University of California, Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz, CA. Admissions numbers, deadlines, cost and your chances of getting in, by round.

Location	Santa Cruz, CA · Small city
Type	Public
Undergraduates	17,940
Acceptance rate	66%
Testing policy	Not used
Graduation rate	74%
First-year retention	88%
Student–faculty ratio	23:1
Cost of attendance	$41,179 in-state · $75,379 out-of-state

Application deadlines (2026–27)

Regular Decision: Nov 30, 2026

Most popular majors: Biology, Computer science, Social sciences, Visual & performing arts, Psychology.

University of California, Santa Cruz campus map

Campus map of University of California, Santa Cruz in Santa Cruz, CA, showing Media Theater, Second Stage, McHenry Library and Porter College, with nearby restaurants, coffee and shops — Map of University of California, Santa Cruz and the neighborhood around it: campus buildings, places students go. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

On campus

Porter College, Oakes College, McHenry Library, Kresge College, College Nine, Rachel Carson College, Media Theater, John R. Lewis College, Second Stage.

Around campus

Places to eat: Cafe Iveta, Vivas Organic Mexican Grill
Coffee: Cowell Coffee Shop
Shops: Baytree Bookstore
Museums and culture: Crown Library, Page Smith Library
Groceries: Slug Stop
Parks: Program in Community Agroecology (PICA), Australian Garden

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