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UC Santa Cruz Admissions 2025: Application Deadline, Requirements & Costs

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  • Estd. 1965
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UC Santa Cruz Admissions
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International students can apply for University of California Santa Cruz admissions via Common App or university portal as per the program chosen, before the UC Santa Cruz application deadlines. The application deadlines for the PG program vary with the program. Hence, students must refer to the university program list for program-specific deadlines.

UC Santa Cruz Admissions
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University of California - Santa Cruz Campus Admission Overview 2026

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University of California - Santa Cruz Campus Courses: Eligibility and Fees 2025

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University of California - Santa Cruz Campus Admission Process 2026

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Commonly asked questions
On Admissions
Q:   What are some useful tips for students starting their first semester at UC Santa Cruz?
A: 

Some of the tips for students starting their first-semester at the University ofCalifornia Santa Cruz are:

  • Students who applied for University of California Santa Cruz must be humble and should interact with as many people as possible. Mainly beacause, the more people you talk to the better knowledge you get. 
  • Attend as many gathering and parties as much as you can. 
  • Applicants should avoid missing classess, as 70% of learning comes from students going to classes. 
  • Students can get invovlved with extracuricular activities, i.e joing university clubs, sports etc. This will also look good on a portfolio in the longer run. 
Q:   Is University of California Santa Cruz expensive?
A: 

The cost of attending UC Santa Cruz can vary depending on the main factors such as course, level of study ( Ex UG and PG) and accommodation status. However, international students considering the University of could be slightly higher than US students. The UG’s Academic Tution fee for international students for UG is around (INR 37.9 L). It’s (INR 36.3 L) for PG programs

The University offers a wide range of accommodations considering its student's safety and affordable living place. The following is the annual cost of living of international students at UC Santa Cruz:

Undergraduate student's cost of living: 

entering Students

On-Campus

Off-Campus

Commuter

Tuition and Fees   **

$15,288

$15,288

$15,288

Living Expenses  *

$18,945

$17,139

$7,716

Books, Course Materials, Supplies, and Equipment  *

$1,317

$1,317

$1,317

Transportation  *

$900

$1,425

$2,277

Campus Health Insurance   * **

$3,141

$3,141

$3,141

Total California Resident Budget

$41,283

$40,095

$31,875

Non-Resident Tuition

$32,574

$32,574

$32,574

Total Non-California Resident Budget

$73,857

$72,669

$64,449

Graduate students cost of living: 

On-Campus

Off-Campus

Commuter

Tuition and Fees*

$14,832

$14,832

Living Expenses**

$22,770

$22,770

Books, Course Materials, Supplies, & Equipment 

$1,653

$1,653

Transportation

$3,075

$3,075

Miscellaneous Personal Expenses

$2,475

$2,475

Campus Health Insurance***

$5,214

$5,214

Total California Resident Budget

$50,019

$50,019

Non-Resident Tuition

$15,102

$15,102

Total Non-California Resident Budget

$65,121

$65,121

Q:   What is your review of University of California, Santa Cruz?
A: 

UCSC is surely a good option for international students mainly because of a diverse range of excellent academic programs across its 11 professional schools and colleges. Notable programs include the film, television and digital media school which has produced countless successful alumni in the entertainment industry.

Here are the reasons why you should go for UCSC:

Academics:  The University of California Santa Cruz offers more than variety of courses levels. The UCSC University offers undergraduate major and minor courses. Students can also pursue master’s or doctoral programs at the UCSC University.

Location of the university - The Universit of California Santa Cruz is in a location where arts & culture, technology industry and entertainment industry providing endless internship. International Students have access to beaches, outdoor activities, live music/performances and attractions which makes their make campus life more enjoyable. The location gives UCSC students an additional mark to study at UCSC. 

Fees: : The cost of attending UCSC for Indian students can vary depending on several factors like nature of the program. 

University of California - Santa Cruz Campus MS Admissions 2026

3 courses 1 year - 2 years
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icon
27.5L - 44.5L

iconEligibility Criteria

  • Accepting Exams: IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, Duolingo

University of California - Santa Cruz Campus Application Process 2026

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Commonly asked questions
On Application Process
Q:   What is your review of University of California, Santa Cruz?
A: 

UCSC is surely a good option for international students mainly because of a diverse range of excellent academic programs across its 11 professional schools and colleges. Notable programs include the film, television and digital media school which has produced countless successful alumni in the entertainment industry.

Here are the reasons why you should go for UCSC:

Academics:  The University of California Santa Cruz offers more than variety of courses levels. The UCSC University offers undergraduate major and minor courses. Students can also pursue master’s or doctoral programs at the UCSC University.

