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University of California - Santa Cruz

1156 High St, Santa Cruz, CA 95064

Website: University of California - Santa Cruz

Photos:

McHenry Library
McHenry Library
[source]

University of California - Santa Cruz School Description

The University of California, Santa Cruz is committed to promoting and protecting an environment that values and supports every person in an atmosphere of civility, honesty, cooperation, professionalism and fairness.

UC Santa Cruz has a current enrollment of more than 15,000 students. Undergraduates pursue course work in 63 majors, and graduate students work toward master's degrees, doctoral degrees, and graduate certificates in 34 academic fields. Above: Students pass through the Science Hill area of the campus, a picturesque cluster of science buildings, including the award-winning Science & Engineering Library.

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University of California - Santa Cruz

From Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia

The University of California, Santa Cruz, also known as UC Santa Cruz or UCSC, is a public, collegiate university; one of ten campuses in the University of California. Located 75 miles (120 km) south of San Francisco at the edge of the coastal community of Santa Cruz, the campus lies on 2,001 acres (8.1 km²) of rolling, forested hills overlooking the Pacific Ocean and Monterey Bay.

Founded in 1965, UC Santa Cruz began as a showcase for progressive, cross-disciplinary undergraduate education, innovative teaching methods and contemporary architecture. Since then, UCSC has evolved into a modern research university with a wide variety of both undergraduate and graduate programs, while retaining its reputation for strong undergraduate support and student political activism. The residential college system, which consists of ten small colleges, is intended to combine the student support of a small college with the resources of a major university.

History

Although some of the original founders had already outlined plans for an institution like UCSC as early as the 1930s, the opportunity to realize their vision did not present itself until the City of Santa Cruz made a bid to the University of California Regents in the mid-1950s to build a campus just outside town, in the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains. The Santa Cruz site was selected over a competing proposal to build the campus closer to the population center of San Jose. Santa Cruz was selected for the beauty, rather than the practicality, of its location, however, and its remoteness led to the decision to develop a residential college system that would house most of the students on-campus. The formal design process of the Santa Cruz campus began in the late 1950s, culminating in the Long Range Development Plan of 1963. Construction had started by 1964, and the University was able to accommodate its first students (albeit living in trailers on what is now the East Field athletic area) in 1965. The campus was intended to be a showcase for contemporary architecture, progressive teaching methods, and undergraduate research. According to founding chancellor Dean McHenry, the purpose of the distributed college system was to combine the benefits of a major research university with the intimacy of a smaller college. UC President Clark Kerr shared a passion with former Stanford roommate McHenry to build a university modeled as "several Swarthmores" (i.e., small liberal arts colleges) in close proximity to each other. Roads on campus were named after UC Regents who voted in favor of building the campus.

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Read the full entry on Wikipedia

Quick Facts

Chance of Admission:
Location:
Southwest
Setting:
Large Town Setting
Type:
Public
Size:
Very Large (+10,000 Undergrad)
Mascot:
Banana Slugs
Nickname:
UC Santa Cruz

Students & Campus Life

Undergraduate Enrollment:
13,625
On Campus Housing:
Available
Full Time Students:
98%
Athletic Programs:
Available
More Students & Campus Life

Expenses

Average Tuition:
$ 25,718
Students Receiving Aid:
59%
More Expenses & Financial Aid

Admissions

Application Fee:
$ 60
Selectivity:
Selective
More Admissions

University of California - Santa Cruz Degree Programs

Bachelor’s Degree Programs

Learn more about Bachelor’s Degree Programs

Master’s Degree Programs

Learn more about Master’s Degree Programs

University of California - Santa Cruz Students & Campus Life

General

Full-Time vs. Part-Time
Full-Time 98%
Part-Time 2%
Men vs. Women
Women 55%
Men 45%
Race/Ethnicity
Caucasian 52%
Asian 18%
Hispanic 15%
Other 13%
African-American 2%

