University of California-Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz, CA · “UC Santa Cruz, UCSC”
- National University
- Public
- Urban campus
- Temperate climate
Known for: Computer & Info Sciences, Interdisciplinary Studies, Biological Sciences
A public research university in Santa Cruz, CA. About 66 of every 100 applicants get in. It gives merit scholarships to international students, not need-based aid.
If you apply from Mongolia
Ulaanbaatar → Santa Cruz
- English: TOEFL 80 · IELTS 6.5 · Duolingo 115
- Regular Decision deadline: Nov 30
- US News National
- #88
- QS World
- #458
- THE World
- #181
- Forbes
- #63
- After the average intl award
- Full price before aid: ≈$77k/yr
- Admit rate
- 66%
- of applicants get in
- Undergrads
- 17,940
- 3% international
- Next deadline
- Nov 30
- Regular Decision
Plus shows 5 more facts about this school ↓
Getting in
About 66% of applicants are admitted. It is test-optional, so you do not have to send SAT or ACT scores, though strong ones still help.
- Test policy
- Test-optional, for international students too
- Admit rate for internationals
- Not published by the school
- Regular Decision
- Nov 30
- TOEFL iBT minimum
- 80
- UC system-wide min iBT 80; UCSC page lists '4.5 effective Jan 2026' for Jan 2026+ tests
- IELTS minimum
- 6.5
- Duolingo (DET) minimum
- 115
- DET accepted
- SAT or ACT can replace the English test
- Yes
Cost & aid
Full price is about $77k a year before aid. Internationals who get aid here pay less. Plus shows how much less.
- Tuition & fees $50k
- Room & board $20k
- Other fees $4k
- Health insurance $4k
- Cost after the average intl award
- Aid for internationals
- Merit
Asking for aid
They decide whether to admit you without looking at your ability to pay, so asking for financial aid does not lower your chances.- Part of the admission decision (need-aware)
Covers all proven need
If they admit you, they cover the full gap between what your family can pay and the total cost, usually with grants you do not repay.- Not published by the school
- Internationals who get aid
- Biggest merit scholarship for internationals
- Average award for internationals
- Yearly aid budget for internationals
- Not published by the school
- Application fee
- No waiver offered
- Plan for the $95 fee.
- Local living costs
- 100.1 (New York = 100)
- Expect big-city daily costs.
5more facts about this school in Plus
Cost after the average intl award
What an international student who gets aid pays here in a year, on average.
Biggest merit scholarship for internationals. Its name, top amount, what it covers and whether it renews.
Average award for internationals. How much aid an international student gets, and what share of the full price it covers.
Internationals who get aid · Majors with the STEM work extension
And 3 more: Average award for internationals · Internationals who get aid · Majors with the STEM work extension
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Work & visa
OPT lets graduates work in the US for a year after graduation, and STEM majors can add two more years.
- Study
- OPT 1 year
- STEM OPT +2 years
- Majors with the STEM work extension
- CPT internships
- Yes
- Work off campus in your field while you study
- On-campus jobs
- Yes
- Earn while enrolled, no extra visa needed
- Adviser for international students
- Yes
- Immigration and visa support on campus
- Undergraduate research
- Yes
- Co-op built into the curriculum
- No
- IB or A-level credit recognised
- Yes
- Your diploma can earn course credit
- Visa compliance record
- No known SEVIS issues on record
Life & outcomes
88% of first-year students return for a second year. 75% graduate within six years. Graduates start around $50k a year. About 3% of undergraduates are international.
- Median starting salary
- $49,716
- All graduates, all majors. Your field will vary.
- Undergraduates
- 17,940
- International undergraduates
- 544
- Share that is international
- 3%
Similar universities
- University of ConnecticutStorrs, CT · #69 US News · Need-based and merit aid
- University of California-RiversideRiverside, CA · #75 US News · Merit aid
- Virginia TechBlacksburg, VA · #51 US News · Merit aid
- University of DelawareNewark, DE · #88 US News · Merit aid
- Colorado School of MinesGolden, CO · #80 US News · Merit aid
- Indiana University-BloomingtonBloomington, IN · #73 US News · Need-based and merit aid
Where this comes from
23% of this school's fields are individually verified. Last checked Jul 2, 2026. Figures are for guidance, so always confirm on the school's official pages before you rely on them.
Data sources
- Main source
- College Scorecard (06/2026 release); THE World University Rankings 2026; Intl-aid/CoL batch (2026-06): Numbeo CoL Index; need-blind list per Wikipedia+aggregators; B5/D3 batch (2026-07): co-op per institutional programs; I-20 industry-norm default; SEVIS none-known default; CDS 2024-2025: AppFee/Deadlines/OtherFees (https://mediafiles.ucsc.edu/iraps/common-data-set/common-dat); English-req/test-policy: official intl-admissions pages (2026-07); IntlMisc (countries/SHIP/funnel/outcomes): official intl/ISSS/career pages (2026-07); Programs: IPEDS/Scorecard PCIP (Most-Recent-Cohorts, 2024) [Jul 1, 2026]; STEM-OPT %: DHS STEM List 2024 (6-digit) × Scorecard programs (4-digit CIP, split families adj.) [Jul 1, 2026]; FeeWaiver+fee re-verified Jul 1, 2026 (official/web)
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