UCSC vs. Western Washington University

Deciding between University of California Santa Cruz and Western Washington University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

University of California Santa Cruz
Western Washington University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • UCSC Santa Cruz, CA
  • Western Washington University Bellingham, WA
  • Setting
  • UCSC Small City
  • Western Washington University Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • UCSC 19,938
  • Western Washington University 14,710
  • Type
  • UCSC Public 4 Year
  • Western Washington University Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UCSC #255
  • Western Washington University #362
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UCSC -
  • Western Washington University -
  • Status
  • UCSC Non-profit
  • Western Washington University Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UCSC
  • Western Washington University

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UCSC $16,005
  • Western Washington University $9,582
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UCSC $50,205
  • Western Washington University $28,707
  • Room & Board
  • UCSC $19,948
  • Western Washington University $15,747
  • Average Net Price
  • UCSC $18,059
  • Western Washington University $24,338
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UCSC $22,774
  • Western Washington University $6,902
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UCSC 57%
  • Western Washington University 93%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UCSC 71,722
  • Western Washington University 14,115
  • Admitted
  • UCSC 47,186
  • Western Washington University 13,162
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UCSC 65.8%
  • Western Washington University 93.2%
  • Enrolled
  • UCSC 9.3%
  • Western Washington University 22.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UCSC 1260
  • Western Washington University 1270
  • Typical ACT score
  • UCSC 29
  • Western Washington University 27
  • Average High School GPA
  • UCSC 3.63
  • Western Washington University 3.46
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UCSC A-
  • Western Washington University B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • UCSC Very High
  • Western Washington University Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • UCSC Low
  • Western Washington University
  • ACT Range
  • UCSC 25/33
  • Western Washington University 24/31
  • SAT Range
  • UCSC 1160/1360
  • Western Washington University 1150/1390
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UCSC Test-free
  • Western Washington University Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UCSC Nov 30, 2026
  • Western Washington University Jan 31, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UCSC 22:1
  • Western Washington University 18:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UCSC
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Biology (14%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
    • Business (9%)
  • Western Washington University
    • Business (13%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • English and Literature (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
    • Psychology (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UCSC 73%
  • Western Washington University 73%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UCSC $50,400
  • Western Washington University $48,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UCSC 74%
  • Western Washington University 71%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UCSC $19,959
  • Western Washington University $19,413
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UCSC $206
  • Western Washington University $200

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UCSC 48%
  • Western Washington University 43%
  • % Women
  • UCSC 52%
  • Western Washington University 57%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UCSC Very High
  • Western Washington University Medium
  • HBCU
  • UCSC No
  • Western Washington University No
  • % White
  • UCSC 33%
  • Western Washington University 73%
  • % Asian
  • UCSC 21%
  • Western Washington University 7%
  • % Black
  • UCSC 2%
  • Western Washington University 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • UCSC 31%
  • Western Washington University 8%
  • % Native American
  • UCSC 0%
  • Western Washington University 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UCSC 0%
  • Western Washington University 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UCSC 7%
  • Western Washington University 9%
  • % International
  • UCSC 4%
  • Western Washington University 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UCSC 2%
  • Western Washington University 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UCSC 92%
  • Western Washington University 83%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UCSC 5%
  • Western Washington University 16%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • UCSC Yes
  • Western Washington University Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • UCSC No
  • Western Washington University No
  • Meal Plan
  • UCSC Yes
  • Western Washington University Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • UCSC No
  • Western Washington University No
  • Daycare Facility
  • UCSC Yes
  • Western Washington University Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare University of California Santa Cruz in Santa Cruz, CA with Western Washington University in Bellingham, WA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of California Santa Cruz is larger than Western Washington University based on total student enrollment (19,938 students vs. 14,710 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of California Santa Cruz is located in Santa Cruz, CA (Small City setting); Western Washington University is in Bellingham, WA (Small City setting).
  • University of California Santa Cruz is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Western Washington University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of California Santa Cruz 22:1; Western Washington University 18:1.

UCSC vs. Western Washington University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UCSC or Western Washington University? 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 Western Washington University ($18,059 vs. $24,338).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Washington University are 21.1% lower than at University of California Santa Cruz ($15,747 vs. $19,948).
  • University of California Santa Cruz is 67% more expensive for in-state tuition than Western Washington University (about $6,423 more per year; $16,005.00 vs. $9,582.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 74.9% higher at UCSC than at Western Washington University (about $21,498 more per year; $50,205.00 vs. $28,707.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Western Washington University than at University of California Santa Cruz (93% vs. 57%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Santa Cruz students is 230% larger than aid received by Western Washington University students ($22,774 vs. $6,902).

UCSC vs. Western Washington University Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UCSC or Western Washington University? 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 Western Washington University and UCSC.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Western Washington University (1270) is 10 points higher than at UCSC (1260).
  • Incoming UCSC students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 vs. 27 at Western Washington University).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Santa Cruz 1160/1360; Western Washington University 1150/1390.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Santa Cruz 25/33; Western Washington University 24/31.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UCSC - Test-free; Western Washington University - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UCSC Nov 30, 2026; Western Washington University Jan 31, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman UCSC students have a 0.17 point higher average high school GPA (3.63) than students at Western Washington University (3.46).
  • Western Washington University has a higher acceptance rate (93.2%) than UCSC (65.8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.3% at UCSC vs. 22.9% at Western Washington University.

UCSC vs. Western Washington University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UCSC and Western Washington University? 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).

  • The graduation rate at UCSC is the same as at Western Washington University (73% vs. 73%).
  • Graduates from University of California Santa Cruz earn a median of about $2,400 more per year than Western Washington University graduates about ten years after starting college ($50,400 vs. $48,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Western Washington University graduates have a $546 lower median loan debt than UCSC graduates ($19,413 vs. $19,959).
  • Among borrowers, Western Washington University graduates have an estimated $6 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UCSC graduates ($200 vs. $206).
  • More UCSC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Western Washington University students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 71%)

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.