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Santa Cruz, CA · San Francisco, CA
| University of California-Santa Cruz | San Francisco State University | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | ||
| Price after aid (average) | $17,890/yr | $12,278/yr |
| Price after aid (family income under $30k) | $8,717/yr | $9,341/yr |
| Typical loan debt at graduation | $16,666 | $15,371 |
| Price after aid ($30k–$48k income) | $10,613/yr | $9,867/yr |
| Price after aid ($48k–$75k income) | $14,418/yr | $11,825/yr |
| Price after aid ($75k–$110k income) | $18,986/yr | $14,556/yr |
| Price after aid (income over $110k) | $33,323/yr | $22,523/yr |
| Typical loan payment after graduation | $177/mo | $163/mo |
| Room & board (on campus) | $19,948/yr | $22,266/yr |
| Room & board (off campus) | $19,560/yr | $22,230/yr |
| Borrowers who default | 0% | 0% |
| Books & supplies | $1,192/yr | $1,100/yr |
| Other living costs (on campus) | $6,902/yr | $4,734/yr |
| Sticker price (before aid) | $41,179/yr | $26,488/yr |
| Tuition (in-state) | $16,005/yr | $7,950/yr |
| Tuition (out-of-state) | $50,205/yr | $20,550/yr |
| Students with Pell Grants | 32% | 42% |
| Students taking federal loans | 28% | 23% |
| Getting in | ||
| Students who get accepted | 66% | 96% |
| Admissions data from | Fall 2023 | Fall 2023 |
| Applications received | 68,845 | 29,878 |
| Students accepted | 43,054 | 28,727 |
| Students who enrolled | 4,381 | 2,985 |
| Accepted students who enroll | 10% | 10% |
| High-school GPA | Required | Required |
| High-school transcript | Required | Required |
| Essay | Not considered | Not considered |
| Recommendation letters | Not considered | Not considered |
| Class rank | Not considered | Not considered |
| College-prep program | Required | Required |
| Demonstrated competencies | Not considered | Not considered |
| Work experience | Not considered | Optional (considered if sent) |
| English proficiency test | Required | Required |
| Other admission tests | Not considered | Not considered |
| Legacy considered | Not considered | Not considered |
| SAT/ACT policy | Not considered | Not considered |
| Graduation & earnings | ||
| Students who graduate | 75% | 50% |
| Freshmen who come back | 88% | 83% |
| Typical earnings 10 years in | $68,396/yr | $68,077/yr |
| Earnings range 10 years in | $41,808–$102,779 | $38,781–$100,910 |
| Finish within 8 years (anywhere) | 80% | 68% |
| White students graduating | 78% | 53% |
| Black students graduating | 67% | 36% |
| Hispanic students graduating | 67% | 44% |
| Asian students graduating | 79% | 63% |
| Typical earnings 6 years in | $49,716/yr | $52,650/yr |
| Earn more than a HS grad | 75% | 77% |
| Graduate on time | 61% | 28% |
| Pell students who graduate | 71% | 48% |
| First-gen students who finish | 68% | 63% |
| Low-income students who finish | 67% | 65% |
| Students who transfer out | 9.7% | 6.5% |
| Typical earnings 8 years in | $59,302/yr | $60,831/yr |
| Majors & programs | ||
| Top 3 programs | Computer & Information Sciences 17% · Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies 16% · Biological & Biomedical Sciences 14% | Business, Management & Marketing 19% · Visual & Performing Arts 11% · Psychology 9% |
| Most popular program | Computer & Information Sciences — 17% of degrees | Business, Management & Marketing — 19% of degrees |
| 2nd most popular program | Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies — 16% of degrees | Visual & Performing Arts — 11% of degrees |
| 3rd most popular program | Biological & Biomedical Sciences — 14% of degrees | Psychology — 9% of degrees |
| 4th most popular program | Social Sciences — 9% of degrees | Biological & Biomedical Sciences — 8% of degrees |
| 5th most popular program | Visual & Performing Arts — 6% of degrees | Health Professions — 8% of degrees |
