University of California, Santa Cruz

It is very difficult to get into University of California, Santa Cruz. Around 47% of applicants get into University of California, Santa Cruz each year. Last year, 64,757 students applied to University of California, Santa Cruz and 30,474 were admitted.

If you want to apply to University of California, Santa Cruz, the deadline for Fall 2024 admissions is 11/30 and the application fee costs $70.

Students who submit their applications to University of California, Santa Cruz for fall should hear back from University of California, Santa Cruz by March 31.

University of California, Santa Cruz Admissions Stats at a Glance

Here is an overiew of some of University of California, Santa Cruz's admissions stats.

University of California, Santa Cruz 2023	Admissions Statistics
Mean Unweighted GPA	4.0
Admissions Test Policy	Not optional
Waitlist	Yes

University of California, Santa Cruz Application Deadlines

These are the application deadlines for University of California, Santa Cruz.

Application Type	Offered	Application Deadline	Notification Deadline
Early Decision I	No	–	–
Early Decision II	–	–	–
Early Action	No	–	–
Regular Decision	Yes	11 30	March 31

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Considering Applying Early to University of California, Santa Cruz?

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University of California, Santa Cruz does not offer early decision or early action.

➡️ Discover a list of some competetive colleges that admit significantly more applicants during early decision or early action than during regular admission.

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More on University of California, Santa Cruz Admissions

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For applicants who are non-residents, getting into University of California, Santa Cruz is extremely difficult.

Transferring to University of California, Santa Cruz

Transfer student admissions is very difficult.

For Students Waitlisted to University of California, Santa Cruz

University of California, Santa Cruz has not reported data for waitlisted and admitted students.

What's Most Important for Getting Into University of California, Santa Cruz?

Colleges consider a range of factors when choosing who to admit for their next incoming class. Each college decides which factors are they consider most important when choose which applicants to admit, and which to deny. When assembling your list of schools to apply to, you may want to consider your strengths and any possible weaknesses in your application, and choose schools that prioritize the admissions factors where you're strong.

Admissions Factors at University of California, Santa Cruz

Wondering what factors are considered by University of California, Santa Cruz during the admissions process? Take a look at the list below to see which factors are most important during the admissions process.

Admissions Factor	Level
Application Essay	Very Important
State Residency	Very Important
Academic GPA	Very Important
Rigor of Secondary School Record	Very Important
Character/Personal Qualities	Important
Extracurricular Activities	Important
Geographical Residence	Important
Talent/Ability	Important
First Generation	Important
Volunteer Work	Considered
Work Experience	Considered

Make sure to check with University of California, Santa Cruz for more information on admission factors.

University of California, Santa Cruz Application Requirements

To apply to University of California, Santa Cruz, all applicants must submit the following items. Check with University of California, Santa Cruz's admissions department to confirm all application materials and requirements.

Area	Required	Recommended	Required for Some	Details (If Any)
Transcript(S) of College Record	–	–	–	–
Statement of Good Standing From Prior Institution(S)	–	–	–	–
Minimum High School GPA (On 4.0 Scale)	3.0	3.4	–
Written Essay or Personal Statement	√	–	–	–
Other Requirements	√	–	–	minimum high school GPA of 3.0 for California residents, 3.4 for non-residents
Transcript of High School Record	√	–	–	–

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GPA and Testing

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What GPA Do I Need To Get Into University of California, Santa Cruz?

Students admitted to University of California, Santa Cruz have an average unweighted GPA of 4.0.

About GPAs

Your high school grade point average (GPA) is a number that highlights your high school academic performance. A weighted GPA or an unweighted GPA are the two possible GPA scores considered by colleges.

An unweighted GPA is an average of your scores from each class on a four-point scale. Unweighted GPAs range from 4.0 to under 1.0. A weighted GPA considers your average grade and the difficulty of your classes. A weighted GPA boosts your average by adding extra points for honors or Advanced Placement courses.

Standardized Test Scores

University of California, Santa Cruz does not have a test optional admissions policy. Test optional schools allow students to choose if they want to submit ACT or SAT scores with their applications or not.

More Information on Transferring to University of California, Santa Cruz

For transfer students, it is very difficult to get admitted to University of California, Santa Cruz.

For transfer students wishing to start in the fall, the deadline to apply is November 30. Applicants should hear back by April 30.

Transfer students can enroll in University of California, Santa Cruz during the following terms:

• Fall Term

• Winter Term

• Spring Term

• Winter Term

• Summer Term

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University of California, Santa Cruz Admissions FAQs

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Can I defer my acceptance to University of California, Santa Cruz?

❌ Students who are admitted to University of California, Santa Cruz must attend in the term they start. Deferring admissions is not encouraged. If you have a unusual circumstance, contact the admissions department.

Does University of California, Santa Cruz accept transfer credits?

✅ University of California, Santa Cruz accepts eligible transfer credits from accredited institutions.

Does University of California, Santa Cruz accept Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) credits?

✅ University of California, Santa Cruz accepts International Baccalaureate credits (IB) credits.

Do I have to submit test scores to University of California, Santa Cruz?

✅ University of California, Santa Cruz is not test optional.

What is University of California, Santa Cruz's acceptance rate?

✅ The acceptance rate for University of California, Santa Cruz is 47%.

What is the early decision acceptance rate at University of California, Santa Cruz?

❌ University of California, Santa Cruz does not offer early decision.

Want To Learn More About University of California, Santa Cruz?

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