Public · Mostly bachelor's degrees · Small city

University of California-Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz, California. 17,940 undergraduates. Admits 66% of applicants.

California colleges Official websiteIts net price calculator
74%Graduation rate19 pts above the national median for similar colleges (54%)
$18,549Average net price per year7% below the national median for similar colleges ($19,899)
$73,362Median earnings 10 years after starting25% above the national median for similar colleges ($58,912)
$15,000Median debt at graduation31% below the national median for similar colleges ($21,609)
Our read

Graduates' median debt ($15,000) equals 20% of former students' median earnings ten years after starting ($73,362). That is a light load relative to pay.

What families actually pay

Under $30,000$9,973
$30,000–$48,000$10,713
$48,001–$75,000$13,446
$75,001–$110,000$18,220
Over $110,000$35,350

Average yearly net price for first-time, full-time students who received federal aid, by family income. Net price is the cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships. Source: College Scorecard.

Compare net price across collegesPublished tuition and fees: $16,585 in-state, $54,187 out-of-state.

Do students finish, and what do they earn?

MeasureThis collegeSimilar colleges nationally
Graduation rate74%54%
Return for second year88%76%
Median earnings, 6 years after starting$57,492$49,318
Median earnings, 10 years after starting$73,362$58,912
Median debt at graduation$15,000$21,609

Graduation rate within 150% of normal time; retention is the share of first-year students who return. Earnings are medians for former students who received federal aid, working and not enrolled. National comparison is the median for colleges of the same type (mostly bachelor's degrees).

Programs and what graduates earn

115 programs reported
ProgramGraduates / yrMedian earnings, 1 yrMedian earnings, 5 yrsMedian debt
Computer Engineering154$103,729$135,036$18,146
Physics43$72,553$131,315—
Computer Science655$82,863$130,271$15,333
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering50$84,803$127,663$20,999
Biomedical/Medical Engineering4$72,918$119,939—
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management107$65,266$106,787$14,083
Business/Managerial Economics306$59,361$95,909$13,500
Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences184$47,445$84,474$15,000
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology43$52,133$84,254$15,000
Economics132$52,535$81,051$14,828
Chemistry38$56,661$79,801$14,200
Mathematics57$41,374$77,770$14,103
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences52$55,437$76,175$15,000
Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology50$74,517—$16,922
Biology, General218$39,216$73,361$15,000
Non-Professional Legal Studies114$41,760$69,838$14,349
Neurobiology and Neurosciences37$45,764$69,052$19,266
Political Science and Government166$43,393$65,824$14,680
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics17$39,769$64,061—
History97$35,042$62,393$15,000
Natural Resources Conservation and Research166$35,486$62,380$14,020
Psychology, General507—$62,370—
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies117$39,295$62,364$14,408
Sociology170$40,718$61,614$14,000
Cognitive Science143$40,140$61,448$12,500
Community Organization and Advocacy26$43,689$58,517$12,313
Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology166$31,819$54,498$14,130
Philosophy48$33,889$53,788$15,178
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services193$29,608$53,717$15,500
Anthropology101$28,719$52,736$15,000
Film/Video and Photographic Arts175$26,183$52,054$16,789
Fine and Studio Arts144$28,838$46,878$15,225
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft34$29,817$43,832$18,500
Behavioral Sciences—$34,890—$13,000
Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education80$30,814—$16,173
Graphic Communications—$24,678—$18,278
Agricultural Production Operations26———
Plant Sciences10———
Area Studies1———
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas3———
Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics5———
Microbiological Sciences and Immunology1———
Biotechnology8———
Applied Mathematics45———
Physical Sciences, General66——$14,620
Astronomy and Astrophysics36——$19,500
Archeology2———
Design and Applied Arts149———
Music10———
Public Health20———

Program-level medians for graduates who received federal aid. A dash means the Department of Education suppressed the figure to protect privacy, usually because the program is small. At four-year colleges, certificate graduates often earned a bachelor's at the same time, so their earnings can reflect the degree. Source: College Scorecard, field of study data.

Getting in

66%Admission rate
22:1Students per faculty member
34%Undergraduates with a Pell Grant

Similar colleges in California

California Polytechnic State University-San Luis ObispoSan Luis Obispo · net price $18,832 · grad rate 87%University of California-Santa BarbaraSanta Barbara · net price $16,807 · grad rate 84%Cal Poly Maritime AcademyVallejo · net price $17,793 · grad rate 58%Pomona CollegeClaremont · net price $18,978 · grad rate 92%University of La VerneLa Verne · net price $20,523 · grad rate 61%Soka University of AmericaAliso Viejo · net price $16,383 · grad rate 88%

Compare colleges side by side

Quick answers

How much does University of California-Santa Cruz cost per year?
The average net price at University of California-Santa Cruz, what students pay after grants and scholarships, is $18,549 per year. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
How much do University of California-Santa Cruz graduates earn?
Former University of California-Santa Cruz students earn a median of $73,362 a year ten years after starting college. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
What is the graduation rate at University of California-Santa Cruz?
74% of University of California-Santa Cruz students graduate within 150% of normal time. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
How much student debt do University of California-Santa Cruz graduates have?
The median federal student debt at graduation from University of California-Santa Cruz is $15,000. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.