Location of the university - The Universit of California Santa Cruz is in a location where arts & culture, technology industry and entertainment industry providing endless internship. International Students have access to beaches, outdoor activities, live music/performances and attractions which makes their make campus life more enjoyable. The location gives UCSC students an additional mark to study at UCSC. 

Fees: : The cost of attending UCSC for Indian students can vary depending on several factors like nature of the program. 

Q:   What are the requirements for the MS in Computer Interaction course at the University of California Santa Cruz Campus?
A: 

Below are the requirements for the MS in Computer Interaction course at the University of California Santa Course Campus:

  • LOR: Some programs ask for a LOR, and with particular exceptions, who should write those letters. 

  • Statement of purpose ( an SOP): An SOP is essential for the application process for UC Santa Cruz. It helps the applicant to convey their talents, Academic excellence accomplishments and personal background of applicants. 

  • Transcripts and degrees: the applicant must provide the university with transcripts of their academics with degree certificates. Similarly, applying for PhD or doctoral programme may require a master’s degree and transcripts from all graduate institutions of the applicant. 

  • English Language Proficiency exams: The following table explains the minimum score  of each English exam the university is excepting : 

  • English is the language of instruction for the majority of the programs at the University of California Santa Cruz.

Exam

Score

TOEFL

Minimum 80 or better

IELTS

Overall score of 6.5 or higher

TOEFL

Minimum score of 115

  • Applicants need not take any GRE exam for this course. 

  • Students should have  a background in design but no particular analytics or technology expertise (e.g., students graduating from design schools or professionals working as technology designers).

  • Students who have a background in social sciences, but minimal analytics or technical background.

  • Students who have a technical background in interactive system creation but no particular design or analytics expertise (e.g., students graduating from the current UCSC B.S. in Computer Science or Computer Engineering or professionals working as programmers or hardware engineers).

 

Q:   How can I get admission in UCSC?
A: 

Below is the application process for University of California Santa Cruz:

The University of California Santa Cruz application process may vary depending on the course and level of study you choose. However, here is the application process for UG and  PG courses.

Step 1: As the step 1 of this university's application process, applicants must create an account on the official website and complete the application; the applicant must fill in their details 

Step 3: Applicants must choose their interested course and be aware that each UC school they apply to requires an application fee of USD 80 (international application fee). If you can apply for Waiver, you can apply to UCSC  for free. 

Want to waive off application fee at US University?   However, you can check out: Application fee waivers for US universities. 

Step 4: The English language requirements need to be met with minimum score in exams like IELTS and TOEFL. 

Step 5: Later, international applicants must upload their SAT/ACT scores for UG programs

Step 6: LORs, Personal insights and transcripts of the applicant's 12th marks are essential while applying to the University of California, Santa Cruz. 

Step 7: If the applicant is selected, the university will notify the applicant through the mail they signed in. 

 

Q:   How long does it take to hear back from UC Santa Cruz?
A: 

The length of time hearing back from UC Santa Cruz varies depending on the programme and the application volume received. Application is reverted by March from the date the application is received. You can check the application status via the official portal of the university. International students might be required to wait a little longer if they missed including some important application documents.

University of California Santa Cruz Enrollment Statistics

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Commonly asked questions
On Admission
Q:   How do I stand out as an international applicant at UC Santa Cruz?
A: 

The admissions at UC Santa Cruz are competitive and you also must talk about experiences and challenges that they've overcome, as that shows how the candidate takes on tasks during tough times. Coming to the essential part, students are suggested to have strong SOPs and LOR which can persuade the examiner to give them admission at the University of California Santa Cruz Campus. 

Q:   Is the GRE required for the University of California Santa Cruz?
A: 

The GRE is required for some of their graduate degree programs. The applicant must review the complete list of application requirements, including LORs, SOPs, academic transcripts and many more. However, the university does not ask for a general minimum GRE score from the applicants, but students are suggested to have a good score in order to be considered. Students applying for the following programs for 2024 admissions consideration are required to submit official GRE scores.No other programs accet or review GRE scores as part of the 2024 application:

Department

Program / Degree Objective (s)

Exam (s) Required

Applied Mathematics

MA

GRE General Test AND GRE Mathematics Subject Exam

Economics

PhD/MA

GRE General Test

Mathematics

MA, MA/PhD, PhD

GRE General Test AND GRE Mathematics Subject Exam

Technology Management

PhD

GRE General Test

Q:   What are some useful tips for students starting their first semester at UC Santa Cruz?
A: 

Some of the tips for students starting their first-semester at the University ofCalifornia Santa Cruz are:

  • Students who applied for University of California Santa Cruz must be humble and should interact with as many people as possible. Mainly beacause, the more people you talk to the better knowledge you get. 
  • Attend as many gathering and parties as much as you can. 
  • Applicants should avoid missing classess, as 70% of learning comes from students going to classes. 
  • Students can get invovlved with extracuricular activities, i.e joing university clubs, sports etc. This will also look good on a portfolio in the longer run. 
Q:   Does UC Santa Cruz accept international students?
A: 

Yes, Santa Cruz accepts international students. As a matter of fact, in the year 2022, over 19,000 students were given an offer for admission. The current students say that this university is very welcoming and inclusive to international students. A diverse and vibrant environment is a unique selling point of this university. 

