Santa Cruz, CA · 17.9k students
Trajecta score
-2.2 since '20Ranked #183 of 2,375
5-year trend
63.0 · #146
2020
63.0 · #180
2021
65.3 · #132
2022
62.0 · #207
2023
60.8 · #257
2024
Academic Profile
34/ 100
Career Outcomes
71/ 100
Student Success
62/ 100
Affordability
73/ 100
Academic Investment
85/ 100
Access & Equity
49/ 100
Academic Profile
34
Career Outcomes
71
Student Success
62
Affordability
73
Academic Investment
85
Access & Equity
49
AI Fit Analysis
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Cost / Net Price
$41k / $18k
SAT Avg
—
Retention
88%
Grad Rate
75%
Admissions
Finances
Tuition
In-State Tuition
$16,005
per year
Out-of-State Tuition
$50,205
per year
Out-of-state premium: +$34,200/yr
Aid & Debt
Pell Grant Share
32%
undergraduates receiving Pell
Federal Loan Share
28%
students borrowing
Median Debt
among completers
$16,666
Admissions Factors
Self-reported by the school in its Common Data Set (section C7) — the school's own statement of which application factors matter in its admissions decisions.
3.92
average high school GPA of enrolled freshmen (weighted) · 99% reporting
Source: Common Data Set 2024-2025, what University of California-Santa Cruz reports weighing in admissions.
| Factor | Very Important | Important | Considered | Not Considered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rigor of secondary school record | Rigor of secondary school record: Very Important | |||
| Class rank | Class rank: Not Considered | |||
| Academic GPA | Academic GPA: Very Important | |||
| Standardized test scores | Standardized test scores: Not Considered | |||
| Application essay | Application essay: Very Important | |||
| Recommendation(s) | Recommendation(s): Not Considered | |||
| Interview | Interview: Not Considered | |||
| Extracurricular activities | Extracurricular activities: Important | |||
| Talent/ability | Talent/ability: Important | |||
| Character/personal qualities | Character/personal qualities: Important | |||
| First generation | First generation: Important | |||
| Alumni/ae relation | Alumni/ae relation: Not Considered | |||
| Geographical residence | Geographical residence: Important | |||
| State residency | State residency: Very Important | |||
| Religious affiliation/commitment | Religious affiliation/commitment: Not Considered | |||
| Volunteer work | Volunteer work: Considered | |||
| Work experience | Work experience: Considered | |||
| Level of applicant's interest | Level of applicant's interest: Not Considered |
Supplemental Essays · 2026-27
school's admissions site ↗University of California-Santa Cruz requires no supplemental essays (2026-27, per the school's official site) — only the personal statement applies.
Drafting these? Write them with AI feedback in Trajecta →
Methodology
The Trajecta Score (0–100) blends six dimensions of public college data into one comparable number, then nudges it by how much data each school reports. Selectivity tiers are separate — they’re based purely on a school’s admission rate.
Read the full methodologyMedian earnings 10 years out, earnings vs. a high-school grad, and loan repayment.
Admission selectivity and the incoming class’s SAT / ACT scores.
Average net price after aid and the typical debt of graduates.
Graduation rate and first-year retention.
Instructional spending and faculty salaries per student.
Share of Pell-grant students and reliance on federal loans.
Data from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard and IPEDS. Figures are the most recent reported and may lag a year or two. This tool is read-only and not personalized — inside the Trajecta app, scores are tailored to your profile as a fit score.
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