University of California-Santa Cruz

University of California-Santa Cruz is a large public R1 doctoral research university located in Santa Cruz, California, with an undergraduate enrollment of 17,940. As a Carnegie R1 doctoral research institution, it supports graduate and professional programs across a broad range of academic disciplines alongside its undergraduate curriculum, with faculty engaged in funded research programs. As a public institution primarily funded through state appropriations and federal grants, it operates within the broader California postsecondary education landscape and is regionally accredited, making its credits and degrees eligible for federal financial aid. With a 66% acceptance rate, admission is broadly accessible. With a 66% acceptance rate, the institution is broadly accessible while maintaining academic standards. Net price for families earning \$48,001–$75,000 averages $14,418 per year. The highest program-level earnings outcomes are in CIP 00 — 10-year median earnings among aid recipients in these fields reach $98,567. The 4-year graduation rate is 75%, 30 percentage points above the national average of 45%. Among students who received federal financial aid, 10-year median earnings are $68,396. FIRE rates the campus free speech climate at 56/100 — a mixed record on speech protections.