Payback
EarningsPlus
Economic score
UC Santa Cruz is a public national university located in Santa Cruz, California. UC Santa Cruz is moderately inclusive in their admissions.
Return on educational investment at UC Santa Cruz is in the top 25% of all ranked schools. The median student earns $58,112 10 years after enrolling, 50th in California, and in the top 25% nationally. When adjusted for earning differences by major, UC Santa Cruz bachelor students earn 0% more than the national average. UC Santa Cruz is ranked 39th in California.
UC Santa Cruz’s median net annual cost of $17,930 and average years to graduate of 4.5 are reported only at the school level. We assume these same costs and graduation time for all programs.
The top 6 programs at UC Santa Cruz sorted by number of graduates - Computer Science, Psychology, Cellular Biology & Anatomical Science, Managerial Econ., Biology, Natural Resource Conservation - are shown below. To see more programs, click on "see additional programs".
Annual net cost
$17,930
Average years to graduate
4.5
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management
Rank: #8
Economic score: 1.36
Economics
Rank: #190
Economic score: 3.46
Ethnic/Gender studies
Rank: #15
Economic score: 4.64
Sociology
Rank: #164
Economic score: 5.85
Cognitive Science
Rank: #11
Economic score: 7.78
Linguistic & language
Rank: #53
Economic score: 13.06
Ecology & Evolution
Rank: #31
Economic score: 13.32
Anthropology
Rank: #93
Economic score: 15.54
FIlm, Video & Photography
Rank: #69
Economic score: 16.96
Fine & Studio Arts
Rank: #247
Economic score: 24.9
EarningPlus compares the three-year post graduate earnings to the median earnings of the same graduating class, with the same graduate degree. These 2 metrics, debt-to-earnings and EarningsPlus, are combined into an economic score. The lower the economic score the better.
The most popular 2 graduate programs at UC Santa Cruz - Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research., Economics - are shown below.
The average full-time graduate completes their degree in 4.5 years. 80% of all students graduate within 8 years including part-time students. The graduation rate at UC Santa Cruz is 12% higher than the state average, and 12% above the average for all national universities in the country.
At UC Santa Cruz, Pell Grant recipients represent 32% of the measured graduating class, 3% lower than the national average of 35%. The average Pell Grant recipient at UC Santa Cruz graduates within 4.6 years.
UC Santa Cruz is in the top 25% of schools for graduating Pell recipients.
We calculate this performance by adjusting the graduation rate of Pell students by their percentage of the student body. This adjustment is made to prevent schools with large numbers of Pell students from underperforming in comparison to schools with few Pell students but high graduation rates.
UC Santa Cruz’s economic mobility score of 27.05 is calculated by adjusting the 1.54 economic score of lower-income students by the 32% pell grant recipients within the student body. UC Santa Cruz’s EMS of 27.05 ranks in the top 25% nationally.false
Economic Mobility
To calculate economic mobility of low-income (household earnings below $30,000) students, we adjust each institution’s economic score by their percentage of Pell Grant students. The logic of this Pell-adjusted calculation is derived from Third Way’s Economic Mobility Index (EMI).
Top 25%
The average Title IV recipient at UC Santa Cruz pays $17,930 a year, $21,207 less than the $39,137 advertised. See below the cost breakdown for students who receive Title IV grants, broken down by income level.
Average net price
The average net price shown by income level for all students that receive Title IV aid. Calculated by deducting the average grant and scholarship aid from tuition, fees, books, and room and board. Limited to first-time, full-time students. Public institution figures are calculated using in-state tuition figures.
Median net price $17,930
Much of the gap between net price and sticker price is filled by institutional and government grants. At UC Santa Cruz, 57% of students receive some grants and scholarships, compared to the national average of 87% for all colleges and universities. The average amount of federal, state, and institutional grants that students receive is shown on the right.
This leaves a total of $17,930 on average to be covered by the student – be it through loans or out of pocket. In total, 21% of students take out loans, federal or private, at an average amount of $5,540. This is 33% less than the national average.
Federal grants
$4,717
Pell grants
$5,197
State grants
$10,405
Institutional grants
$8,248
UC Santa Cruz's moderately inclusive admissions are indicated by their 59% acceptance rate. In 2021, the school had 61,695 applicants, of which 36,177 were admitted and 4,187 enrolled. UC Santa Cruz doesn't have a rolling admissions policy, which means applications are reviewed after a hard admissions deadline.
Full time
99%
83%
Female
54%
59%
First time
76%
59%
In-state
94%
68%
1st generation
37%
35%
White
30%
52%
Black
2%
14%
Hispanic
27%
15%
Asian
23%
5%
American Indian
N/A
1.6%
Pacific Islander
N/A
0.3%
Other
18%
12%