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UC Santa Cruz: Rankings, Popular Courses, Fees
2000 acre campus- Estd. 1965
Last updated on 28 May '26UC Santa CruzWhat's new?
- 25 researchers associated with UC Santa Cruz have earned a spot in the Highly Cited Researchers 2025 list.
- From Oct 1, 2026, international UG applicants will be able to apply for UC Santa Cruz.
About UC Santa Cruz
A public land grant research university in Santa Cruz, California, USA, the University of California, Santa Cruz ranks among the Top 50 America's best colleges for research. The campus size of this university is 2,000 acres. UC Santa Cruz is famous for its education and innovation in many fields like Feminist Studies, Astronomy and Astrophysics, Marine Science and Policy, Linguistics, etc. As per U.S. News, UC Santa Cruz ranking in 2026 is #88 in the USA. It also ranks at #34 among National Universities in advancing social mobility.
The total no. of students enrolled at this UC Santa Cruz in Fall 2025 is 19,775. As per the stats for 2025, the University of California, Santa Cruz acceptance rate for Indian students is around 73%.
UC Santa Cruz is one of the five members of the prestigious Association of American Universities (AAU) also designated as Hispanic-serving institution and an Asian American and Native American Islander-serving institution. A few of things to know about the University of California, Santa Cruz are-
| Particulars | Facts |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1965 |
| UC Santa Cruz Acceptance Rate | Around 46% |
| Type of university | Public |
| UC Santa Cruz total no. of Students | 19,000+ |
| No. of UG students | 18,194 |
| No. of PG students |
1,946 |
| UC Santa Cruz Top 5 Courses |
Computer and Information Sciences | Psychology | Business | Molecular Biology | Sociology |
History
UC Santa Cruz was founded in 1965. Then, in 2019, UC Santa Cruz was elected to the Association of American Universities (AAU). Then, in 2010, this university opened its $35 million Digital Arts Research center.
Commonly asked questions On Highlights
For Fall 2025, the total no. of students enrolled at UC Santa Cruz is 20,140. Out of this, 18,000+ are UG students and 1,940+ are PG students.
- UG International students: 3.3%
- Acceptance rate: Around 73%
The University of California Santa Cruz is among the top universities for international students to continue higher education in USA. As per Shiksha Study Abroad, UC Santa Cruz has been rated 4 out of 5. Other ratings are-
Particulars | Ratings |
|---|---|
Internships | 3 |
Part Time Work | 3 |
Post Study Jobs | 5 |
Quality of Faculty | 4 |
Student Life | 5 |
Value of Money | 4 |
Public Transportation | 4 |
Safety | 4 |
Indian Food | 5 |
For Indian students, UC Santa Cruz acceptance rate is around 73%. Indian students who have a good academic record will have a higher chance of admission.
- For admission to the UG courses of UC Santa Cruz, the students must have passed high school
- Whereas for admission to UC Santa Cruz PG courses, a Bachelor's degree is required
Yes, UC Santa Cruz is considered a public ivy university. Public Ivy universities are those public universities in the U.S. that are preceived to provide a college experience on the level of Ivy League universities. In 2025, this university ranked among the Top 15 Alt Ivies of 2025 by Town & Country.
University of California - Santa Cruz Campus Ranking 2026
When it comes to University of California - Santa Cruz Campus rankings, it has an overall ranking of #59 in the USA and #284 in the world as per Shiksha Popularity rankings. Subject rankings are given below-
| Course Name | Shiksha Popularity Ranking 2026 (Country) |
|---|---|
| Science | #50 |
| M.A. | #75 |
| MS | #104 |
By Other Ranking Bodies
Apart from Shiksha Popularity ranking, QS has also ranked the university globally. UC Santa Cruz ranking in the QS World rankings is #458 in 2026. University of California - Santa Cruz Campus ranking stood at #181 by THE in 2026, globally.
#284
#59
Commonly asked questions On Rankings
The University California, Santa Cruz is one of the best public universities in the U.S. As per U.S. News, UC Santa Cruz ranks at #43 in the Top Public schools category in 2026. Whereas, in the National Universities category, this university ranks at #88 in 2026.
