UCSC vs. Northeastern University Oakland

Comparable Facts

Compare University of California Santa Cruz in Santa Cruz, CA with Northeastern University Oakland in Oakland, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

University of California Santa Cruz is larger than Northeastern University Oakland based on total student enrollment (19,938 students vs. 640 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of California Santa Cruz is located in Santa Cruz, CA (Small City setting); Northeastern University Oakland is in Oakland, CA (Large City setting).
• University of California Santa Cruz is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Northeastern University Oakland is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of California Santa Cruz 22:1; Northeastern University Oakland 7:1.

Cost details

• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northeastern University Oakland are 1.8% lower than at University of California Santa Cruz ($19,580 vs. $19,948).
• Out-of-state tuition is 35% higher at Northeastern University Oakland than at University of California Santa Cruz (about $17,573 more per year; $67,778 vs. $50,205).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Northeastern University Oakland than at University of California Santa Cruz (67% vs. 57%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Northeastern University Oakland students is 154.4% larger than aid received by University of California Santa Cruz students ($57,948 vs. $22,774).

Admissions details

• Typical ACT composite is 3 points higher at Northeastern University Oakland than at UCSC (32 vs. 29, midpoint estimate).
• SAT or ACT scores are test-free at UCSC, test optional at Northeastern University Oakland.
• Typical fall application deadline: UCSC Nov 30, 2026.
• Enrolled first-year students at UCSC average a 3.63 high school GPA, 0.06 higher than at Northeastern University Oakland (3.57).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.3% at UCSC vs. 14.9% at Northeastern University Oakland.

Loans and repayment

• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Santa Cruz graduates have a $3,541 lower median loan debt than Northeastern University Oakland graduates ($19,959 vs. $23,500).
• Among borrowers, UCSC graduates have an estimated $36 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Northeastern University Oakland graduates ($206 vs. $242).
• More UCSC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Northeastern University Oakland students, three years after graduation (74% vs. 66%).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.