UCSC vs. CU Boulder

Comparable Facts

Compare University of California Santa Cruz in Santa Cruz, CA with University of Colorado Boulder in Boulder, CO on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Colorado Boulder is larger than UCSC based on total student enrollment (38,799 students vs. 19,938 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of California Santa Cruz is located in Santa Cruz, CA (Small City setting); University of Colorado Boulder is in Boulder, CO (Small City setting).
• University of California Santa Cruz is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Colorado Boulder is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of California Santa Cruz 22:1; University of Colorado Boulder 19:1.

UCSC vs. CU Boulder Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UCSC or CU Boulder? 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 CU Boulder ($18,059 vs. $26,231).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Colorado Boulder are 7.4% lower than at University of California Santa Cruz ($18,468 vs. $19,948).
• University of California Santa Cruz is 2.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than CU Boulder (about $339 more per year; $16,005.00 vs. $15,666.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 11.8% higher at UCSC than at University of Colorado Boulder (about $5,287 more per year; $50,205.00 vs. $44,918.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of California Santa Cruz than at University of Colorado Boulder (57% vs. 53%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Santa Cruz students is 102.9% larger than aid received by University of Colorado Boulder students ($22,774 vs. $11,225).

UCSC vs. CU Boulder Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UCSC or CU Boulder? 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 CU Boulder and UCSC.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Colorado Boulder (1340) is 80 points higher than at UCSC (1260).
• Incoming CU Boulder students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 29 at UCSC).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Santa Cruz 1160/1360; University of Colorado Boulder 1240/1430.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Santa Cruz 25/33; University of Colorado Boulder 29/33.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UCSC - Test-free; CU Boulder - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: UCSC Nov 30, 2026; CU Boulder Jan 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman CU Boulder students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.68) than students at UCSC (3.63).
• CU Boulder has a higher acceptance rate (78.1%) than UCSC (65.8%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.3% at UCSC vs. 14.1% at CU Boulder.

UCSC vs. CU Boulder Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UCSC and CU Boulder? 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 University of Colorado Boulder's (68%).
• Graduates from University of Colorado Boulder earn a median of about $6,500 more per year than UCSC graduates about ten years after starting college ($56,900 vs. $50,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Colorado Boulder graduates have a $459 lower median loan debt than UCSC graduates ($19,500 vs. $19,959).
• Among borrowers, CU Boulder graduates have an estimated $5 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UCSC graduates ($201 vs. $206).
• More UCSC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CU Boulder students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 73%)

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.