CU Boulder vs. UCSC

Comparable Facts

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

CU Boulder vs. UCSC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CU Boulder or UCSC? 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).

CU Boulder vs. UCSC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CU Boulder or UCSC? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between UCSC and CU Boulder.

• The typical SAT score (midpoint 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 (midpoint estimate) (31 vs. 29 at UCSC).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: University of Colorado Boulder 1240/1430; University of California Santa Cruz 1160/1360.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: University of Colorado Boulder 29/33; University of California Santa Cruz 25/33.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CU Boulder - Test optional; UCSC - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: CU Boulder Jan 15, 2027; UCSC Nov 30, 2026.
• Enrolled 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 14.1% at CU Boulder vs. 9.3% at UCSC.

CU Boulder vs. UCSC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CU Boulder and UCSC? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

• 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.