University of California-Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz, CA, USA

Tuition, Cost & Aid

Affordability and Cost

Average Net Price Average net price for full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduates paying the in-state or in-district tuition rate who were awarded grant or scholarship aid from federal, state or local governments, or the institution. Other sources of grant aid are excluded. Aid awarded anytime during the full aid year is included.

Average net price is generated by subtracting the average amount of federal, state or local government, or institutional grant and scholarship aid from the total cost of attendance. Total cost of attendance is the sum of published tuition and required fees (lower of in-district or in-state), books and supplies and the weighted average room and board and other expenses.
$17,842
Calculate your net cost
Average Net Price By Family Income
Income
Average Amount
< $30k
$11,038
$30k - $48k
$12,049
$48k - $75k
$15,567
$75k - $110k
$22,380
$110k+
$31,701
Tuition
In-State Tuition In-state tuition is the tuition charged by institutions to those students who meet the state's or institution's residency requirements. In-district tuition is the tuition charged by the institution to those students residing in the locality in which they attend school and may be a lower rate than in-state tuition if offered by the institution.
$14,240
Out-of-State Tuition Out-of-state tuition is the tuition charged by institutions to those students who do not meet the state's or institution's residency requirements. Out-of-district tuition is the tuition charged by the institution to those students not residing in the locality in which they attend school.
$44,312
Additional Costs
Room and Board The weighted average for room and board and other expenses is generated as follows:
  • (amount for on-campus room, board and other expenses * # of students living on-campus.
  • + amount for off-campus (with family) room, board and other expenses * # of students living off-campus with family
  • + amount for off-campus (not with family) room, board and other expenses * # of students living off-campus not with family)
divided by the total # of students. Students whose living arrangements are unknown are excluded from the calculation. For some institutions the # of students by living arrangement will be known, but dollar amounts will not be known. In this case the # of students with no corresponding dollar amount will be excluded from the denominator.
$18,185
Books and Supplies
$1,204
Tuition Payment Plan
Yes
Financial Aid: visit page
Financial Aid Email: [email protected]

Aid & Grants

0
100
85%
Need Met
Students Receiving Gift Aid Percent of undergraduate students awarded federal gift aid. Federal gift aid includes any grant or scholarship aid awarded, from the federal government, a state or local government, the institution, and other sources known by the institution.
32%
Average Aid Per Year
$16,091
Students Receiving Grants Percent of undergraduate students awarded grant aid. Grant aid includes any grant or scholarship aid awarded, from the federal government, a state or local government, the institution, and other sources known by the institution.
32%
Average Federal Grant Aid Per Year
$3,091
Average Institution Grant Aid Per Year
$8,428
Students receiving state aid
41%
Average State Grant Aid Per Year
$10,697
Students receiving federal aid
54%
Average Federal Grant Aid Per Year
$3,091
Average Grant & Scholarship By Family Income
Income
Average Amount
< $30k
$11,454
$30k - $48k
$12,602
$48k - $75k
$16,134
$75k - $110k
$24,124
$110k+
$31,788
Total Needs Based Scholarships/Grants Total amount of grant or scholarship aid awarded to all undergraduates from the federal government, state/local government, the institution, and other sources known to the institution.
$214,574,160
Total Non-Need-Based Scholarships/Grants
$11,606,740

Student Loans

Students Borrowing Loans Loans to students - Any monies that must be repaid to the lending institution for which the student is the designated borrower. Includes all Title IV subsidized and unsubsidized loans and all institutionally- and privately-sponsored loans. Does not include PLUS and other loans made directly to parents.
36%
Average Loan Amount Per Year
$6,332
Students receiving federal loans
34%
Average Federal Loans Per Year
$4,684
Average Other Loans Per Year
$3,872
Average Debt at Graduation The median federal debt of undergraduate borrowers who graduated. This figure includes only federal loans; it excludes private student loans and Parent PLUS loans.
$15,000
Loan Default Rate
4%
US National: 7%
Median Monthly Loan Payment The median monthly loan payment for student borrowers who completed, if it were repaid over 10 years at a 5.05% interest rate.
$176

What Students Are Saying

The professors are amazingly brilliant, and most teach with excellent clarity and enthusiasm. There are a few duds, but you'll find that at any school. Tuition was increased for the 2009-2010 school year, but where in the country hasn't college tuition gone up, with the way the economy is? The only thing that I don't like is that a lot of classes are hard to get into as a first or second year because enrollment times are issued by the number of credits you have. It is disappointing to try to sign up for a class numerous quarters in a row, and still not get in because the class closes before your enrollment time rolls around.
Shannon from Petaluma, CA
How could you not love being by the forest AND the beach, right by downtown?.. University professors are nice, and the campus is beautiful. College counselors are helpful and are there to help. The library is open until 2AM if you need to study. For you outdoors people, we have a school-based organization called OPERS that schedules and provides transportation for surf trips, hiking trips to Yosemite, camping trips, trips to the Monterey Bay Aquarium, and more! You also get to encounter a lot of deer on campus. They're harmless.
S. Garcia from LA
Now this definitely on a student's financial status, it is a UC, ranking it the more expensive universities in California, with financial aid, and outside scholarships, it's definitely possible to make it affordable!!
Dana from Carson, CA
UC's are currently overcrowded, tuition is going up, and it is extremely difficult to get classes. This is, in my opinion, the only downside to UCSC. Many popular classes are difficult to get in to, and the classes you do get into are often overcrowded. Since the classes are so competitive to get into, the courses also become more competitive to get good grades in as well. This is both a good and a bad thing.
Zachary from Newport Beach, CA
Its a relatively cheap tuition for a four-year university, but if you're in my situation, relatively cheap isn't cheap enough. $13,000 a year is nothing to scoff at, and the on-campus housing is around $14,000 for a 9-month lease. The total cost of attendance is roughly $30,000 anually. But if its between this school and a $50,000 tuition private university, then this place is much more your speed. Its a relaxing environment that encourages free-thinking. I'd also like to point out I suffered a brain injury prior to attending that gave me a cavalcade of mental disorders including but not limited to depression, anxiety, and agorophobia, but spending a year in the woods definitely brought me much improvement.
Erik from Santa Rosa, CA
Santa Cruz made who I am. It must be meant to be for the people who go here. I feel that I've learned more about myself and subject material, had more fun, and have been more enlightened than most my friends from high school.
chappy student
With the increasing fees I would rather suggest someone go to a community college and the transfer to any college if money is an issue. Also the GPA requirements are a little more lax as a transfer student compared to going in as a freshman.
Jason from Lodi, CA
School is incredibly expensive these days, but as they say you can't put a price on education. The classes are diverse, the atmosphere is one of a kind, and the people are something you just can't beat; the money I pay to go to school here is well spent.
Danielle from Chula Vista, CA
Unfortunately, the educational budget cuts in California are tearing apart every level of education, and UCSC has been negatively affected, just like any other school. Still, students and teachers alike are trying to make the best of a bad situation, and though everyone is affected, I feel that I am still learning a lot, and this campus is a great place to spend your time (and money) if you're going to be stressed about paying so much for college. (Who can get stressed on such a beautiful campus?) In spite of the budget cuts, student groups and the Disability Resource Center aid students who need more help than large class sizes (due to the budget) can give them.
Megan the Banana Slug
UCSC is expensive, but a lot cheaper than private colleges. It is definitely a higher level of education than JC schools. It doesn't really matter how much you pay for a school. What matters is how much effort you put into learning in your classes. If you put in effort, you will definitely get a lot out of UCSC.
Genyana from Menlo Park, CA