Radical Excellence
Panoramic ocean views and enchanting redwood forests make UC Santa Cruz one of the most beautiful college campuses in the United States, but UCSC is so much more than just a pretty place. In 2024, Princeton Review named UCSC among the top 15 public universities in the nation for students “making an impact” on the world. The impact and quality of our campus’s research and education have also earned UCSC a place among the prestigious Association of American Universities. The accolades and awards bestowed on UC Santa Cruz are true testaments to the success of our hard-working students and insatiably curious faculty leaders and researchers.
Reputation & Rankings
As a selective campus, UC Santa Cruz attracts passionate student and faculty entrepreneurs, artists, researchers, inventors, and organizers. The reputation of our campus stands on our community.
Top Programs
In its 2025-2026 rankings, US News & World Report ranked UC Santa Cruz #2 in the U.S. for marine and freshwater biology, and #7 in the U.S. for space sciences.
Other Recent Awards
In 2024, UC Santa Cruz won the Senator Paul Simon Award for Campus Internationalization, in recognition of our outstanding and diverse programs for international students and scholars.
In addition, we are proud to be the recipient of the Seal of Excelencia from the organization Excelencia in Education, affirming our leading place among Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs). To earn this award, colleges had to demonstrate effectiveness in educating Latiné students, and they had to show that they are environments where Latiné students grow and thrive.
UC Santa Cruz Statistics
Frequently requested statistics are all here. Enrollment, gender distribution, average GPAs of admitted students, admission rates for first years and transfers, and more!
