UCSC vs. Sonoma State University

Should I go to University of California Santa Cruz or Sonoma State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if UCSC or Sonoma State University is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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University of California Santa Cruz vs. Sonoma State University comparison
University of California Santa Cruz Sonoma State University College 3 College 4
University of California Santa Cruz Sonoma State University
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Overview

UCSC Sonoma State University
Location Santa Cruz, CA Rohnert Park, CA
Setting Small City Large Suburban
Enrollment 19,478 6,637
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #222 #675
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website ucsc.edu sonoma.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

UCSC Sonoma State University
Tuition (In State) $11,564 $5,742
Tuition (Out of State) $41,636 $17,622
Room & Board $18,185 $14,926
Avg Net Price $17,975 $15,507
Avg Grant Aid $21,202 $7,287
% Receiving Grant Aid 68% 77%

Admission

UCSC Sonoma State University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 65,912 10,806
Admitted 30,926 10,158
Acceptance Rate 46.9% 94%
Enrolled % 12.5% 9.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.63 3.4
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Very High Very Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 25/33 17/23
SAT Range 1160/1360 950/1150
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Nov 30, 2023

Academics

UCSC Sonoma State University
Student to Faculty Ratio 23:1 18:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (17%)
  • Biology (14%)
  • Psychology (11%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
  • Business (9%)
  • Business (19%)
  • Social Sciences (13%)
  • Psychology (10%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
  • Natural Resources Conservation (5%)

Outcomes

UCSC Sonoma State University
Graduation Rate 73% 57%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $50,400 $49,300
Making Student Loan Payments 74% 69%
Median Student Loan Debt $19,959 $17,500
Median Loan Payment $206 $180

Diversity

UCSC Sonoma State University
% Men 50% 37%
% Women 50% 63%
Racial Diversity Very High Very High
HBCU No No
% White 33% 48%
% Black 2% 2%
% Hispanic 31% 29%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 7% 7%
% International 4% 2%
% Unknown Race 2% 7%

Students

UCSC Sonoma State University
% In-State 90% 97%
% Out-of-State 7% 3%

Campus

UCSC Sonoma State University
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility Yes Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • University of California Santa Cruz is larger than than Sonoma State University based on total student enrollment (19,478 students vs. 6,637 students)

UCSC vs. Sonoma State University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UCSC or Sonoma State University?

  • University of California Santa Cruz is 101.4% more expensive to attend than Sonoma State University for in-state tuition ($11,564.00 vs. $5,742.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 136.3% higher at UCSC than Sonoma State University ($41,636.00 vs. $17,622.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Sonoma State University than UCSC ($15,507 vs. $17,975)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Sonoma State University are 21.8% lower than costs at University of California Santa Cruz ($14,926 vs. $18,185)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Sonoma State University than University of California Santa Cruz (77% vs. 68%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Santa Cruz students is 191% larger than aid received Sonoma State University ($21,202 vs. $7,287)

UCSC vs. Sonoma State University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UCSC or Sonoma State University? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Sonoma State University or UCSC .

  • The average SAT score at University of California Santa Cruz (1201) is 205 points higher than at Sonoma State University (996)
  • Incoming UCSC students have a 6 point higher average ACT score (28) than students at Sonoma State University (22)
  • Accepted freshman UCSC students have a 0.23 point higher average high school GPA (3.63) than students at Sonoma State University (3.4)
  • Sonoma State University has a higher acceptance rate (94%) than UCSC (46.9%)

UCSC vs. Sonoma State University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, UCSC or Sonoma State University? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Sonoma State University and UCSC.

  • The graduation rate at UCSC is higher than Sonoma State University (73% vs. 57%)
  • Graduates from University of California Santa Cruz earn on average $1,100 more per year than Sonoma State University graduates after ten years. ($50,400 vs. $49,300)
  • Sonoma State University students graduate with a $2,459 lower median federal student loan debt than UCSC graduates. ($17,500 vs. $19,959)
  • Sonoma State University graduates are paying $26 less per month on federal student loans than UCSC graduates. ($180 vs. $206)
  • More UCSC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Sonoma State University students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 69%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/