Two ratings: the overall grade compares colleges the conventional way (outcomes, cost, resources, experience, reputation). The Outcome Rating asks what students earn: 60% wage-adjusted earnings 10 years after enrolling, 25% graduation, 15% retention. Methodology
Quick Stats
Earnings, Debt & Completion
What happens to students who enroll at University of California-Santa Cruz, from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
Typical debt at graduation equals about 24% of one year’s median earnings ten years after entry.
Earnings rank: 71st percentile among bachelor’s-degree-focused colleges after a partial adjustment for local wage levels (CA wage index 1.21). This drives the Outcome Rating.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, retrieved Oct 2026. Earnings are for federally aided students who enrolled, whether or not they graduated.
Earnings by Major at University of California-Santa Cruz
Median pay of bachelor's degree graduates by field of study, and how each program ranks against every college reporting that major — by raw pay and adjusted for state wage levels. Same school, very different paychecks.
| Major | 1 yr after | 4 yrs after | vs. national | Rank (pay) | Rank (wage-adj.) | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Engineering | $79,969 | $124,641 | +14% | #29 of 189 | #68 | $23,434 |
| Computer Science | $75,150 | $123,422 | +15% | #67 of 349 | #98 | $16,499 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | $78,842 | $118,290 | +18% | #12 of 258 | #54 | $16,796 |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | $55,856 | $98,567 | +5% | #38 of 118 | #74 | $23,000 |
| Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | $55,773 | $94,589 | +11% | #31 of 99 | #46 | $20,020 |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | $40,320 | $88,305 | +35% | #3 of 110 | #6 | $18,959 |
| Business/Managerial Economics | $52,029 | $82,064 | +5% | #35 of 84 | #58 | $16,519 |
| Economics | $50,518 | $76,382 | -8% | #207 of 368 | #266 | $18,017 |
| Cognitive Science | $35,384 | $72,125 | -11% | #13 of 19 | #17 | $18,981 |
| Chemistry | $39,700 | $71,348 | +10% | #68 of 209 | #126 | $15,000 |
| Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences | $45,088 | $69,849 | +5% | #16 of 35 | #21 | $18,534 |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences | $25,034 | $69,027 | +11% | #18 of 67 | #29 | $19,000 |
| Design and Applied Arts | — | $66,333 | +29% | #36 of 299 | #80 | — |
| Non-Professional Legal Studies | $36,941 | $66,244 | +7% | #16 of 39 | #25 | $17,883 |
| Political Science and Government | $31,882 | $65,890 | +4% | #188 of 565 | #304 | $16,703 |
| Biology | $37,651 | $65,036 | +14% | #177 of 841 | #381 | $20,500 |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | $43,362 | $64,499 | +7% | #49 of 138 | #80 | $20,833 |
| History | $33,081 | $60,519 | +19% | #51 of 459 | #112 | $18,100 |
| Psychology | $30,730 | $59,948 | +18% | #100 of 1027 | #248 | $18,902 |
| Mathematics | $40,798 | $59,214 | -15% | #255 of 309 | #289 | $19,050 |
| Graphic Communications | $25,358 | $58,163 | +34% | #10 of 59 | #14 | $20,411 |
| Community Organization and Advocacy | $29,617 | $56,620 | +9% | #7 of 24 | #11 | $15,862 |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies | $31,140 | $55,798 | +8% | #32 of 103 | #47 | $19,500 |
| Sociology | $28,495 | $55,338 | +5% | #155 of 462 | #276 | $15,679 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | $29,152 | $55,240 | +0% | #130 of 265 | #195 | $18,487 |
| Behavioral Sciences | $28,709 | $54,606 | +12% | #4 of 20 | #10 | $17,000 |
| Anthropology | $23,152 | $52,315 | +12% | #49 of 188 | #78 | $16,035 |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $32,934 | $51,519 | -6% | #164 of 225 | #200 | $15,124 |
| Philosophy | $30,285 | $51,398 | -6% | #60 of 86 | #70 | $15,000 |
| Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology | $25,810 | $49,821 | +2% | #34 of 62 | #50 | $17,589 |
| Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services | $21,793 | $49,763 | +-0% | #47 of 90 | #63 | $16,740 |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | $23,614 | $45,815 | +5% | #68 of 144 | #98 | $15,692 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $21,106 | $40,156 | -3% | #250 of 423 | #334 | $19,500 |
| Physics | $37,859 | — | — | — | — | $16,250 |
| Astronomy and Astrophysics | $35,171 | — | — | — | — | $20,400 |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | $21,638 | $30,524 | -23% | #243 of 255 | #251 | $19,500 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study data. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid and were working; small programs are not reported.
The University of California-Santa Cruz Town Property Report
- Avg home value near campus: $688,404
- Avg rent near campus: $3,429/mo
- Top nearby ZIP by cap rate: 95007 (4.0% cap, Boulder Creek)
Get the free 1-page report: rent-vs-dorm math, the 3 best nearby ZIPs by yield, and the “kiddie condo” strategy parents use.
Free — no spam, unsubscribe anytime.
🏆 Where University of California-Santa Cruz Ranks
Rankings based on Repit College Grade among schools offering each program.
Costs & Financial Aid
Tuition & Fees
| Category | In-State | Out-of-State |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | $11,834 | $42,611 |
| Total Cost (On-Campus) | $40,306 | $71,083 |
Financial Aid
Net Price by Family Income
| Family Income | Average Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $9,472 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $10,114 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $13,001 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $18,786 |
| $110,001+ | $32,674 |
Programs & Career Paths
Top Degree Programs
Programs ranked by number of degrees awarded annually.
Related Career Paths
Careers that graduates from University of California-Santa Cruz's top programs commonly pursue.
Student Demographics
👥 Race & Ethnicity
🏠 Living Arrangements
💻 Learning Mode
📊 Age Distribution
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the acceptance rate at University of California-Santa Cruz?
How much does it cost to attend University of California-Santa Cruz?
What is the graduation rate at University of California-Santa Cruz?
Is University of California-Santa Cruz a good school?
- Outcomes (A): Graduation and retention rates
- Affordability (C+): Net cost and financial aid access
- Resources (C): Class sizes and selectivity
- Experience (A+): Campus life and learning format
- Prestige (C+): Reputation and recognition
How many students attend University of California-Santa Cruz?
Is there rental demand near University of California-Santa Cruz?
Deciding between a dorm and buying near campus? Run the numbers for University of California-Santa Cruz — four years of dorm costs vs. owning, including what you’d recover at resale. Buy vs Dorm calculator →
🎓 Similar Colleges to University of California-Santa Cruz
Compare with other 4-Year public institutions of similar size.
Data source: IPEDS 2023-24 | Last updated: October 2026 | Methodology