Geography

In State vs. Out-of-State
In-State 95%
Out-of-State 5%
Top States for Incoming Freshman
California 95%
New York 0%
Washington 0%
Colorado 0%
Illinois 0%
Percent of Students International: 1%

Housing

On-Campus Housing Available: Yes
Percent of Students Living On-Campus: 51%
Freshman Students Required to Live on Campus: No

Athletics

Member of: NAA, NCAA
Sports Include: Basketball (Division III Independents)
Track (Division III Independents)

University of California - Santa Cruz Expenses (Tuition & Fees)

Tuition & Fees (undergraduate) In-State Out-of-State  
Published Tuition and Fees:
 $ 7,646 $ 25,718  
Average Tuition for Full-Time Undergrads:
 $ 0 $ 19,068  
Required Fees for Full-Time Undergrads:
 $ 7,646 $ 8,198  
Financial Aid Avg. Amount Received % of Students Receiving Aid  
Federal Grants:
 $ 3,361 20%  
State and Local Grants:
 $ 3,390 32%  
Institutional Grants:
 $ 6,816 38%  
Student Loans:
 $ 3,898 45%  
Any Aid:
   59%  

University of California - Santa Cruz Admissions

Acceptance Rate: 80% (Selective)
Test Scores  
SAT Scores:  
% of Students Submitting SAT Scores: 98%
Bottom 25th Percentile: Verbal: 500, Math: 520
Top 75th Percentile: Verbal: 630, Math: 630
ACT Scores:  
% of Students Submitting ACT Scores: 38%
Bottom 25th Percentile: Composite: 21, Verbal: 20, Math: 21
Top 75th Percentile: Composite: 27, Verbal: 27, Math: 27

Application Requirements (Undergraduate Only)

Application Fee: $ 60.00
Formal Demonstration of Competencies: Not Required
High School Diploma or Equivalent: Recommended
High School GPA: Required
High School Rank: Recommended
High School Record: Required
Recommendations: Not Required
TOEFL: Required
Test Scores: Required

College Advice on University of California - Santa Cruz

Yahoo
shopaholic549
shopaho...

Question: Does anyone know about University of California, Santa Cruz?

So i was researching the college and i found out they there are "10 colleges" withing the university where you can live and take classes. But I am really confused, do you have to apply to one of those colleges? can you live at one college and take classes at another? please help THANK YOU!
33 months ago
Shanna S
Shanna S

Best Answer

It's a tiered application process, but first, go to the UC Santa Cruz website and download the instructions and application forms. Students have to apply to the Unversity of California SYSTEM, you can state your preferences, and most of those are honored. HOWEVER if you are not accepted to the Santa Cruz campus you could end up being accepted at another University of California campus. http://admissions.ucsc.edu/apply/freshman_guide.cfm This is the guidelines from the UC Santa Cruz site. It has lots of good information. The University of California is the premier public university system in the state. It's very tough to get into. It includes, UCLA, Berkeley, Davis, and many other campuses. Look at the whole system. UC Santa Cruz takes a unique approach in that it is very old fashioned in how different colleges within the university work. All universities are divided into colleges -- Santa Cruz just organizes them into communities. Santa Cruz also has a unique grading system. It's one of the toughest campuses to get into within the UC system. Good luck
shopaholic549
shopaho...

Question: Does anyone know about University of California- Santa Cruz?

I am thinking of applying there but i have a few questions. How far away is it from the beach? Is it walking distance? Also i am from the north east and i know this college doesnt get alot of kids from there but that shouldnt discourage me right?
33 months ago
Handsome 3K
Hands...

Best Answer

Its on top of a hill and quite a far walk from the beach, although it has a great view. Its has a very high "Hippy" population as does Santa Cruz, but I enjoy the area.
grlzjuswnnhavfun@sbcglobal.net
grlzjus...

Question: UC Santa Cruz or Loyola Marymount University?

