Belonging at UC Santa Cruz
We are a supportive community where social and environmental justice are taught and lived. No matter your background, we are committed to cultivating and promoting an environment that values and supports every person in an atmosphere of inclusivity, honesty, cooperation, mutual respect, and fairness.
Prepare for Your Future
UC Santa Cruz graduates are sought after and hired for their knowledge, skills, and passion. Whether you plan to start working right away, or pursue graduate school or professional school -- such as law school or medical school -- your UC Santa Cruz degree will help you on your way.
![Be ready for the real world](/sites/default/files/styles/ping_pong_circle/public/2021-05/20150923-lab-ez-0027%402x.png?itok=7VyR0Lps)
Come Visit Us !
Celebrated for its extraordinary beauty, our oceanside campus is a center of learning, research, and the free exchange of ideas. We are near Monterey Bay, Silicon Valley, and the San Francisco Bay Area -- an ideal location for internships and future employment.
![Where you meant to be](/sites/default/files/styles/ping_pong_circle/public/2021-05/20180424-merrill-college-ez-0020%402x.png?itok=ZzzovhQH)
Our Achievements and Rankings
We are ranked as the #1 university in the nation for racial and gender diversity in leadership (Women’s Power Gap Initiative, 2022).
We ranked as the #2 public university in the nation for students focused on making an impact in the world (Princeton Review, 2023).
![apple on a book](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/2022-09/apple%20on%20book%202.png?itok=L_sS7zgE)
We are ranked #16 among U.S. universities that offer their students the greatest social mobility (U.S. News and World Report, 2024).