UCSC vs. Brooklyn College

Comparable Facts

Compare University of California Santa Cruz in Santa Cruz, CA with CUNY Brooklyn College in Brooklyn, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of California Santa Cruz is larger than Brooklyn College based on total student enrollment (19,938 students vs. 14,390 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of California Santa Cruz is located in Santa Cruz, CA (Small City setting); CUNY Brooklyn College is in Brooklyn, NY (Large City setting).
• University of California Santa Cruz is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. CUNY Brooklyn College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of California Santa Cruz 22:1; CUNY Brooklyn College 13:1.

UCSC vs. Brooklyn College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UCSC or Brooklyn College? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at CUNY Brooklyn College than UCSC ($4,512 vs. $18,059).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of California Santa Cruz are 10.4% lower than at CUNY Brooklyn College ($19,948 vs. $22,260).
• University of California Santa Cruz is 114.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Brooklyn College (about $8,553 more per year; $16,005.00 vs. $7,452.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 226% higher at UCSC than at CUNY Brooklyn College (about $34,803 more per year; $50,205.00 vs. $15,402.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at CUNY Brooklyn College than at University of California Santa Cruz (90% vs. 57%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Santa Cruz students is 140.2% larger than aid received by CUNY Brooklyn College students ($22,774 vs. $9,482).

UCSC vs. Brooklyn College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UCSC or Brooklyn College? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Brooklyn College and UCSC.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of California Santa Cruz (1260) is 110 points higher than at Brooklyn College (1150).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Santa Cruz 1160/1360; CUNY Brooklyn College 950/1340.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Santa Cruz 25/33.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UCSC - Test-free; Brooklyn College - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: UCSC Nov 30, 2026; Brooklyn College Feb 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman UCSC students have a 0.21 point higher average high school GPA (3.63) than students at Brooklyn College (3.42).
• UCSC has a higher acceptance rate (65.8%) than Brooklyn College (58.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.3% at UCSC vs. 10.1% at Brooklyn College.

UCSC vs. Brooklyn College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UCSC and Brooklyn College? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• University of California Santa Cruz's six-year graduation rate (73%) is higher than CUNY Brooklyn College's (48%).
• Graduates from University of California Santa Cruz earn a median of about $2,500 more per year than Brooklyn College graduates about ten years after starting college ($50,400 vs. $47,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, CUNY Brooklyn College graduates have a $9,577 lower median loan debt than UCSC graduates ($10,382 vs. $19,959).
• Among borrowers, Brooklyn College graduates have an estimated $99 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UCSC graduates ($107 vs. $206).
• More UCSC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Brooklyn College students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 54%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.