Costs
In-State
Out-of-State
Since UC Santa Cruz is a public university, there are different costs for in-state students and out-of-state students. The sticker price at UC Santa Cruz is $37,858 for in-state students in CA, and $67,612 for out-of-state students. This sticker price includes costs for tuition, books and supplies, room and board, and other miscellaneous expenses.
It’s also important to note that the cost of attendance can vary from year to year and typically it will rise over your four years in college. With that said, your financial aid will also be recalculated every year to take any price increases, as well as any changes in your financial situation, into account.
Using State Grants at UC Santa Cruz
If you are from the state of California and considering UC Santa Cruz, be sure to investigate the Cal Grant. You can apply by submitting your FAFSA or CA Dream Act Application, but you must meet the program's deadline in order to qualify. If you meet financial and other requirements, you may receive over $14,000 per year towards education expenses. The amount received depends on the type of institution you attend and your financial need.
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University of California-Santa Cruz Financial Aid
Students who are applying for financial aid at University of California-Santa Cruz need to submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (or FAFSA).The FAFSA opens up on October 1st, and students should apply as soon as they can! The FAFSA uses financial information from the prior, prior year which means that you don’t need to wait for the year to end and can use last year’s financial information.
The FAFSA code for University of California-Santa Cruz is 001321.
If you are looking for more information on how to complete the FAFSA, check out our How to Complete the FAFSA Guide.
No Loan Policy at UC Santa Cruz
UC Santa Cruz is a no-loan school, which means that their financial aid packages offer students grants and scholarships in place of the federal loans that are typically part of a package. This means that their financial aid is more generous than most, and they help bridge the gap between cost and student need. Some no-loan schools offer this policy for all accepted students while others only extend it to students below a specific income level, or to in-state students. Be sure to check UC Santa Cruz's website for details on their No-Loan policy.
Western Undergraduate Tuition Exchange
UC Santa Cruz is in a state that participates in the Western Undergraduate Tuition Exchange program. That means if you are a resident of Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, or Wyoming, you may be eligible for discounted tuition at UC Santa Cruz. Check out the full list of requirements and participating schools on their website.
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Pell Grants at University of California-Santa Cruz
29% of students at University of California-Santa Cruz receive Pell Grants, which are awarded to undergraduate students with demonstrated financial need (students who have a bachelor’s or professional degree are not eligible). Pell Grants are awarded by the federal government and do not need to be repaid. To apply for a Pell Grant, students will need to submit their FAFSA. If you are awarded a Pell Grant, you’ll see it listed in your financial aid award letter if you are accepted to University of California-Santa Cruz.
You can learn more about Pell Grant eligibility here.
Outside Scholarships
UC Santa Cruz students can also apply for outside scholarships to fund their education. Outside scholarships are awards that are offered by private and non-profit organizations. If you want to see what outside scholarships you are eligible for, check out these resources: