UCSC vs. SUNY at Fredonia

Comparable Facts

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

University of California Santa Cruz is larger than SUNY at Fredonia based on total student enrollment (19,938 students vs. 3,179 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of California Santa Cruz is located in Santa Cruz, CA (Small City setting); SUNY at Fredonia is in Fredonia, NY (Distant Town setting).
• University of California Santa Cruz is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. SUNY at Fredonia is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of California Santa Cruz 22:1; SUNY at Fredonia 11:1.

UCSC vs. SUNY at Fredonia Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UCSC or SUNY at Fredonia? 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 SUNY at Fredonia than UCSC ($16,023 vs. $18,059).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at SUNY at Fredonia are 23.7% lower than at University of California Santa Cruz ($15,230 vs. $19,948).
• University of California Santa Cruz is 81.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than SUNY at Fredonia (about $7,174 more per year; $16,005.00 vs. $8,831.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 153.9% higher at UCSC than at SUNY at Fredonia (about $30,434 more per year; $50,205.00 vs. $19,771.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at SUNY at Fredonia than at University of California Santa Cruz (95% vs. 57%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Santa Cruz students is 132.2% larger than aid received by SUNY at Fredonia students ($22,774 vs. $9,807).

UCSC vs. SUNY at Fredonia Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UCSC or SUNY at Fredonia? 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 SUNY at Fredonia and UCSC.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at SUNY at Fredonia (1270) is 10 points higher than at UCSC (1260).
• Incoming UCSC students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 vs. 25 at SUNY at Fredonia).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Santa Cruz 1160/1360; SUNY at Fredonia 1160/1370.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Santa Cruz 25/33; SUNY at Fredonia 23/28.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UCSC - Test-free; SUNY at Fredonia - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: UCSC Nov 30, 2026.
• Accepted freshman UCSC students have a 0.33 point higher average high school GPA (3.63) than students at SUNY at Fredonia (3.3).
• SUNY at Fredonia has a higher acceptance rate (77.7%) than UCSC (65.8%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.3% at UCSC vs. 14% at SUNY at Fredonia.

UCSC vs. SUNY at Fredonia Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UCSC and SUNY at Fredonia? 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 SUNY at Fredonia's (63%).
• Graduates from University of California Santa Cruz earn a median of about $8,100 more per year than SUNY at Fredonia graduates about ten years after starting college ($50,400 vs. $42,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Santa Cruz graduates have a $5,041 lower median loan debt than SUNY at Fredonia graduates ($19,959 vs. $25,000).
• Among borrowers, UCSC graduates have an estimated $52 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SUNY at Fredonia graduates ($206 vs. $258).
• More UCSC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SUNY at Fredonia students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 72%)

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.