The University of California, Santa Cruz ranking is #181 in 2026. Its ranking has improved massively from 2025 (#196). A few of the subject rankings are given below-
- Physical Sciences: #98
- Social Sciences: #126-150
- Education Studies: #151-175
- Computer Science: #176-200
UC Santa Cruz Programs
The UCSC a number of UG and PG programs to Indian students. With around 74 Undergraduate majors and 66 postgraduate programs, the University of California popular programs vary across fields of Art, Engineering, Physical, and Biological Sciences.
UC Santa Cruz Top Programs
Some of the University of California, Santa Cruz popular courses are Masters in Applied Economics and Finance and MS in Computer Science Engineering. The duration of the Undergraduate course offered by UCSC is usually 4 years. The duration of PG courses offered by the University of California Santa Cruz varies as per what the student opts.
Online Courses at UC Santa Cruz
Few of the online courses (partnered with CourseEra) at UC Santa Cruz are Agile Software Development with Python, AI Agent Architecture with Model Context Protocol, AI, Empathy and Ethics, etc.
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Commonly asked questions On Popular Programs
The University of California, Santa Cruz offers more than 74 majors and 43 minors at the UG level and 66+ graduate programs. The popular majors of UC Santa Cruz are-
- Computer Science
- Business / Managerial Economics
- Psychology
- Film / Video and Photographic Arts
- Biology / Biological Sciences
Yes, MS in Applied Economics & Finance course of UC Santa Cruz is a STEM OPT course. This course is of 1-year duration. It is one of the top picked course among Indian students. The graduates of this course have gone into Tech giants like Apple, Google, Amazon, Twitter, Bloomberg, etc. For admission to this course, a Bachelor's degree is required.
At UC Santa Cruz, 70+ UG majors are available. Whereas, at the PG level, around 66 courses are available. Study areas that are available are-
- Arts
- Social Sciences
- Humanities
- Sciences
- Engineering
University of California - Santa Cruz Campus Admission 2026
Students seeking admission to University of California - Santa Cruz Campus have apply via the university's application system. The application fee for international UG students is USD 95 (Around INR 9k). The application fee for international PG studentsis USD 155 (Around INR 14.8k).
UC Santa Cruz Application Deadlines 2026
The aplication deadlines are given below for the Undergraduate courses of UC Santa Cruz-
| Particulars | Application Period |
|---|---|
| Fall intake | Oct 1, 2026 - Dec 1, 2026 |
UC Santa Cruz Admission Requirements 2026
Some of the documents that Indian students have to submit for the University of California, Santa Cruz admission are-
- Transcripts
- IELTS / TOEFL
- SOP
- LOR
- CV
Postgraduate Admission Requirements
A Bachelor's degree or an equivalent degree is required for admission to UC Santa Cruz. Those who have a 3-year degree should have a PG Diploma, Master's degree or a higher degree.
Undergraduate Admission Requirements
Indian students who want to apply to UC Santa Cruz must have passed high school. SAT / ACT scores are not accepted by this university. Coursework in the subjects are also required and the details for this are given below-
| Subjects | Years Required |
|---|---|
| History / Social Science | 2 |
| English | 4 |
| Mathematics | 3 years required, 4 years recommended |
| Lab Science | 2 years required, 3 years recommended |
| Language, other than English | 2 years required, 3 years recommended |
| Visual and Performing Arts | 1 |
| College Preparatory Electives | 1 |
- Application fees :USD 155
- Type of deadline :Depends on course
Commonly asked questions On Admissions
The University of California Santa Cruz offers more than 100 degree programs at undergraduate and graduate levels to international students. Students have to apply via the UC Santa Cruz application system. The application fee for UG and PG courses are-
- UG: USD 95 or INR 9k
- PG: USD 155 or INR 14.8k
The GRE is required for some of their PG courses of UC Santa Cruz The applicant must review the complete list of application requirements, including LORs, SOPs, academic transcripts and many more.
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 |
UC Santa CruzUC Santa Cruz Scholarships for Indian students
Acknowledging the academic achievements of the students, The University of California Santa Cruz provides Campus Merit Scholarships. International students are offered the Dean’s Award scholarship. Note that for financial aid, Indian students are not eligible. Details about UC Santa Cruz scholarships are given below-
Dean’s Scholarship at the University of California Santa Cruz-
- International students are eligible for Dean’s Scholarship
- First-year students receive awards ranging from $12,000-$60,000 paid evenly over the four years (Around INR 11.5 L - INR 58 L)
Commonly asked questions On Scholarships
The newly admitted out of state and international first year and are automatically considered for the undergraduate Dean’s Award. First year students receive awards ranging from $12,000-$60,000 (INR 11.53 L - INR 57.6 L) paid evenly over the four years. In case a student becomes a California resident the scholarship will be automatically discontinued.
UC Santa Cruz UG Dean's Award is a merit based scholarship. The students are considered automatically for this scholarship. The award amount is USD 12,000 - USD 100,000 paid evenly for 4 years. Holistic review is done for this scholarship, giving priority to the academic record.
UC Santa Cruz Popular Courses
15 monthsUC Santa CruzStudents Ratings & Reviews
1 Verified Review- 0% students never faced discrimination in this university
UC Santa Cruz Placements
The University of California Santa Cruz placement rate stands at 91%, this means out of 100 students, around 91 students secured employment. University of California Santa Cruz also provides a wide range of on-campus internships too.
ROI After Education from UC Santa Cruz
According to Payscale.com, the average graduate salary of UC Santa Cruz graduate is USD 91k (INR 87 LPA) annually. The tuition fee at this university is around INR 30 L - INR 61 L.
Top Employers
A few of the top employers at UC Santa Cruz are listed below:
- Apple
- Amazon
- Meta
- Deloitte
- Microsoft
- Cisco
- NVIDIA
Check details about the Popular Job Sectors in the USA
Commonly asked questions On Placements
The average salary of University of California Santa Cruz graduates is USD 91k (INR 87.47 LPA) annually. UC Santa Cruz graduates work in top-notch sector such as Operations, Business Development, Education, Sales, Information Technology, Arts and Design, Finance, Research, etc.
Some of the top recruiters of UC Santa Cruz graduates, as per the details mentioned in First Destination Survey are-
- Amazon
- Apple
- Microsoft
- KPMG
- General Motors
- Tesla
UC Santa Cruz Fees
The University of California, Santa Cruz cost per year for UG students is USD 86,898 (Around INR 83 L). This is inclusive of the tuition fees and living expenses. Out of this, UC Santa Cruz tuition fees is USD 17,490 (Around INR 16.8 L). Whereas, for PG courses, the tuition fees can be around INR 30 L - INR 61 L.
Cost of Living at UC Santa Cruz
For 2026-27, the living expenses for UG students at UC Santa Cruz will be as follows-
| On-Campus Expenses | Expenses in INR | |
|---|---|---|
| Living expenses | USD 21,477 | INR 20.6 L |
| Books, course materials | USD 1,176 | INR 1.13 L |
| Transportation |
USD 963 |
INR 92.5k |
| Misc. Personal Expenses | USD 2,652 | INR 2.54 L |
| Campus Health Insurance | USD 3,870 | INR 3.72 L |
| Courses | 1st Year Tuition Fees | Duration & Eligibility |
|---|---|---|
MS(3 courses) | INR 30 L - 61 LGet Fee Details | Duration: 1 year-2 years Exam Accepted: IELTS: 7 & Above, TOEFL: 83 - 89, PTE, Duolingo |
B.E. / B.Tech(3 courses) | INR 36 L - 44 LGet Fee Details | Duration: 4 years Exam Accepted: IELTS: 6.5 & Above, TOEFL: 80 - 89, PTE, Duolingo |
MBA/PGDM(1 course) | INR 44 LGet Fee Details | Duration: 1 year Exam Accepted: IELTS: 7 & Above, TOEFL: 83 & Above |
B.A.(1 course) | INR 44 LGet Fee Details | Duration: 4 years Exam Accepted: IELTS: 6.5 & Above, TOEFL: 80 & Above, PTE, Duolingo |
B.Sc.(1 course) | INR 44 LGet Fee Details | Duration: 4 years Exam Accepted: IELTS: 6.5 & Above, TOEFL: 80 & Above, PTE, Duolingo |
Commonly asked questions On Fees and Eligibility
At the start of the University for California Santa Cruz application process, international students are required to pay an application fee of USD 95. The tuition fee at UC Santa Cruz are-
| Course level | Annual Tuition Fee in INR |
|---|---|
| UG | INR 36.37 L - 43.52 L |
| PG | INR 29.79 L - 60.67 L |
Considerable factors like housing, health insurance, personal expenses, books materials can add up to the entire cost of studying at UC Santa Cruz.
