

UC Santa Cruz: Rankings, Cost, Programs
2000 acre campus
- Estd. 1965
University of California - Santa Cruz Campus Ranking 2025
University of California - Santa Cruz Campus is considered to be one of the top universities in USA. According to Shiksha Popularity Ranking, University of California - Santa Cruz Campus ranking stands at #49 in 2025, at national level. Apart from this, the university is also ranked by QS 2025 at #393 for World University Ranking category. The university ranking for QS at World University Ranking level for 2024 was #332. This shows that the university's position has witnessed a declined trend this year.
ARWU (Shanghai Ranking) also ranks the university among the top names. In 2024, University of California - Santa Cruz Campus ranking stood at #151 for Universities Rankings category, showcasing a stagnant trend when compared to the last year.Moreover, a few of the University of California - Santa Cruz Campus courses are also ranked by Shiksha Popularity Ranking. Below are the course rankings:
| Course name | Shiksha Popularity Ranking 2025 |
|---|---|
| MS | #104 |
| Others PG | #180 |
| M.A. | #98 |
#281
#57
Commonly asked questions On Rankings
The University of Santa Cruz is one of the best public universities in the United States of America. QS rankings in 2024, this university ranked at 332. In the same lines, the US World and News ranks this university #105.
The University of California Santa Cruz secured the rank of #201-250 in 2024 in World University Rankings. According to the Shiksha study abroad grading system Biology (B+), Biomedical Engineering (C+), Computer Science (B+) and Electrical Engineering (B+) are some of the grading of the courses offered by the university of California Santa Cruz. Some of the courses offered by the University of California Santa Cruz have also been ranked by the top-ranking publishers. the list of the rankings is mentioned below-
| Courses Offered | Ranking |
|---|---|
| Arts & Humanities | #151-175 |
| Computer Science | #176-200 |
| Education | #176-200 |
| Engineering | #201-250 |
| Life Science | #126-150 |
The University of Santa Cruz is one of the best public universities in the United States of America. QS rankings in 2024, this university ranked at 332. In the same lines, the US World and News ranks this university #105.
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.
UC Santa Cruz Popular Programs
The UCSC provides a wide range of undergraduate and post graduate programs to students. Securing the reputation of having one out of their 10 colleges chosen by undergraduate students, the University of California ensures exposure to history, academic support, activities, and events. With 73 majors and 43 minors in the undergraduate program and 66 postgraduate programs, the University of California popular programs vary across fields of Art, Engineering, Physical, and Biological Sciences. The University of California Santa Cruz offers courses across multiple disciplines such as Arts, Humanities, Social Science, Science, and Baskin School of Engineering. The duration of the Undergraduate course offered by UCSC is usually 4 years. The duration of the graduate course offered by the University of California Santa Cruz varies according to the program the student opts for.
Top Programs
The University of California Santa Cruz top programs are ranked by Shiksha Popularity Rankings that are as follows:
|
Top Courses |
Shiksha Popularity Rankings |
|---|---|
|
MS |
#104 |
|
Physics |
#41 |
|
Biology |
#47 |
|
Computer Science Engineering |
#68 |
|
Mathematics |
#84 |
|
Electrical Engineering |
#91 |
|
Biomedical Engineering |
#114 |
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Commonly asked questions On Popular Programs
There are more than 73 majors and 43 minors at the undergraduate level. The best Bachelor courses offered by UCSC include B.A. in Agroecology, B.A. in Anthropology, Applied Physics, Biology, Arts & Design, Chemistry, and others. The duration of Undergraduate courses offered by the University is usually for 4 years. The undergraduate courses offered by UCSC offers students with both theoretical and practical knowledge.
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 as follows:
Top Courses | Shiksha Popularity Rankings |
|---|---|
MS | #104 |
Physics | #41 |
Biology | #47 |
Computer Science Engineering | #68 |
Mathematics | #84 |
Electrical Engineering | #91 |
Biomedical Engineering | #114 |
University of California - Santa Cruz Campus Admission 2026
Students seeking admission to University of California - Santa Cruz Campus have to fill the online application form, submit mandatory documents and pay the application fee. University of California - Santa Cruz Campus accepts some exam scores at the time of admission, including English language exams. Some of the exam scores that Indian students have to submit for admission are IELTS and TOEFL. The documents that have to be submitted are SOP, LOR and CV.
- Application fees :USD 155
- Type of deadline :Regular
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. The UC Santa Cruz is part of the University of California system, therefore, international students are required to fill online application form through the ‘Common Application’ admission portal of the University of California system. You will be asked to choose which campus you wish to apply for.
Primarily, if your secondary schools, colleges or university weren’t in English, the students are required to take an English language test. Minimum of 6.5 or higher score is required for IELTS, minimum score of iBT test is 80 or more and Duolingo English test requires a minimum of 115 score. A passport from your home country and a visa from the U.S. is a must. A student visa will only be granted if the student provides written evidence demonstrating their adequate financial resources for the entire time till the completion of the degree. Additionally, a variety of housing options are available to the UC students, however some require early applications.
International students can apply to the UC of Santa Cruz in three terms which are the Summer, Winter, and Fall semesters. For the upcoming session, international students should apply by November. The applications are to be made via the application portal with an application fee which is USD 95.
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.
UC Santa CruzUC Santa Cruz Scholarships
Acknowledging the academic achievements of the students, The University of California Santa Cruz provides Campus Merit Scholarships. The Regents Scholarship carries the highest honor award by providing $20,000 to new freshmen paid over 4 years. Additionally, priority enrollment and priority university housing placement are also provided. First year students are eligible for a 4-year or 12 quarter award duration. Students are expected to maintain a cumulative UCSC GPA of 2.0 to maintain The Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy (FA SAP). UC SC offers its full-time undergraduate students 180 credit hours or 4 years. Submission of Financial aid application by the deadline is of highest importance since most of the scholarships have a financial need criterion. International students are offered the Dean’s Award scholarship. Other campus scholarships based on various committees outside of financial aid are also included.
Regents Scholarship at the University of California Santa Cruz-
- Regents Scholarship is provided to undergraduate students.
- Freshmen are given $20,000 (INR 1,670,490) paid over four years.
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-$54,000 (INR 1,002,644- 4,511,899) paid evenly over the four years.
Commonly asked questions On Scholarships
International students are generally eligible for student loans and are eligible for very few scholarships. International students are not eligible for need based federal aid since it is reserved for US citizens and permanent residents. International undergraduate students with valid visas are eligible for the Regents Scholarship, the highest honor awarded by the university based on the students' academic achievement. Graduates of an Indian or Pakistani University are eligible for the Guru Gobind Singh Fellowship which is aimed at providing support to students enrolled in the master's course of Economics and Finance, MS in human computer interaction in the University of California Santa Cruz. The maximum scholarship per student is $30,000 (INR 2,506,038).
Only the new and continuing residents of California who have been accepted for admissions at UC are eligible to apply for scholarships. To be considered for all scholarships, students are required to complete their financial aid application by the beginning of March every year. Mention your unique characteristics in the “scholarship” section of the admission application. Students are expected to maintain a cumulative UCSC GPA of 2.0 to maintain The Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy (FA SAP). For scholarship renewals students need to enroll in 15 units each year- and maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.o. U.S. citizens, eligible non-citizens and international students with a valid visa are eligible for the Regents 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-$54,000 (INR 1,002,644- 4,511,899) paid evenly over the four years. In case a student becomes a California resident the scholarship will be automatically discontinued.
UC Santa Cruz Popular Courses
UC Santa CruzStudents Ratings & Reviews
- 0% students never faced discrimination in this university
UC Santa Cruz Placements
The University of California Santa Cruz offers a great deal on placements to its students.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 allowing the students to explore diverse fields of interest such as the Chancellor's Undergraduate Internship program, and Health Sciences Internship. The UC Santa Cruz placement highligts are listed below:
- Large amount of UCSC alumni work in top organizations such as Amazon, Google, Apple, Kaiser Permanente holding the position of an Educationist, Business Developer, Engineer, or Researcher.
- Some sectors in which the graduates of UCSC are employed are Education, Business Development, Engineering, Operations, Research, and others.
ROI After Education from UC Santa Cruz
According to unofficial sources, the average graduate salary of UC Santa Cruz graduate is USD 62,151 (INR 54.02 LPA) annually.
Top Employers
A few of the top employers at UC Santa Cruz are listed below:
- University of California, Santa Cruz
- Apple
- Amazon
- Meta
- Baskin Engineering at UCSC
- Stanford University
- Microsoft
- Cisco
- Amazon Web Services (AWS)
- NVIDIA
- Salesforce
- Adobe
- Tech4Good @ UCSC
Commonly asked questions On Placements
The UCSC provides several internships to its students. Cogen Power Plant Operator Internship is a summer internship providing industrial experience as operators in their organization. The internship aims at building a strong foundation for individuals interested in pursuing careers in fields involving efficient management of crucial infrastructure systems. Another summer internship is Nature Explorer Summer Camp Intern where the Santa Cruz Museum of national history invites the interested students to gain experience in outdoor education, childhood development and be a part of their 7-week long nature explorers summer camp. A monthly stipend is also awarded upon the completion of the internship.
The students of Human Biology majors are required to undertake an internship at a health care facility in the Monterey Bay Area or elsewhere. The aim of the internship is to ensure exposure to students in gaining first-hand experience with the type of issues faced by the healthcare professionals along with the skills required to counter the same. Interns complete 80 hours at their placement over the course of the quarter. The internship takes place around April during the fall. The winter timings for the same are yet to be announced by The University of California Santa Cruz. Students are required to submit a google form application along with their resume, letter of intent and proof of health insurance.
The University of California Santa Cruz is among the top choices of international students for higher education. The average salary of University of California Santa Cruz graduates is USD 62,151 (INR 54.02 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. University of California Santa Cruz graduates are highly skilled in Management, Social Media, Data Analysis, Python (Programming Language), Marketing, Strategic Planning, and more.
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 LPA) annually. The university graduates are always in high demand all over the world. The university graduates work for top sectors such as Information Technology, Media and Communication, Sales, Marketing, Finance, Human Resources, Consulting, Product Management, etc.. According to the University of California Santa Cruz reviews posted by students on Shiksha, the university has been rated 4.0 stars for the quality of its faculty. The students rated the University of California Santa Cruz for placement is as follows:
Particulars | Ratings (Out of 5) |
|---|---|
Internships | 3.0 |
Part Time Work | 3.0 |
Post Study Jobs | 5.0 |
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 CruzStudying in USA
Key Facts About USA
Insights on education, demographics & weather.UC Santa Cruz FAQs
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.
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).
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.
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.
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.
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 |
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 |
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.
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.
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.
UC Santa Cruz
Student Forum
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
S
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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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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Contributor-Level 10
Answered 10 months ago
The University of California Santa Cruz is among the top universities for international students to continue higher education in USA. University of California Santa Cruz graduates works for top companies all over the world. International students can look for the ratings for different parameters fro
P
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 10 months ago
The University of California Santa Cruz is one of the most prominent universities in USA for higher education. UC Santa Cruz is known for offering the highest placement rate in the country. The University of California Santa Cruz placement rate stands at 91%, this means out of 100 students, around 9
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