University of California-Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz, California · Public · 65.8% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 85/100 · Strong Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
UC Santa Cruz scores 85 (Strong Value) - a score driven by a 6.3-year payback, 75.1% completion rate, and median debt of only $16,666, partially offset by average 6-year earnings of $38,400 that are modest given the cost of living in Santa Cruz. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.434 is solid. The 79.3% three-year repayment rate is good. Scorecard does not report test score ranges. In-state tuition is $16,005 but out-of-state is $50,205; net price averages $17,890 for the overall student population, with UC financial aid strongly supporting lower-income CA residents. The program-level data is CS-dominant: Computer Science (658 graduates, A-grade, $75,150 year-one) and Electrical Engineering (A-grade, $78,842 year-one) produce strong outcomes. Business Information Systems (280 graduates, B+) and Computer Engineering (125 graduates, B+) are also strong. The broad UC program mix includes many liberal arts and natural science programs where year-one earnings are weak - Linguistics (D-grade), Drama (D-grade), Fine Arts (D-grade), Ecology (D-grade) - pulling the institutional median down from the CS peak. The 31.6% Pell rate reflects UCSC's meaningful lower-income California student access.
University of California-Santa Cruz scores in the top 9% of the schools we score, with strong earnings outcomes relative to cost.
University of California-Santa Cruz
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $16,005/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $50,205/yr |
| Average net price | $17,890/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $71,560 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $68,396 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $38,400 |
| Median debt at graduation | $16,666 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $177 |
| Estimated payback period | 6.3 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 75.1% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 17,940 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $16,005/year ($50,205/year out-of-state), which covers tuition and fees only. The net price counts books, supplies, and average living costs on top of tuition and fees, then subtracts grants and scholarships. For the average student here it comes to $17,890/year, or roughly $71,560 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $8,717/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $33,323/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $16,666, which works out to about $177 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($38,400) and comes to 0.43, which in our view is comfortably manageable.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $8,717 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $10,613 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $14,418 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $18,986 |
| $110,001+ | $33,323 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30,000 pay $8,717 per year at UCSC. Over four years, roughly $34,868. Against $38,400 average earnings and a 6.3-year payback, the financial case for lower-income California students is strong across virtually all programs.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $48,001-75,000 bracket pays $14,418; the $75,001-110,000 bracket pays $18,986. The aid taper is moderate. At $14,000-$19,000 per year, UCSC offers competitive value for middle-income California families targeting strong programs. The 6.3-year payback means the total investment is repaid quickly for completers in CS, engineering, and business.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families over $110,000 pay $33,323 per year. For California residents at this income level, UCSC at $33k per year for CS or engineering is an excellent value.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at University of California-Santa Cruz with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Computer Science | $123,422 | A |
| Psychology | $59,948 | C |
| Business Information Systems | $82,064 | B+ |
| Biology | $65,036 | C |
| Sociology | $55,338 | C |
| Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences | $69,849 | B |
| Linguistic and Comparative Language Studies | $49,763 | D |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | $45,815 | C |
| Natural Resources Conservation | $55,240 | C |
| Economics | $76,382 | B |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Computer Science
Computer Science (658 graduates - UCSC's dominant program) earns $75,150 year-one and $123,422 at year four, debt-to-earnings ratio 0.222 (ROI grade A). Median debt of $16,666 is very low. UCSC CS produces Silicon Valley outcomes: graduates enter Google, Apple, Netflix, Amazon, and the full Bay Area tech ecosystem. The A grade is accurate - low debt, very high earnings, exceptional trajectory to $123k at year four.
Computer Engineering
Computer Engineering (125 graduates) earns $79,969 year-one and $124,641 at year four, debt-to-earnings ratio 0.293 (ROI grade B+). Median debt of $23,392. B+ reflects slightly higher debt than CS but similarly strong earnings. CE graduates from UCSC access hardware, firmware, and systems engineering roles at Bay Area technology companies.
Business Information Systems
Business Information Systems (280 graduates) earns $52,029 year-one and $82,064 at year four, debt-to-earnings ratio 0.317 (ROI grade B+). Median debt of $16,500 - very low. BIS at UCSC provides a tech-business pathway that serves well in the Bay Area economy. B+ reflects strong outcomes at the UC price point.
Psychology
Psychology (499 graduates - one of UCSC's largest programs) earns $30,730 year-one and $59,948 at year four, debt-to-earnings ratio 0.615 (ROI grade C). Median debt of $18,902. C grade reflects moderate year-one earnings that grow substantially by year four. UCSC psychology graduates who pursue graduate credentials see the $60k four-year figure represent a floor rather than a ceiling.
Biology
Biology (215 graduates) earns $37,651 year-one and $65,036 at year four, debt-to-earnings ratio 0.550 (ROI grade C). Median debt of $20,703. C grade reflects the career-path challenge: year-one earnings are depressed for students in research or graduate school pipelines. The four-year figure of $65k is more representative of graduates who have completed graduate or professional programs by that point. Low debt at UCSC's aid levels helps the outcome relative to private biology programs.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 74.9% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 79.3% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 76.4% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 80.8% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How University of California-Santa Cruz’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 65.8% |
| Enrollment | 17,940 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 31.6% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $17,994 |
UCSC admits 65.8% of applicants. Scorecard does not report test score ranges. In-state California students pay $16,005 tuition with strong need-based aid - the $8,717 average net price for families under $30,000 is exceptional for a four-year university. Out-of-state students at $50,205 face a very different financial equation and should model total costs carefully.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of California-Santa Cruz (this school) | 85 | $17,890 | $68,396 |
| California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo | 96 | $16,665 | $90,768 |
| University of Delaware | 86 | $17,799 | $72,950 |
| The University of Texas at Dallas | 84 | $18,267 | $68,227 |
| James Madison University | 84 | $23,322 | $69,954 |
| California State University-Bakersfield | 75 | $5,652 | $59,009 |
Head-to-Head ROI Comparisons
See University of California-Santa Cruz side by side with similar schools on ROI, cost, earnings, and debt.
Who Thrives Here
UCSC admits 65.8% of applicants. Scorecard does not report test score ranges for this institution. Students in humanities and social sciences face lower year-one earnings.
The Verdict: The Investment Pays Off
For most students, University of California-Santa Cruz pays off. You'd pay about $17,890 a year after aid ($71,560 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $68,396 ten years after enrollment. That puts the payback - the time it takes for the earnings bump to cover what you spent - at roughly 6.3 years, a solid return.
What it has going for it: a strong earnings premium over high school graduates, its 75.1% graduation rate, manageable debt relative to earnings.
Median debt of $16,666 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $38,400 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.43, under the 1.0 point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings. Your major matters a lot here: graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
University of California-Santa Cruz: Common Questions
Is University of California-Santa Cruz worth it?
In our view, yes - for most students University of California-Santa Cruz pays off. It scores 85/100 on our ROI scale. You'd pay about $17,890 a year after aid ($71,560 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $68,396 ten years after enrollment, so the cost takes roughly 6.3 years to earn back.
How much does University of California-Santa Cruz cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $17,890 a year, or roughly $71,560 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do University of California-Santa Cruz graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $68,396 ten years after enrolling, roughly $26,596 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off University of California-Santa Cruz?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 6.3 years for University of California-Santa Cruz. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do University of California-Santa Cruz graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $16,666, against average earnings of $38,400 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.43. In our view that is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
What is the graduation rate at University of California-Santa Cruz?
The six-year graduation rate is 75.1%, at or above the 64% national average for four-year schools (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.