UCSC Admission Requirements
Chances of getting into University of California Santa Cruz
University of California Santa Cruz
Acceptance Rate
Acceptance Rate
47.4%| Measure | Difficulty | |
|---|---|---|
| Admission Standards | Exceptional | |
| Applicant Competition | Average |
How hard is it to get into UCSC and can I get accepted? The school has a 47% acceptance rate ranking it #33 in California for lowest rate of acceptance. Last year, 26,803 out of 56,586 applicants were admitted making UCSC a more competitive school to get into with a good chance of acceptance for qualifying applicants. Academically, it has extremely high requirements for admission test scores, generally admitting students who score in the top 22 percent. University of California Santa Cruz typically accepts and attracts "A-" average high school students. Only 14% of those admitted chose to enroll in the school.
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Calculate My ChancesUCSC SAT Scores
SAT Requirements & Average SAT Score
SAT Range
1190-1400Applicants Submitting SAT
85%| SAT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| SAT Reading 25th | 590 |
| SAT Math 25th | 600 |
| SAT Composite 25th | 1190 |
| SAT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| SAT Reading 75th | 680 |
| SAT Math 75th | 720 |
| SAT Composite 75th | 1400 |
| Average SAT Score | 1300 |
SAT Scores you need to get in
What are the SAT requirements for students to be admitted to University of California Santa Cruz?
University of California Santa Cruz typically requires applicants to be in the top 26 percent of SAT test takers. The school consistently takes SAT composite scores down to 1190 on a 1600 scale, below which admission should be considered a reach. We estimate some students could be accepted with SAT's as low as 1080. The estimated average SAT composite for admitted freshman is 1300 out of 1600. The school ranks #19 in California for highest average SAT composite score. A competitive SAT score is critical as 85 percent of applicants submit SAT scores to the school. Note: SAT scores presented on this page have been adjusted upwards per the College Board's concordance tables for test takers after March 2016.
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Estimated Chance of Acceptance by SAT Score
| SAT Score (1600 scale) | Competitiveness | Admission Chances |
|---|---|---|
| 1400 and Above | Good | >60% |
| 1295 to 1400 | Avg + | 47%-60% |
| 1190 to 1295 | Avg - | 34%-47% |
| 1085 to 1190 | Reach | 23%-34% |
| Less than 1085 | Low | <23% |
UCSC ACT Scores
ACT Requirements & Average ACT Score
ACT Range
26-32Applicants Submitting ACT
40%| ACT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| ACT Reading 25th | 24 |
| ACT Math 25th | 25 |
| ACT Composite 25th | 26 |
| ACT Test | 75th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| ACT Reading 75th | 33 |
| ACT Math 75th | 30 |
| ACT Composite 75th | 32 |
| Average ACT Score | 29 |
ACT Scores needed to get accepted
What are the ACT requirements for prospective students to get into UCSC?
Admission data indicates that UCSC regularly accepts students with ACT's of 26 and above. Successful applicants typically send ACT scores in the top 18 percent nationally. We estimate the school accepting minimum ACT composite scores around 23 in some instances. Prospective students submitting an ACT composite of 29 or higher should be in the upper half of applicants - and students with a 32 and above have very competitive chances. The school ranks #16 in California for highest average ACT composite score. 40 percent of applicants submit ACT scores to University of California Santa Cruz.
Estimated Chance of Acceptance by ACT Score
| ACT Score | Competitiveness | Admission Chances |
|---|---|---|
| 32 and Above | Good | >60% |
| 29 to 32 | Avg + | 47%-60% |
| 26 to 29 | Avg - | 34%-47% |
| 23 to 26 | Reach | 23%-34% |
| Less than 23 | Low | <23% |
Estimated GPA Requirements & Average GPA
Avg. High School GPA
3.73*Typical High School Grades
A-You will need very good grades in high school to get into University of California Santa Cruz. The average high school GPA of the admitted freshman class at University of California Santa Cruz was 3.73 on the 4.0 scale indicating that primarily A- students are accepted and ultimately attend. The school ranks #21 in California for highest average GPA. Even with a competitive GPA, admission to UCSC will be challenging as the school denies more applicants than it admits.
Admission Statistics
| Women | Men | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Applied | 31,496 | 25,090 | 56,586 |
| Accepted | 14,749 | 12,054 | 26,803 |
| Acceptance Rate | 47% | 48% | 47% |
| Enrolled | 1,737 | 1,958 | 3,695 |
| Percent of Admitted Who Enrolled (Admission Yield) | 12% | 16% | 14% |
Admission Requirements
What are the requirements for admission to University of California Santa Cruz and what considerations affect admission decisions?
| Test Scores | Required |
| High School GPA | Required |
| High School Class Rank | Recommended |
| Completion of College Preparatory Program | Recommended |
| Recommendations | Neither required nor recommended |
| Demonstration of Competencies | Neither required nor recommended |
Credits Accepted
| AP Credit | Yes |
| Dual Credit | Yes |
| Credit for Life Experiences | No |
Other Colleges to Consider
Primary data source, U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=110714 IPEDS survey data for University of California Santa Cruz.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does University of California Santa Cruz prefer SAT or ACT?
85% of students submit their SAT scores to UCSC. 40% of applicants send their ACT scores when applying.
What is my chance of getting into University of California Santa Cruz?
47% of those who apply are granted admission to UCSC. Admission competition is low and the college has exceptional admission standards. See if your grades and scores are good enough for admission.
What SAT score is required for University of California Santa Cruz?
The middle 50% of addmitted applicants have SAT scores between 1190 and 1400. 85% of students submit SAT scores when applying. See if your SAT score is good enough for admission.
What ACT score is required for University of California Santa Cruz?
The middle 50% of addmitted applicants have ACT scores between 26 and 32. 40% of students submit ACT scores when applying. See if your ACT score is good enough for admission.