University of California-Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz, California · Public · 17,940 undergraduates · ucsc.edu
Test policy (fall 2027)
Test blind
Scores aren't considered
Acceptance rate
66%
of applicants
Annual cost (2027-28)
$45,610Est.Estimate
$86,310 out of state
University of California-Santa Cruz is test blind for students starting in fall 2027: it doesn't consider SAT or ACT scores, even if you send them. Its acceptance rate is 66%. A year in 2027-28 is expected to cost about $45,610 for in-state students and $86,310 for out-of-state students before financial aid.
Updated
Your chances and merit aid at University of California-Santa Cruz
See your chances of admission, how much merit aid you could get, and what you'd pay after it.
We started you at a typical enrolled freshman here. Move the sliders to match you.
Your admission chances
66% of applicants admitted
No estimate
University of California-Santa Cruz doesn't consider test scores and doesn't publish its freshmen's GPAs, so your chances rest on your courses, grades and the rest of your application.
Estimated merit aid
No estimate
That's for out-of-state students. .
Your cost before merit aid
$86,310
a year in 2027-28, from a $86,310 sticker price (out of state)
What to do with your 1200
Scores aren't considered here
This college doesn't consider SAT or ACT scores, even if you send them.
Reach, target and likely are a rough guide from your GPA, test score and how selective the college is. Admissions also weigh your courses, grades, essays and activities. Merit aid figures are estimates, before any need-based aid.
Admissions
Test policy for fall 2027
Test blind
SAT and ACT scores aren't considered for admission, even if you send them.
- You can type your scores into the application; official reports come later.
- Scores may be used to meet a-g area b and the UC Entry Level Writing Requirement
Source: First-Year Students - UCSC Admissions · Checked November 3, 2026
Acceptance rate
66%
of applicants are admitted.
Cost and financial aid
The sticker price is what a year costs before any aid. Most students pay less after grants and scholarships.
Sticker price for 2027-28Estimate
$45,610
a year, in state
$86,310
a year, out of state (tuition $58,640)
- Tuition (in state)$17,940
What families pay after aid
What a year cost on average after grants and scholarships, for freshmen who got federal aid in 2023-24 (in-state students), by family income.
- $0 to $30,000$9,973
- $30,001 to $48,000$10,713
- $48,001 to $75,000$13,446
- $75,001 to $110,000$18,220
- Over $110,000$35,350
Financial aidEstimate
84%
of a student's financial need is covered, on average
56%
of freshmen receive grants
$22,774
average grant to freshmen
Merit scholarships
Awards for grades and scores, on top of need-based aid. You don't repay them.
Regents Scholarship
$5,000 a year
Competitive · No separate application
To keep it: stay a full-time student (at least 12 units each quarter), stay on track toward your degree under the college's academic progress rules, and accept the award in your MyUCSC student portal each year.
DetailsCampus Merit Scholarship
$3,000 a year
Competitive · No separate application
To keep it: stay a full-time student (at least 12 units each quarter), stay on track toward your degree under the college's academic progress rules, and accept the award in your MyUCSC student portal each year.
Details
Compare awards across colleges with the merit aid calculator.
AP credit
AP exams that earn credit can replace college courses, so you pay for fewer of them and may graduate sooner.
