At UC Santa Cruz, you will have access to two fully equipped gymnasiums; sports fields; tennis, basketball, and racquetball/handball courts; dance and martial arts studios; weight-conditioning and activity rooms; sand volleyball courts; an Olympic-sized swimming pool; and a jogging track. The UC Santa Cruz boating facility is located at the Santa Cruz Small Craft Harbor, about five miles from campus.

Athletic clubs include baseball, rugby, equestrian and dressage, cross country, fencing, track and field, women's competitive dance/drill team, cycling, sailing, triathlon, Ultimate Frisbee, cheerleading, water polo, and women’s lacrosse. The campus also sponsors intramural leagues in flag football, basketball, volleyball, soccer, softball, floor hockey, and Ultimate Frisbee. Intramural competition is popular at UC Santa Cruz.

For more information, see the Admissions Sports & Recreation page.

Q: Does UC Santa Cruz offer any athletics scholarships or financial aid?
A: No, as an NCAA Division III institution, we are not able to offer any athletics-based scholarships or athletics-based financial aid. However, as with all other students, student-athletes are able to apply for financial aid through the Financial Aid Office using a need-based application process. Students must apply by the appropriate deadline.

Q: What is the level of competition in UC Santa Cruz athletics?
A: NCAA Division III athletics is as competitive as any other collegiate level. The primary difference between Division I and III is talent level and number and strength of athletes. We do, however, attract a high caliber of student-athletes, which has allowed several of our programs to compete at a very high level. Tennis and Men's Volleyball all regularly compete against NCAA Division I programs. Our other teams all compete against Division II programs in addition to Division III programs.

Q: How difficult is it to make an NCAA Division III team?
A: All UC Santa Cruz Athletics teams are highly competitive. The best way for a prospective student-athlete to find out where he/she may fit in to a particular team is by contacting the coach. Video tapes, athletic resumes and references are also encouraged to give UC Santa Cruz coaches more tools to access talent. In all cases, prospective student-athletes should make contact with a coach to express an interest in joining a team.

Q: How are the athletics facilities at UC Santa Cruz?
A: They include a 50-meter swimming pool, which has 1- and 3-meter diving boards, 14 tennis courts in two locations, two gyms for basketball and volleyball, and playing fields for soccer, Ultimate Frisbee, and rugby all overlooking the beautiful Monterey Bay. UC Santa Cruz also has a new state-of-the-art Fitness Center.

Q: If I wanted more information about a particular team, how would I obtain it?
A: Athletics has a web site that is a great resource for information about UC Santa Cruz Athletics. It has information such as phone numbers and e-mail addresses of coaches, schedules, rosters, weekly updates on how teams are doing, coaches' biographies, and much more. For more information, see GoSlugs.com.