| Highest-paying major (1 year out) | Computer Engineering — $79,969/yr | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing — $129,691/yr |
| Degrees in STEM | 42% | 19% |
| Campus & students | ||
| Undergrad enrollment | 17,940 | 18,639 |
| Students per professor | 22 : 1 | 19 : 1 |
| Graduate students | 1,998 | 3,119 |
| Average professor pay | $17,994/mo | $13,199/mo |
| Full-time professors | 85% | 53% |
| Fully online | No | No |
| Accredited by | Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission | Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission |
| Median family income | $42,014 | $27,896 |
| Setting | City (small) | City (large) |
| Location | Santa Cruz, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Region | Far West | Far West |
| Founded | 1965 | 1899 |
| Public or private | Public | Public |
| Main degree offered | Bachelor's degrees | Bachelor's degrees |
| Carnegie classification | Doctoral Universities: Very High Research Activity | Doctoral Universities: High Research Activity |
| Main or branch campus | Main campus | Main campus |
| International students | 3% | 3.7% |
| Men | 47% | 46% |
| Women | 53% | 54% |
| White students | 31% | 15% |
| Black students | 2.1% | 6.5% |
| Hispanic or Latino students | 29% | 40% |
| Asian students | 24% | 23% |
| Two or more races | 8.9% | 6.2% |
| Other / not reported | 2.6% | 5% |
| Special type | None | None |
| First-generation students | 37% | 48% |
| Part-time students | 2.9% | 18% |
| Students age 25+ | 3.6% | 18% |
| Spent on teaching per student | $13,595/yr | $10,604/yr |
| Endowment | $165.0M | $175.6M |
| Campus life | ||
| Campus data from | 2023 | 2023 |
| On-campus housing | Yes — dorms on campus | Yes — dorms on campus |
| Beds in campus housing | 9,524 | 4,596 |
| Required to live on campus | No | No |
| Room charge (campus housing) | No data reported | $11,277/yr |
| Meal plan charge | No data reported | $5,148/yr |
| Meal plan offered | Yes | Yes |
| Meals per week | Varies by week | 19 meals/week |
| Academic calendar | Quarter | Semester |
| Federal designation | Land-grant institution | None |
| Study abroad | Yes | Yes |
| Undergraduate research | Yes | Yes |
| ROTC | No | Yes — Army, Air Force |
| Accepts AP credit | Yes | Yes |
| Accepts dual-enrollment credit | Yes | No |
| Credit for life experience | No | Yes |
| Online classes | Yes | Yes |
| Whole degrees online | No | Yes |
| Weekend & evening classes | No | No |
| Teacher certification | Yes | Yes |
| Academic & career counseling | Yes | Yes |
| Job help while you study | Yes | Yes |
| Job placement for graduates | Yes | Yes |
| On-campus day care | Yes | Yes |
| Program for students with intellectual disabilities | No | No |
| Yellow Ribbon (GI Bill) school | No | No |
| Credit for military training | Yes | Yes |
| Student veteran organization | Yes | Yes |
| Tuition payment plan | Yes | Yes |
| Guaranteed (locked) tuition | No | No |
| Prepaid tuition plan | No | No |
| Athletics | ||
| Athletics data from | 2024-25 | 2024-25 |
| College sports level | NCAA Division III without football | NCAA Division II without football |
| Football team | No | No |
| Varsity teams | 13 | 12 |
| Student athletes | 312 | 260 |
| Athletic scholarships | $0 | $711,845 |
| Athletics budget | $4.7M | $6.7M |
| Athletics revenue | $4.7M | $6.7M |
| Recruiting spend | $35,405 | $34,225 |
Data: U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard 2026-06-10, EADA athletics, IPEDS admissions — each on its own survey year. Campus life: IPEDS institutional characteristics, retrieved from the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-BY 1.0). Founding year, logo, campus photo and links via Wikidata / Wikipedia. SHMACS is an independent tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any institution shown.