CAMPUS · SANTA CRUZ, CA · PUBLIC

UC Santa Cruz

University of California-Santa Cruz

62.5%

01Acceptance 02Tuition 03Transfer 04ROI 05AP Credit 06Majors 07Housing 08International

Sticker Price vs What You Actually Pay

32% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating UCSC enrolls a meaningful share of lower-income students.

Full Cost Breakdown

Room & Board	$18,785
Total Cost of Attendance	$41,179

What You'll Actually Pay (Net Price by Income)

After financial aid, the real cost depends on your family's income. These are average net prices for students receiving aid.

Family Income	Annual Net Price	4-Year Total
$0-30k	$8,717	$34,868
$30-48k	$10,613	$42,452
$48-75k	$14,418	$57,672
$75-110k	$18,986	$75,944
$110k+	$33,323	$133,292

Financial Aid & Student Debt at UC Santa Cruz

32.0%

Pell Grant Recipients

$16,666

Median Debt at Graduation

Is UC Santa Cruz Worth the Cost? (ROI Analysis)

$68,396

Median Earnings (10yr)

$16,666

Median Debt

4.1x

Earnings-to-Debt Ratio

A ratio above 2x generally means the investment pays off. UC Santa Cruz — 4.1x ratio is excellent — graduates earn well relative to their debt burden.

UC Santa Cruz True Cost by Family Income

32% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating UCSC enrolls a meaningful share of lower-income students.

Family Income	Annual Net Price	4-Year Total
$0-30k	$8,717	$34,868
$30-48k	$10,613	$42,452
$48-75k	$14,418	$57,672
$75-110k	$18,986	$75,944
$110k+	$33,323	$133,292

Cost Breakdown

Room & Board	$18,785
Total Cost of Attendance	$41,179

Financial Aid & Student Debt

32.0%

Pell Grant Recipients

Students from low-income families

$16,666

Median Debt at Graduation

Federal loans only

$49,716

Median Earnings (6yr)

6 years after enrollment

UC Santa Cruz Tuition & Cost FAQs

How much does UC Santa Cruz actually cost per year?

UC Santa Cruz's sticker price (cost of attendance) is $41,179/yr — that includes tuition, room and board, and fees. After financial aid, the average family pays just $17,211/yr, a 58% discount off sticker price.

Does UC Santa Cruz offer good financial aid?

32% of UC Santa Cruz students receive Pell Grants (federal need-based aid). Most US colleges including UC Santa Cruz also award institutional grants on top of federal aid — apply via FAFSA, plus the CSS Profile if UC Santa Cruz requires it.

What income bracket pays the least at UC Santa Cruz?

Families earning under $30,000/yr typically pay around $8,717/yr at UC Santa Cruz after financial aid, while families earning over $110,000/yr pay closer to $33,323/yr. The full breakdown by income bracket is in the True Cost table above.

Is UC Santa Cruz worth the cost?

UC Santa Cruz graduates earn a median of $68,396 10 years post-graduation. Against a 4-year sticker cost of about $164,716 (less for most families with aid), grads typically recoup the investment within several years of work.