UC Santa Cruz Acceptance Rate 2024/2025

Founded in 1965, the University of California, Santa Cruz (UC Santa Cruz) is a public research university and one of the top universities in the United States with its main campus in Santa Cruz, California. UC Santa Cruz has numerous undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs across its colleges and schools.

The University of California, Santa Cruz is one of the most applied-to higher learning institutions in the United States. It is also ranked as one of the most prestigious academic institutions in the world. Getting admitted into UC Santa Cruz is tricky due to the many applicants and low acceptance rates.

Prospective University of California, Santa Cruz students must meet the admission requirements and familiarize themselves with UC Santa Cruz’s acceptance rate, admission process, and other conditions.

UC Santa Cruz Acceptance Rate 2024

Known as the percentage of applicants a college accepts in an admission year. The University of California, Santa Cruz’s acceptance rate is 47.1% for the undergraduate class of 2026. The institution accepts many domestic and international students, making the admission process more competitive.

Typically, international students experience lower college acceptance rates than domestic applicants. Furthermore, the acceptance rate for the University of California, Santa Cruz varies between colleges.

To boost your chances of getting accepted into the University of California, Santa Cruz, you need to understand how the institution accepts in-state and out-of-state and international students.

UC Santa Cruz Transfer Acceptance Rate

The University of California, Santa Cruz’s transfer acceptance rate is 61%. Out of 11,695 applicants, 7,107 was admitted.

Across all schools in the UC system, it’s normal for the transfer admit rate to be higher than that of freshman admissions. While transferring from a community college might seem hard, it’s a smart way to save money.

University of California, Santa Cruz Acceptance Rate for International Applicants

According to the University of California, Santa Cruz admissions website, international students have an acceptance rate of 4.5%. This can be attributed to fewer international students applying to the University of California, Santa Cruz than domestic students.

What GPA is required for University of California, Santa Cruz?

The University of California, Santa Cruz has a specific way to calculate the grade point average (GPA) required for admission. You must obtain an average GPA of 4.0 or higher to get into the University of California, Santa Cruz, regardless of your field. You will need a good amount of As and Bs to attain a GPA as high as this.

Although there are no fixed UC Santa Cruz GPA requirements, to be considered a competitive applicant, you need a weighted GPA of 3.94 – 4.25.

Is SAT required for UC Santa Cruz?

The University of California, Santa Cruz does not require you to take either the SAT or ACT before getting accepted. However, students may still include that information on their application. If your SAT or ACT scores are at the top of the scale, consider submitting them to strengthen your UC Santa Cruz application.

What is the average SAT score for UC Santa Cruz?

The average SAT score composite at the University of California, Santa Cruz is between 1150—1370 and an ACT of 26 – 31. Although there is no fixed UC Santa Cruz SAT score requirement, falling within or above the average range is a great way to boost your chances of acceptance.

Breakdown of University of California, Santa Cruz Acceptance Rate

In the Fall of 2022, the University of California, Santa Cruz received 66,034 applications for the undergraduate class, out of which 31,075 (Early Decision and Regular Decision) were admitted representing a 47.1% acceptance rate.

Also, the acceptance rate for international students was 4.5%, with some freshmen identifying as Asian, African-American, Hispanic, or Latino. These numbers are not related to the acceptance rate for the University of California, Santa Cruz, but they do show that UC Santa Cruz is a diverse campus.

University of California, Santa Cruz Admission Process 2024

The University of California, Santa Cruz’s admission process varies depending on the level of education, programs offered, and nationality. However, candidates with a minimum of 4.0 GPA can apply to study at UC Santa Cruz.

Also, note that the University of California, Santa Cruz’s GPA requirements tend to be higher for out-of-state students. The University of California, Santa Cruz GPA requirements for non-residents state that these students must earn at least a 4.0 with no grades below a B.

University of California, Santa Cruz Admission Timeline

The admission process starts in the fall season before the year you want to join. Generally, the deadline for the University of California, Santa Cruz admission application is as follows.

• Application deadline: November 30

Documents Required for UC Santa Cruz

To study at the University of California, Santa Cruz you must first and foremost meet the admission requirements. Thereafter, apply to the school before the application deadline. In addition to the general admission requirements, you must also meet the specific subject requirements.

Although the admission application process may vary for local and international students, some of the requirements may apply to both. Below are some of the general UC Santa Cruz admission requirements:

• Common Application.
• Official secondary school transcript and school report.
• At least one teacher recommendation
• SAT or ACT score, if available and you wish them to be considered, or other test results like PSAT, if available.
• TOEFL, IELTS, MET, or Duolingo, etc. scores (for non-native speakers of English)
• Official college transcripts (for high school students dual enrolled in a college or university).

Documents Required to Transfer Applicants

• Common Application.
• Official university transcript(s) from all universities attended, must demonstrate at least one year of full-time undergraduate study
• Official secondary school transcript noting graduation
• College report
• Academic evaluation
• SAT or ACT score, if available and you wish them to be considered, or other test results like PSAT, if available.
• Official proof of English language proficiency (ONLY for applicants whose first/primary language is not English or whose secondary schooling has not been in English).

University of California, Santa Cruz Application Fee

The University of California, Santa Cruz has a nonrefundable application fee of $70 for domestic applicants ($80 for international and non-immigrant applicants) or a fee waiver for qualified students. You can make your payment either by credit card or by mail, just be sure to follow the instructions in the application.

Popular Majors at University of California, Santa Cruz

The most popular majors among the University of California, Santa Cruz students are:

• Computer Science
• Psychology
• Cellular and Molecular Biology
• Psychology
• English Language and Literature

University of California, Santa Cruz Tuition & Fees

To study at the University of California, Santa Cruz you will need to spend a huge sum of money. The cost varies depending on the level of study, major or program, number of credit hours taken, and the school or college you wish to study. Some additional fees include incidental fees, educational supplies, accommodation costs, etc.

The undergraduate tuition is $39,171 for California residents and $70,197 for Non-California residents.

University of California, Santa Cruz Scholarships

Many financial aids are available to students studying at the University of California, Santa Cruz. These financial supports may be awarded based on need, academic merit, background, specific talents, or professional interest.

Conclusion

The acceptance rate is an essential factor to consider when seeking admission to the University of California, Santa Cruz. Also, understanding UC Santa Cruz’s acceptance rate and admission requirement are important as it helps you to plan on how to pursue your program and make the right decisions.