UC Santa Cruz
Students Ratings & Reviews

4/5
Verified Icon1 Verified ReviewInfo Icon
Student Views (Based on Reviews)
  • 0% students never faced discrimination in this university
Vibe of Campus
Multi-dimensional
Friendly
Internships3
Part time work3
Post study jobs5
Quality of faculty4
Student Life5
Value for money4
Public transportation4
Safety4
Indian Food5
Permanent Immigration3
A
AnonymousVerified Icon
BS Computer Science - Batch of 2024
4
University of California provides with a lot of potential to explore.
Tips: I have enjoyed my overall experience at the University of California, Santa Cruz. I have gained a lot of learning, experience, and maturity while studying here. The faculty and student body are very involved, which makes for a great learning environment. The library is well-equipped, and there is a constant buzz on campus because of the variety of clubs and societies. You will be able to get practical experience through some hands-on projects, which will help you after graduation. Finally, joining study groups and societies is a great way to form a network and gain a sense of community.
Total Monthly ExpenseUSD 2450
Prepping time for classes32 hours/Week
Expected Annual SalaryUSD 84450
Reviewed on 29 Oct 2024Read more
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UC Santa Cruz 
FAQs

Q:   What GPA do you need to go to UC Santa Cruz?
A: 

International students are required to meet the GPA requirements to get admission to UC Santa Cruz. A GPA of 3.40 on a 4.0 scale is needed, but wait, the admission requirements do not end here, they also include other important factors like essays, LORs, extracurriculars and stuff. 

Q:   Is UC Santa Cruz hard to get into?
A: 

International students should make a strong case for exactly why should they be considered for admission at this university because the UC Santa Cruz acceptance rate stands at 47%. This acceptance rate shows that only 47 applicants were offered admission out of every 100 applications. 

 

Q:   What is the world rank of University of California Santa Cruz?
A: 

UC Santa Cruz ranks as one of the best universities around the globe according to the top ranking bodies like THE and QS, which is  #332 in 2024 and #375 in 2023.

If compared with the previous year’s ranking by QS World University Ranking, it is observe that the rankings have been improving in the 2024 at 332 when compared to 2023 at 375.

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UC Santa Cruz

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Answered 6 months ago

The University of California, Santa Cruz, is one of the most demanding universities when it comes to the minimum GPA requirements for admission. For international students, a GPA of 3.4 or above out of 4.0 is recommended for admission. Along with GPA, applicants must also focus on other admission re

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Shreya Basu

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 10 months ago

The University of California Santa Cruz is known for offering the highest placement rate across the nation. UCSC placement rate attracts international students the most. Additionally, UC Santa Cruz graduates work for top sectors such as Business Development, Education, Information Technology, Operat

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Nishtha Sharma

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 10 months ago

The University of California Riverside and the University of California San Diego are some of the most esteemed universities in USA. Each university has its own advantages and disadvantages. When choosing a university student must check factors such as location, fees, average salary, placement, and

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Vipra Bisht

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 10 months ago

UC Santa Cruz is known for offering the best academic programs for its international students in the USA. OSU offers 73 majors and 43 minors in the undergraduate programme and 66 postgraduate programs for its students. The UC Santa Cruz top programs are ranked by Shiksha Popularity Rankings that are

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Pallavi Shukla

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 10 months ago

The University of California Santa Cruz is known for offering the highest placement rate in USA. UC Santa Cruz placement rate attracts international students the most. According to unofficial sources, the average annual salary of University of California Santa Cruz graduates is USD 62,151 (INR 54.02

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Kartik Bisht

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Loveleen Sharma

Study Abroad Expert

Loveleen is a seasoned content writer with 4+ years of experience, currently writing for Shiksha. When he is not writing and helping students, he can be found at the movies, reading fiction, and learning a new language.
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UC Santa Cruz
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University CitySanta Cruz, California, USA

UC Santa Cruz
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Address

UC SANTA CRUZ,
1156 HIGH STREET,
SANTA CRUZ, CA 95064

Santa Cruz ( California)

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