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University of California, Santa Cruz SAT Scores, ACT Scores, Acceptance Rate, and Admissions Requirements

SAT RangeN/A

ACT RangeN/A

Average GPA3.92

Acceptance Rate65.6%

UC Santa Cruz’s 65.6% admit rate is encouraging, but the 3.92 average GPA shows admitted students are still academically strong. Because UC Santa Cruz is test-free, your SAT or ACT score will not be considered here, so prioritize course rigor, grades, and UC application responses.

Data on this page is sourced from our college data partners and was last updated on July 9, 2026.

University of California, Santa Cruz facts and stats

Quick Facts

University of California, Santa Cruz enrolls about 17,940 undergraduates in a small-town campus setting. UC Santa Cruz has an 88% freshman retention rate, above the national average of roughly 70%, and a 75% six-year graduation rate. The student-to-faculty ratio is 22:1. UC Santa Cruz uses a test-free admissions policy.

Location

Santa Cruz, CA

Undergrad Enrollment17,940

Freshman Retention88%

SettingSmall town

Student to Faculty Ratio22:1

Graduation Rate75%

Test PolicyTest-free

How does your GPA compare at UC Santa Cruz?

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Key University of California, Santa Cruz application dates

Key dates

Application deadlines

Regular Decision

November 30

Early Action

Not offered

Early Decision

Not offered

Priority Deadline

—

Financial aid deadlines

Coming soon

Test dates

SAT test dates

August 22, 2026

Registration deadline: August 7, 2026

September 12, 2026

Registration deadline: August 28, 2026

October 3, 2026

Registration deadline: September 18, 2026

ACT test dates

September 19, 2026

Registration deadline: August 14, 2026

October 17, 2026

Registration deadline: September 11, 2026

December 12, 2026

Registration deadline: November 6, 2026

Take tests early for the best outcomes

UC Santa Cruz is test-free, so SAT or ACT scores are not used for admission, including the November 30 regular deadline. Plan retakes or superscoring only if other colleges on your list consider scores.

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What you'll actually pay

UC Santa Cruz is a public university with in-state tuition of $13,146 and out-of-state tuition of $47,346. Students can also review need-based aid and scholarship options, with an average merit award of $7,383.

In-State Tuition$13,146

Out-of-State Tuition$47,346

Room and Board$19,950

Average Merit Award$7,383

Application Fee$80

Students on AidN/A

Average Aid PackageN/A

Average Debt at Grad$19,620

Out-of-state tuition at UC Santa Cruz is $47,346, compared with $13,146 for in-state students, and room and board is $19,950. The average merit award is $7,383, which can help reduce costs but will not cover most expenses. Graduates leave with average debt of $19,620.