Chances of getting into University of California Santa Cruz
Admissions
How hard is it to get into UCSC and can I get accepted?
The acceptance rate at UCSC is 65%. It ranks #43 in California for lowest rate of acceptance. UCSC is a moderately competitive school to get into with a strong chance of acceptance if you meet the requirements. Last year, 35,591 out of 54,988 applicants were admitted.
The school has very high admission requirements for SAT and ACT scores, generally admitting students who score in the top 26 percent (SAT 1160/1360 ACT 25/33). University of California Santa Cruz typically accepts and attracts "B+" average high school students with an average GPA around 3.51. Most incoming freshmen graduate in the top ten percent of their high school class. 12% of those admitted chose to enroll in the school.
The UCSC application fee is $70 and applications are due by Nov 30.
Testing Requirements
You are required to submit admission test scores with your application. University of California Santa Cruz is not a test optional school. Note: Please consult the school directly to determine if testing requirements are temporarily suspended due to COVID-19.
UCSC SAT Scores
SAT Requirements & Average SAT Score
| SAT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| SAT Reading 25th | 580 |
| SAT Math 25th | 580 |
| SAT Composite 25th | 1160 |
| SAT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| SAT Reading 75th | 670 |
| SAT Math 75th | 690 |
| SAT Composite 75th | 1360 |
| Average SAT Score | 1260
|
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 prefers applicants to be in the top 31 percent of SAT test takers. The school consistently takes SAT composite scores down to 1160 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 1060. The estimated average SAT composite for admitted freshman is 1260 out of 1600. UCSC ranks #20 in California and #154 in the nation for highest average SAT composite score. A competitive SAT score is critical as 85 percent of applicants submit SAT scores to the school.
Data Sources, IPEDS for Fall 2020 starting classEstimated Chance of Acceptance by SAT Score
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UCSC ACT Scores
ACT Requirements & Average ACT Score
| ACT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| ACT Reading 25th | 23 |
| ACT Math 25th | 23 |
| ACT Composite 25th | 25 |
| ACT Test | 75th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| ACT Reading 75th | 31 |
| ACT Math 75th | 29 |
| ACT Composite 75th | 33 |
| 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 25 and above. Successful applicants typically send ACT scores in the top 22 percent nationally. We estimate the school accepting minimum ACT composite scores around 21 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 33 and above have very competitive chances. The school ranks #16 in California and #103 in the U.S. for highest average ACT composite score. 40 percent of applicants submit ACT scores to University of California Santa Cruz.
Data Sources, IPEDS for Fall 2020 starting classEstimated Chance of Acceptance by ACT Score
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UCSC GPA
Estimated GPA Requirements & Average GPA
What GPA do you need to get into University of California Santa Cruz?
Applicants require very good grades in high school to get into UCSC. The average high school GPA of the admitted freshman class at University of California Santa Cruz was 3.51 on the 4.0 scale indicating that primarily B+ students are accepted and ultimately attend. The school ranks #46 in California for highest average GPA. If your high school GPA meets these requirements, there is a good chance you will be accepted as UCSC accepts 65% of students who apply.
GPA Data Source, Peterson's Data 2021
Similar Requirements
High School Class Rank
96% of University of California Santa Cruz freshman were in the top ten percent of their high school graduating class.
| High School Class Rank | Freshmen Within Range |
|---|---|
| Top 10% of class | 96% |
| Top 25% of class | 100% |
| Top 50% of class | 100% |
Applying
Admission Statistics
| Women | Men | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Applied | 30,445 | 24,543 | 54,988 |
| Accepted | 19,540 | 16,051 | 35,591 |
| Acceptance Rate | 64% | 65% | 65% |
| Enrolled | 2,021 | 2,172 | 4,193 |
| Percent of Admitted Who Enrolled (Admission Yield) | 10% | 14% | 12% |
Fall 2022 Application Deadline
Applications were Due
Days left to Apply
The application deadline for Fall 2022 has passed. Applications were due on Nov 30, 2021.
Application Fee
The cost for prospective students to apply to University of California Santa Cruz is $70.
Application Requirements
What are the requirements for admission to University of California Santa Cruz and what student information is used for admission decisions?
| Test Scores | Required |
| High School GPA | Required |
| High School Class Rank | Neither required nor recommended |
| Completion of College Preparatory Program | Required |
| 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 |
Primary data source, U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=110714 IPEDS survey data for University of California Santa Cruz.
FAQs
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?
65% of those who apply are granted admission to UCSC. Admission competition is low and the college has very high 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 1160 and 1360. 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 25 and 33. 40% of students submit ACT scores when applying. See if your ACT score is good enough for admission.