AP exams that earn credit
41 of 41
Earn credit with a score of 3
41 exams
A 3-credit course is worth
about $1,790Est.Estimate
at 2027-28 tuition for in-state students
Credit for each AP exam
| Exam | Score needed | Credits | Counts as |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2-D Art and Design | 3 | 8 | ART 10D |
| 3-D Art and Design | 3 | 8 | ART 10E |
| African American Studies | 3 | 4 | CRES 68 |
| Art History | 3 | 8 | |
| Biology | 3 | 8 | |
| Biology | 5 | 8 | BIOL 20A and BIOE 20B |
| Calculus AB | 3 | 4 | AM 3, MATH 3, MATH 11A, MATH 19A |
| Calculus BC | 3 | 8 | AM 3, MATH 3, MATH 11A, MATH 19A |
| Calculus BC | 4 | 8 | AM 3, MATH 3, MATH 11A, MATH 11B, MATH 19A, MATH 19B |
| Calculus BC: AB Subscore | 3 | 4 | AM 3, MATH 3, MATH 11A, MATH 19A |
| Chemistry | 3 | 8 | |
| Chemistry | 4 | 8 | CHEM 3A, 3B, and 3BL |
| Chinese Language and Culture | 3 | 8 | |
| Comparative Government and Politics | 3 | 4 | |
| Computer Science A | 3 | 8 | CSE 10 |
| Computer Science A | 4 | 8 | CSE 5J |
| Computer Science Principles | 3 | 8 | CSE 10 |
| Drawing | 3 | 8 | |
| Drawing | 4 | 8 | ART 20L |
| English Language and Composition | 3 | 8 | |
| English Literature and Composition | 3 | 8 | |
| Environmental Science | 3 | 4 | |
| European History | 3 | 8 | |
| French Language and Culture | 3 | 8 | |
| German Language and Culture | 3 | 8 | |
| Human Geography | 3 | 4 | |
| Italian Language and Culture | 3 | 8 | |
| Japanese Language and Culture | 3 | 8 | |
| Latin | 3 | 8 | |
| Macroeconomics | 3 | 4 | |
| Macroeconomics | 4 | 4 | ECON 2 |
| Microeconomics | 3 | 4 | |
| Microeconomics | 4 | 4 | ECON 1 |
| Music Theory | 3 | 8 | |
| Physics 1 | 3 | 8 | |
| Physics 2 | 3 | 8 | |
| Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism | 3 | 4 | |
| Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism | 4 | 4 | PHYS 6C and 6N |
| Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism | 5 | 4 | PHYS 5C and 5N |
| Physics C: Mechanics | 3 | 4 | |
| Physics C: Mechanics | 4 | 4 | PHYS 6A and 6L |
| Physics C: Mechanics | 5 | 4 | PHYS 5A and 5L |
| Pre-Calculus | 3 | 0 | MATH 3 |
| Psychology | 3 | 4 | |
| Psychology | 4 | 4 | PSYC 1 |
| Research | 3 | 0 | |
| Seminar | 3 | 0 | |
| Spanish Language and Culture | 3 | 8 | |
| Spanish Literature and Culture | 3 | 8 | |
| Spanish Literature and Culture | 4 | 8 | |
| Statistics | 3 | 4 | |
| Statistics | 4 | 4 | PSYC 2, SOCY 3B, STAT 5 |
| United States Government and Politics | 3 | 4 | |
| United States History | 3 | 8 | |
| World History: Modern | 3 | 8 |
Source: AP credit policy
After college
Graduate within 6 years
74%
Come back for a second year
88%
Typical earnings
$73,362
a year, 10 years after starting here
- University of California-Santa Cruz$62,370
- All colleges$54,104
Median yearly earnings of graduates five years after finishing a bachelor's in this major. 32 majors here have earnings data.
Common questions about University of California-Santa Cruz
Is University of California-Santa Cruz test optional for fall 2027?
University of California-Santa Cruz is test blind for students starting in fall 2027: it doesn't consider SAT or ACT scores, even if you send them.
What is the acceptance rate at University of California-Santa Cruz?
The acceptance rate at University of California-Santa Cruz is 66%.
How much does University of California-Santa Cruz cost?
A year at University of California-Santa Cruz in 2027-28 is expected to cost about $45,610 for in-state students and $86,310 for out-of-state students before financial aid. After grants and scholarships, freshmen who got federal aid paid $18,549 a year on average.
Does University of California-Santa Cruz offer merit scholarships?
Yes. University of California-Santa Cruz offers 2 merit scholarships, including the Regents Scholarship and the Campus Merit Scholarship.
Does University of California-Santa Cruz give credit for AP exams?
Yes. University of California-Santa Cruz gives credit for all 41 AP exams it lists. A score of 3 earns credit on each of them.
Keep exploring
Figures marked Estimate are our estimates, not numbers the college published. Check each college's own site before you apply. SAT is a trademark of College Board, and ACT is a trademark of ACT, Inc. Sharp is not affiliated with either, or with University of California-Santa Cruz.