finance survey, derived per-student figures

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  10. 10
    IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  11. 11
    Common Data Set

    Each college (voluntary, standardized template) · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12

  12. 12
    IPEDS Graduation Rates survey (Pell Grant and subsidized loan recipients)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Entered fall 2018 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  13. 13
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part C, residence of first-time students)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  14. 14
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part A, enrollment by level)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  15. 15
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (distance education)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  16. 16
    IPEDS Salaries survey (SAL, instructional staff, all ranks)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  17. 17
    IPEDS Outcome Measures survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Students entering fall 2016 · retrieved 2026-10-12

IPEDS unit ID 110714 · Data retrieved 2026-10-12. Tap any ⓘ to see where that number came from and what year it describes. National ranks and medians include every 4-year college that reports the measure. How we source and calculate everything