UCSC vs. SUNY College at Geneseo

Comparable Facts

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

University of California Santa Cruz is larger than SUNY College at Geneseo based on total student enrollment (19,938 students vs. 3,945 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of California Santa Cruz is located in Santa Cruz, CA (Small City setting); SUNY College at Geneseo is in Geneseo, NY (Distant Town setting).
• University of California Santa Cruz is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. SUNY College at Geneseo is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of California Santa Cruz 22:1; SUNY College at Geneseo 16:1.

UCSC vs. SUNY College at Geneseo Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UCSC or SUNY College at Geneseo? 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 University of California Santa Cruz than SUNY College at Geneseo ($18,059 vs. $19,115).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at SUNY College at Geneseo are 20% lower than at University of California Santa Cruz ($15,962 vs. $19,948).
• University of California Santa Cruz is 77.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than SUNY College at Geneseo (about $7,006 more per year; $16,005.00 vs. $8,999.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 156.6% higher at UCSC than at SUNY College at Geneseo (about $30,636 more per year; $50,205.00 vs. $19,569.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at SUNY College at Geneseo than at University of California Santa Cruz (96% vs. 57%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Santa Cruz students is 168.9% larger than aid received by SUNY College at Geneseo students ($22,774 vs. $8,469).

UCSC vs. SUNY College at Geneseo Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at SUNY College at Geneseo (1270) is 10 points higher than at UCSC (1260).
• Incoming UCSC students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 vs. 28 at SUNY College at Geneseo).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Santa Cruz 1160/1360; SUNY College at Geneseo 1190/1340.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Santa Cruz 25/33; SUNY College at Geneseo 26/31.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UCSC - Test-free; SUNY College at Geneseo - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: UCSC Nov 30, 2026; SUNY College at Geneseo Feb 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman SUNY College at Geneseo students have a 0.09 point higher average high school GPA (3.72) than students at UCSC (3.63).
• SUNY College at Geneseo has a higher acceptance rate (66.4%) than UCSC (65.8%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.3% at UCSC vs. 9.6% at SUNY College at Geneseo.

UCSC vs. SUNY College at Geneseo Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UCSC and SUNY College at Geneseo? 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).

• SUNY College at Geneseo's six-year graduation rate (81%) is higher than University of California Santa Cruz's (73%).
• Graduates from SUNY College at Geneseo earn a median of about $700 more per year than UCSC graduates about ten years after starting college ($51,100 vs. $50,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Santa Cruz graduates have a $915 lower median loan debt than SUNY College at Geneseo graduates ($19,959 vs. $20,874).
• Among borrowers, UCSC graduates have an estimated $9 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SUNY College at Geneseo graduates ($206 vs. $215).
• More SUNY College at Geneseo graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UCSC students, three years after graduation. (80% vs. 74%)

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.