UC Santa CruzStudent profile
Others
46%
Hispanic
28%
Asian
23%
Black
1%
In state
90%
Out of state
6%
Foreign
2%
24 and under
95%
25 and over
4%
UG Number of Applicant
Overall Graduation Rate
UG Enrollment
PG Enrollment
UC Santa Cruz Notable Alumni
The University of California offers multiple well-known alumni who have done very well in various fields such as a renowned director, CEO of BuzzFeed, Actress and Comedian, and many more. Famous alumni of UCSC are Cary Joji Fukunaga, a famous American filmmaker who has acted greatly in movies such as No time to Die, Jane Eyre, and others. Another well-known alumnus is Bret Samuel.
| Notable Alumni | Profession | Picture |
|---|---|---|
| Andy Samberg | American Actor, Comedian, and Musician |
|
| Maya Rudolph | American Actress |
|
| Susan Wojcicki | Former CEO of YouTube |
|
| Rebecca Romijin | American Actress & Former Model |
|
| Avika Schaffer | American Actor, Filmmaker |
|
| Jonah Peretti | Co-Founder & CEO of Buzzfeed |
|
Commonly asked questions On Alumni
The alumni network at UC Santa Cruz include 145,000+ graduates worldwide. A few of the people who have studied at UCSC are-
- Andy Samberg- Comedian, Writer, Famous Actor (Brooklyn Nine-Nine)
- Maya Rudolph- Actress and Comedian
- Rebecca Romijn- Actress and Former Model
- Tom Franco- Actor
- Bell Hooks- Popular Author, Theorist
- Ezra Klein- Journalist and Political Commentator
College comparison
Compare UC Santa Cruz with other similar colleges
| College | 1st Year Tuition Fees | Ranking |
|---|---|---|
| INR 29.79 L - 60.67 L | #64 QS, 2026 | |
| INR 34.14 L - 56.31 L | -/- | |
| INR 32.73 L | #105 QS, 2026 | |
| INR 25.52 L | -/- | |
| INR 20.42 L | -/- | |
| INR 12.84 L - 28.8 L | #1704 US News, 2025 |
CompareUC Santa CruzStudying in USA
Key Facts About USA
Insights on education, demographics & weather.
UC Santa Cruz Campus
UC Santa Cruz offers 10 residential colleges and 150+ organizations for students to get actively involved in along with multiple campus events. UC Santa Cruz campus is located at the North end of Monterey Bay on the Central California Coast.
Commonly asked questions On Others
The University of California Santa Cruz offers more than 10 residential colleges that is supported by a strong faculty and staff who provide academic support to the students along with organisation of activities for students, and events focusing on the enhancement of intellectual and social life of the students. Post acceptance to the University, the admitted students can select their college of preference from the 10 options provided by the University. Each college community offers a diverse background and academic goal to the students.
UC Santa Cruz
Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered 11 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
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a year 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
N
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a year 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
K
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a year 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
P
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a year 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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Contributor-Level 10
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UC Santa CruzLocation
| University City | Santa Cruz, California, USA |
UC Santa CruzContact Information
UC SANTA CRUZ,
1156 HIGH STREET,
SANTA CRUZ, CA 95064
Santa Cruz ( California)
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