ic S/general/checkmark circled Thanks for subscribing! Be on the lookout for our next newsletter.
ic S/general/checkmark circled
Saved to My Favorites. View My Favorites
Colleges / University of California, Santa Cruz

University of California, Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz, CA 4-Year Public
Acceptance Rate47%

UC Santa Cruz Student Life

University of California, Santa Cruz Student Activities

Interested in Greek life?

University of California, Santa Cruz has the Bayanihan. In fact, more students participate in the Bayanihan than any other on-campus activity.

Other popular student organizations at University of California, Santa Cruz include Chinese Scholars & Student Association, College Panhellenic & Inter-Greek Council, Film Production Coalition and Game Design & Art Collaboration.

University of California, Santa Cruz students' favorite campus traditions are Martin Luther King Jr. Convocation, Multicultural Festival and Practical Activism Conference.

University of California, Santa Cruz Housing

This table offers information on housing at University of California, Santa Cruz.

Housing Options Offered? Details
On-Campus Housing Yes
Guaranteed Housing Yes Guaranteed for freshman
Co-ed Housing Available Yes
Housing for Students with Disabilities Yes
Percentage of Students Living On-Campus 51.3%
Spots Available in On-Campus Housing
Number of Students Living On-Campus
Percentage of Students Living Off-Campus

University of California, Santa Cruz offers housing for students. Students are not required to live on campus. First year students are guaranteed on-campus housing.

The majority of University of California, Santa Cruz students live on campus. In 2023, 51.3% of undergrads at University of California, Santa Cruz lived in some kind of on-campus housing and 48.7% of students lived off-campus or commuted to University of California, Santa Cruz. First year students are not allowed to park a car on campus.

University of California, Santa Cruz offers coed housing and housing for students with disabilities.

University of California, Santa Cruz Athletics

At University of California, Santa Cruz there are a variety of athletic options for students interested in joining a sports program.

Intercollegiate sports are the highest tier of college sports and can be very competitive. Intercollegiate teams are regulated by the NCAA, funded by the university, and compete against teams from other universities. The division of a sports team depends on the size of the university, funding, and competition level. An intercollegiate school team will be Division I, II or III, with Division I being the highest level.

Club sports are not regulated by the NCAA and are a great option for students not interested in trying out for an intercollegiate team. Club sports are usually student run but can also be funded by the university.

Intramural sports are the most casual and informal. Intramural sports are often free and require very little time commitment.

Let's take a look at the athletic options available at University of California, Santa Cruz:

Sport Men's Intramural Women's Intramural Men's Division Women's Division Men's Scholarships Women's Scholarships
Soccer NCAA Division 3 NCAA Division 3
Swimming And Diving NCAA Division 3 NCAA Division 3
Tennis NCAA Division 3 NCAA Division 3
Track And Field NCAA Division 3 NCAA Division 3
Volleyball NCAA Division 3 NCAA Division 3
Cross Country Running NCAA Division 3 NCAA Division 3
Equestrian Sports Intercollegiate Club Teams Intercollegiate Club Teams
Fencing Intercollegiate Club Teams Intercollegiate Club Teams
Ice Hockey Intercollegiate Club Teams Intercollegiate Club Teams
Lacrosse Intercollegiate Club Teams Intercollegiate Club Teams
Rugby Intercollegiate Club Teams Intercollegiate Club Teams
Sailing Intercollegiate Club Teams Intercollegiate Club Teams
Ultimate Frisbee Intercollegiate Club Teams Intercollegiate Club Teams
Water Polo Intercollegiate Club Teams Intercollegiate Club Teams

Is University of California, Santa Cruz Safe?

College is like a home away from home. Whether you're walking to class or coming back from late-night studying (or partying!), it's important to feel safe on campus.

University of California, Santa Cruz is patroled 24 hours a day by trained security. The UC Santa Cruz campus has emergency telephones or alarms for students to use anytime of day or night.

UC Santa Cruz offers late-night transportation or safety escorts for students. Dorms can only be accessed with secure key cards so that students can feel confident that they are safe in on-campus housing.

Plan a Visit to University of California, Santa Cruz

Visiting colleges is one of the best ways to get a sense of the campus and student body. If you'd like to visit University of California, Santa Cruz, take U.S. Highway 101 to Santa Cruz, CA. If you need to fly, book your flight to San Jose International airport.

While you're planning, check out other schools in California you may want to visit too. Click the heart at the top of each school's page to save it to your college list.

Want to visit but can't make the trip? Explore University of California, Santa Cruz's campus without leaving home by taking a virtual campus tour

Keep Reading About University of California, Santa Cruz

Click below to find out more about the admissions requirements and deadlines, student life, academics, majors and more.

Overview

Admissions

Academics

Tuition & Aid

Visit the College Confidential forums to join the conversation about UC Santa Cruz.

UC Santa Cruz Students

50%

Women

50%

Men

92%

Full Time

4%

Part Time

96%

In State

4%

Out-of-State

Ethnicity

32%

28%

23%

8%

5%

2%

2%

0.15%

0.10%

Undergraduate Students

17,502

Graduate Students

1,976

Non-Resident / International Students

794

UC Santa Cruz Campus Services

Student Services
  • 1E1A89E0-A58D-422D-B45D-7554EC36A535 Counseling
  • 1E1A89E0-A58D-422D-B45D-7554EC36A535 Health Clinic
  • 1E1A89E0-A58D-422D-B45D-7554EC36A535 Women's Center
  • 31515C82-8D2D-421D-B67C-E215D0E49BE9 Veterans Affairs
  • 1E1A89E0-A58D-422D-B45D-7554EC36A535 Career Planning
  • 1E1A89E0-A58D-422D-B45D-7554EC36A535 Alumni Networking
  • 31515C82-8D2D-421D-B67C-E215D0E49BE9 ESL
Campus Security
  • 1E1A89E0-A58D-422D-B45D-7554EC36A535 Late-Night Transport / Escort
  • 1E1A89E0-A58D-422D-B45D-7554EC36A535 24-Hour Emergency Phone / Alarm
  • 1E1A89E0-A58D-422D-B45D-7554EC36A535 24-Hour Security Patrol

Data Source: IPEDs and Peterson's Databases © 2022 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved

Quick Facts

Total Enrollment

19,478

Campus Setting

Small Town

Acceptance Rate

47%

Tuition and Fees

In State

$13,000

Out-of-State

$43,777

Fall Freshmen
Application Deadline

Nov 30
Find Your Scholarship

Want to find money for school that doesn’t need to be paid back? Access insights and advice on how to search and apply for scholarships!

Search for Scholarship
Do You Work at a University?

Claim your page to customize your profile and connect with students!

Claim Free Account
ECE68226-946A-49FB-9EBE-25C918B98643
Need Advice or Have a Question About UC Santa Cruz?

Connect with the world's largest college forum for candid, authentic discussion.

Join the Conversation