UCSC vs. Westmont College

University of California Santa Cruz and Westmont College side by side on admissions, cost, and outcomes, from public data.

University of California Santa Cruz
Westmont College

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: UCSC (65.8% admitted vs 77%). Typical SAT 1260 vs 1350.
  • Cheaper after aid: UCSC. Average net price is $18,059 vs $32,172 at Westmont College.
  • Graduation: UCSC 73% vs Westmont College 77%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: UCSC $50,400 vs Westmont College $54,600 (median).
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Key differences

University of California Santa Cruz Westmont College
Acceptance rate
UCSC more selective
UCSC65.8%
Westmont College77%
SAT range (middle 50%)
Westmont College higher
UCSC1160-1360
Westmont College1240-1450
Average net price
UCSC $14,113 less
UCSC$18,059
Westmont College$32,172
In-state tuition
UCSC $37,579 less
UCSC$16,005
Westmont College$53,584
Out-of-state tuition
UCSC $3,379 less
UCSC$50,205
Westmont College$53,584
Graduation rate
Westmont College +4 pts
UCSC73%
Westmont College77%
Median earnings (10 years)
Westmont College +$4,200
UCSC$50,400
Westmont College$54,600

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • UCSC 71,722
  • Westmont College 2,479
  • Admitted
  • UCSC 47,186
  • Westmont College 1,910
  • Acceptance rate
  • UCSC 65.8%
  • Westmont College 77%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • UCSC 9.3%
  • Westmont College 15.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UCSC 1260
  • Westmont College 1350
  • Typical ACT score
  • UCSC 29
  • Westmont College 28
  • Average high school GPA
  • UCSC 3.63
  • Westmont College 3.59
  • Typical high school grades
  • UCSC A-
  • Westmont College A-
  • Admissions standards
  • UCSC Very High
  • Westmont College Very High
  • Applicant competition
  • UCSC Low
  • Westmont College
  • SAT range
  • UCSC 1160-1360
  • Westmont College 1240-1450
  • ACT range
  • UCSC 25-33
  • Westmont College 25-32
  • Submit test scores
  • UCSC Test-free
  • Westmont College Test optional
  • Application deadline
  • UCSC Nov 30, 2026
  • Westmont College
  • Tuition (in state)
  • UCSC $16,005
  • Westmont College $53,584
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • UCSC $50,205
  • Westmont College $53,584
  • Room & board
  • UCSC $19,948
  • Westmont College $16,960
  • Average net price
  • UCSC $18,059
  • Westmont College $32,172
  • Average grant aid
  • UCSC $22,774
  • Westmont College $38,956
  • % receiving grant aid
  • UCSC 57%
  • Westmont College 100%
  • Graduation rate
  • UCSC 73%
  • Westmont College 77%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • UCSC $50,400
  • Westmont College $54,600
  • Making student loan payments
  • UCSC 74%
  • Westmont College 86%
  • Median student loan debt
  • UCSC $19,959
  • Westmont College $25,123
  • Median loan payment
  • UCSC $206
  • Westmont College $259
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • UCSC 22:1
  • Westmont College 10:1
  • Popular majors
  • UCSC
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Biology (14%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
    • Business (9%)
  • Westmont College
    • English and Literature (12%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (10%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Business (10%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
  • Location
  • UCSC Santa Cruz, CA
  • Westmont College Santa Barbara, CA
  • Setting
  • UCSC Small City
  • Westmont College Midsize Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • UCSC 19,938
  • Westmont College 1,310
  • Type
  • UCSC Public 4 Year
  • Westmont College Private 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • UCSC #255
  • Westmont College #154

Comparable Facts

Compare University of California Santa Cruz in Santa Cruz, CA with Westmont College in Santa Barbara, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

University of California Santa Cruz is larger than Westmont College based on total student enrollment (19,938 students vs. 1,310 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of California Santa Cruz is located in Santa Cruz, CA (Small City setting); Westmont College is in Santa Barbara, CA (Midsize Suburban setting).
  • University of California Santa Cruz is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Westmont College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of California Santa Cruz 22:1; Westmont College 10:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Westmont College are 15% lower than at University of California Santa Cruz ($16,960 vs. $19,948).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 6.7% higher at Westmont College than at University of California Santa Cruz (about $3,379 more per year; $53,584 vs. $50,205).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Westmont College than at University of California Santa Cruz (100% vs. 57%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Westmont College students is 71.1% larger than aid received by University of California Santa Cruz students ($38,956 vs. $22,774).

Admissions details

  • Typical ACT composite is 1 point higher at UCSC than at Westmont College (29 vs. 28, midpoint estimate).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test-free at UCSC, test optional at Westmont College.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UCSC Nov 30, 2026.
  • Enrolled first-year students at UCSC average a 3.63 high school GPA, 0.04 higher than at Westmont College (3.59).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.3% at UCSC vs. 15.9% at Westmont College.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Santa Cruz graduates have a $5,164 lower median loan debt than Westmont College graduates ($19,959 vs. $25,123).
  • Among borrowers, UCSC graduates have an estimated $53 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Westmont College graduates ($206 vs. $259).
  • More Westmont College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UCSC students, three years after graduation (86% vs. 74%).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.

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