Important Dates You’ll Need to Know
Dates for students applying for fall 2026
August 1, 2025 - UC Application for Admission available online
September 1, 2025 - UCSC TAG Application filing period opens
September 25, 2025 - FAFSA filing period opens
September 30, 2025 - UCSC TAG Application filing deadline
October 1, 2025 - UC Application filing period opens for fall 2025
October 1, 2025 - Dream App filing period opens
December 1, 2025 - UC Application filing deadline for fall 2026 (special extended deadline for fall 2026 applicants only – ordinary deadline is November 30)
January 31, 2026 - Transfer Academic Update (TAU) deadline for fall 2026. Transfer students must submit a TAU, even if they have no changes to report. See this helpful video!
Late February-mid March, 2026 - Fall 2026 admissions decisions appear on the Admissions Portal for all on-time first-year applicants
March, 2026 - Early registration open for early start Summer Edge program
March 2, 2026 - Deadline for submitting the FAFSA or Dream App, and (for CA students) the Cal Grant GPA Verification Form to receive a Cal Grant for upcoming academic year
March 2-May 1, 2026 - UC Santa Cruz Financial Aid Office requests supporting documentation from applicants and sends preliminary aid estimates to most new first-year students (sent to most new transfer students March 1-June 1)
April 1-30, 2026 - Fall 2026 admissions decisions appear on the Admissions Portal for all on-time transfer applicants
April 1, 2026 - Room and board rates for next academic year are available from Housing
April 1, 2026 - Registration opens for early start Summer Edge program
April 11, 2026 - Banana Slug Day open house event for admitted students and families
May 1, 2026 - First-year admission acceptance due online on the Admissions Portal and pay required fees and deposits
May 2, 2026 - Enrollment for summer classes opens for Summer Edge.
May 9, 2026 - Transfer Day open house for admitted transfer students and families
Late May 2026 - First-year Housing contract deadline. Complete the online housing application/contract by 11:59:59 (Pacific Time) on the deadline date.
June-August, 2026 - Slug Orientation online
June 1, 2026 - Transfer admission acceptance due online on the Admissions Portal and pay required fees and deposits.
Mid-June 2026 - Advising and enrollment information provided – first-years and transfers
June 15, 2026 - Early start Summer Edge program registration deadline. Complete the registration by 11:59:59 (Pacific Time) on the deadline date to start taking classes this summer.
Late June 2026 - Transfer Housing contract deadline. Complete the online housing application/contract by 11:59:59 (Pacific Time) on the deadline date.
July 1, 2026 - All transcripts are due to the UC Santa Cruz Office of Admissions from new incoming students (postmark deadline)
July 15, 2026 - Official test scores are due to the UC Santa Cruz Office of Admissions from new incoming students (receipt deadline)
September, 2026 - International Student Orientation
September 17-19, 2026 (approx.) - Fall Move-in
September 18-23, 2026 (approx.) - Fall Welcome Week
September 24, 2026 - Classes Begin