UCSC Pros=distance is perfect, amazing english program, already paid & committed deposit (do I really wanna pay $200+ again for LMU?), It's cheaper, Friends[?] Cons=Too big, Unfamiliarity [but I still gotta visit though which should be happening real soon] LMU Pros=Campus is beautiful, Filipino Club, Size is perfect, Shakespeare classes for English majors, Beach is a mile away, My sister is already there, Familiarity, Friends, Loved it since junior year. Cons= Distance, Not exactly known for English, LA Traffic & Smog, $$$$, Committing again + paying another $200+, Friends [?], b/c of wait list--might not get on-campus housing
34 months ago
buffpuff
buffpuff

Best Answer

Go to UC Santa Cruz, you'd be getting an education in the UC system which, as you already know, is the single best public university system in the country. And money does matter. Loyola is more expensive and even a small apartment in L.A. is ridiculously expensive, especially if you wanted to live anywhere near the school (since it's near the beach). You said your sister and friends are at Loyola but that shouldn't really matter. College is about meeting new people and having new experiences.
Stephanie
Stephanie

Question: I currently go to a UC and I want to know if it will be difficult to transfer to another UC?

Right now, I go to the University of California in Riverside (UCR) and I would like to transfer to UCLA. Does the UC system allow this? Is it common? Will I have the same chance to get in as another transfer student that currently doesn't attend a UC and has comparable grades, test scores (etc.)? Any insight would help. Thanks.
39 months ago
LatinaAlumna
Latin...

Best Answer

A UC to UC transfer is the most difficult to accomplish, unless you have extenuating circumstances for why you need to transfer, and it will generally only happen at the junior level. It is not as common as one might think, and you have to have a compelling reason for trying to do so. Priority at the transfer level is given first to California community college students. You will be at the back of the line. My advice to you is to consult someone in transfer admissions at UCLA, and explain your circumstances. They can best advise you of your chances.
D. D
D. D

Question: Should I transfer to the University of the Pacific or stay here at University of California, Santa Cruz?

I would be a communications major with an emphesis in Public Relations at UOP, and I would be a Legal Studies major at UC Santa Cruz. Also, my boyfriend goes to UCSC, but I can't decide if I want to change my school education and go for a different major. According to the books of top schools, Santa Cruz is ranked at like 68 and UOP is ranked at 107. So, ucsc is ranked as a better school. I just want to be HAPPY!!! Is that so hard?!?! Also, I think that being away at a different school would make my bf appreciate our relationship more. However, I feel that long distance relationships suck. I should have just gone to UC Davis right out of high school instead of ucsc. Ahhhh......Which should I do?!?! I'm so confused!!!!
42 months ago
AKA
AKA

Best Answer

I would stay at USCS. School transfers are difficult because you have to start over with your social life and there are also issues with transferring credits, etc. USCS is a good school, if you have a social life there, I would stay. If you are unhappy with your schooling, try changing majors or adding a minor. Legal studies goes great with Anthropology, Psychology, Philosophy, ans Sociology. Also, check if your school has a Foreign Relations major. You can add a Foreign Relations major/minor and concentrate on international law. There are all sorts of options you can explore. OH, and I dont think that you being at a different school will make your bf appreciate your relationship more--it hardly ever works that way. Try something less drastic in your relationship like doing "guy things" with him. Offer to go go-kart racing with him or something like that. When he sees that you want to have fun and is reminded of what a cool girl you are, he'll appreciate you just fine. Well, good luck!

Photos

  • McHenry Library
    McHenry Library [source]
  • Lick Observatory on Mount Hamilton east of San Jose
    Lick Observatory on Mount Hamilton east of San Jose [source]
  • McHenry Library stacks
    McHenry Library stacks [source]
  • Students and others gather to smoke cannabis at a meadow near Porter College on April 20 2007 - "420 Day".
    Students and others gather to smoke cannabis at a meadow near Porter College on April 20 2007 - "420 Day". [source]
  • Student Union
    Student Union [source]
  • Quarry Plaza
    Quarry Plaza [source]
  • KZSC lounge
    KZSC lounge [source]
  • [source]
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University of California - Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz, CA 95064
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