Belonging at UC Santa Cruz

No matter your background, we are committed to cultivating and promoting an environment that values and supports every person in an atmosphere of civility, honesty, cooperation, professionalism, and fairness.

Prepare for Your Future

UC Santa Cruz graduates are sought after and hired for their knowledge, skills, and passion. Whether you plan to start working right away, or pursue graduate school or professional school -- such as law school or medical school -- your UC Santa Cruz degree will help you on your way. 

 

Be ready for the real world

Banana Slug Life

Banana Slugs know how to have fun! UC Santa Cruz offers many opportunities for student engagement, including the 10 residential colleges, over 150 student organizations, a variety of on-campus events, and lots more!

Sammy Slug

Come Visit Us !

Celebrated for its extraordinary beauty, our oceanside campus is a center of learning, research, and the free exchange of ideas. We are near Monterey Bay, Silicon Valley, and the San Francisco Bay Area -- an ideal location for internships and future employment.

Where you meant to be

Our Achievements and Rankings

At UC Santa Cruz, we are known for our impactful research and our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. These are just a few of our recent accomplishments.
Image
Impact
2nd

We ranked as the #2 public university in the nation for students focused on making an impact in the world (Princeton Review, 2023).

Image
Stature
AAU

UCSC was named to the Association of American Universities in 2019. Along with just 65 other universities including Stanford and Harvard, we are shaping and advocating for the future of higher education.

Image
apple on a book
Top 10

We are ranked among the top 10 public universities in the U.S. for excellence in undergraduate teaching, celebrating our campus commitment to impactful, innovative education (U.S. News & World Report, 2022-23).

Take the Next Step

Tuition & fees
Tuition and fees
Calendar Icon
Upcoming Events
Mail Icon
Sign up for our mailing list!