UCSC Acceptance Rate 2026–2028 & Requirements (In-State & Out-of-State)

UC Santa Cruz Acceptance Rate 2022 - 2026 & Requirements [in-state & Out-of-State]

University of California, Santa Cruz UCSC or UC Santa Cruz acceptance rate 2026, admission Statistics by major, brief history, admission requirements and how to apply.

Hello! Here is everything you need to know about University of California, Santa Cruz UCSC acceptance rate 2026 – 2028 by major, admission statistics, and admission Requirements.

Brief History of UC Santa Cruz

The University of California, Santa Cruz (UC Santa Cruz or UCSC) is a public land-grant research university in Santa Cruz, California.

It is one of the ten campuses in the University of California system. Located on Monterey Bay, on the edge of the coastal community of Santa Cruz, the campus lies on 2,001 acres (810 ha) of rolling, forested hills overlooking the Pacific Ocean.

The current Chancellor of the University of California, Santa Cruz is Cynthia Larive.

With that much being said, let’s get down to the real topic!

We are going to cover, UCSC Class of 2028 Acceptance Rate and Acceptance Statistics by Majors, SAT/ACT/GPA and Grade, UC Santa Cruz acceptance rate In-state and UC Santa Cruz acceptance rate Out-of-State and requirements,

University of California, Santa Cruz acceptance rate transfer, UCSC acceptance rate for in-state and Out-of-state students, early and international, early decisions, Special Students, and University of California, Santa Cruz 2026 Acceptance Rates.

What is UC Santa Cruz Acceptance Rate 2026

The UC Santa Cruz acceptance rate for 2026 is approximately 70% (around 66%–73% depending on the data source and admission cycle). Applicants with strong grades, challenging coursework, and a well-prepared application have a good chance of admission.

UC Santa Cruz Admissions Statistics

Admission Statistic	Data
Total First-Year Applicants	66,373
Students Admitted	48,244
Acceptance Rate	72.7%
Average High School GPA	4.00
Middle 25%–75% GPA Range	3.83 – 4.20
Students with GPA 4.0 or Higher	58.8%
Students with GPA 3.5–3.99	37.9%
Students Below 3.5 GPA	3.3%
Admission Process	Comprehensive Review
SAT/ACT Requirement	Not Required (test-free policy)

UC Santa Cruz Admission Requirements for in-state & Out-of-State Students [Freshman & Transfer]

For UC Santa Cruz admission in 2026, California residents need at least a 3.0 UC GPA for freshman admission, while out-of-state freshmen need a 3.4 UC GPA minimum.

Transfer applicants need at least 2.40 GPA for California residents and 2.80 GPA for non-residents, along with required coursework and transfer preparation.

Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission because UCSC uses a holistic review process.

What You Need When Applying for UC Riverside (2026)

When applying to the University of California, Riverside (UCR), applicants need the following:

Application Requirement	Details
UC Application Form	Submit the online University of California application during the application period
High School Transcript	Required to report courses and grades (official transcripts are usually submitted after admission)
UC-Approved A–G Courses	Completion of 15 college-preparatory courses with required grades
GPA Requirements	Minimum 3.0 UC GPA for California residents and 3.4 UC GPA for non-residents
Personal Insight Questions (PIQs)	Answer 4 short essay questions to explain your experiences, achievements, and goals
Extracurricular Activities	Include leadership roles, work experience, volunteer activities, awards, and other achievements
Course Information	Report all completed and planned courses accurately
Application Fee	Pay the required UC application fee or apply for a fee waiver if eligible
SAT/ACT Scores	Not required for admission (UC campuses follow a test-free policy)
English Language Proficiency	Required for international applicants or students whose education was not primarily in English
Transfer Requirements (if applicable)	Submit college transcripts, complete UC-transferable courses, and meet major preparation requirements

Important: UC Riverside uses a comprehensive review process, meaning admission decisions are based on more than GPA alone. Academic performance, course difficulty, personal achievements, and application responses are all considered.

UC Santa Cruz Application Fees & Waivers for In-state and International Students

Category	Fee/Waiver Status
California Resident Freshman	$80 or eligible for waiver
California Resident Transfer	$80 or eligible for waiver
U.S. Out-of-State Student	$80
International Freshman	$95
International Transfer	$95
Fee Waiver Available	Yes, for eligible U.S. applicants

UCSC Fee Waivers

UCSC fee waivers help eligible students reduce the cost of applying to the University of California system. Students with financial need should complete the income section of the UC application to see if they automatically qualify. International applicants generally need to pay the full application fee.

Fee waivers can’t be applied to more than four campuses, regardless of their source (e.g. UC, College Board/SAT). If you apply to more than four, you’ll need to pay $70 for each additional choice.

Applying for a Fee Waiver

Steps to Apply for a UCSC Fee Waiver

Step	What to Do
1. Start the UC Application	Create an account and complete your personal information, academic history, and family details
2. Enter Financial Information	Provide your household income and family size information in the application
3. Automatic Eligibility Check	The UC application system will determine if you qualify for a fee waiver
4. Select UC Campuses	If approved, the waiver will be applied when choosing campuses such as UC Santa Cruz
5. Submit Application	Eligible students can submit without paying the covered application fees

Information Needed When Applying

Required Information	Examples
Family Income	Annual household income details
Household Size	Number of people supported by family income
Citizenship/Residency Status	Used to determine eligibility
Financial Need Information	Details showing inability to afford application costs

Transcripts & Letters of Recommendation

Don’t send ofﬁcial transcripts when you apply. If you’re admitted to UC, then you must submit ﬁnal transcripts to your campus admissions ofﬁce.

UC does not require (nor read) letters of recommendation at the time of application. A campus may ask for them later as part of a supplemental review, so be sure to check your email.

How to Apply to University of California Santa Cruz UCSC

Visit https://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/apply-now.html
Click on “start your application” to get started.
Create account

Before you apply, make sure to read the requirements on the website.

What You will Need to Complete Your UCSC Application

High School GPA is required
High School Rank is neither required nor recommended
High School Transcript is required
College Prep Courses are required as well.
SAT/ACT is considered but not required.
Recommendations are neither required nor recommended

What GPA Do You Need to Get into UC Santa Cruz?

For UC Santa Cruz admission in 2026, California residents need at least a 3.0 UC GPA, while out-of-state and international applicants need at least a 3.4 UC GPA.

However, successful applicants usually present GPAs around 3.83–4.20, along with strong coursework and a well-rounded application.

This will help boost your weighted GPA and show your ability to take college classes.

Frequently Asked Questions: UCSC Acceptance Rate 2026–2028 & Requirements (In-State & Out-of-State)

What is the UC Santa Cruz acceptance rate for 2026?

The University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC) acceptance rate is approximately 72.7% based on the latest available admission data.

This means UCSC admits about 7 out of every 10 applicants, making it a moderately selective university.

What GPA do you need to get into UC Santa Cruz?

California residents need a minimum 3.0 UC GPA, while out-of-state and international students need at least a 3.4 UC GPA.

However, competitive applicants usually have GPAs around 3.83–4.20 because admission is based on more than just meeting the minimum requirement.

What are the admission requirements for in-state and out-of-state students?

Both in-state and out-of-state applicants must complete UC-approved A–G courses, submit the UC application, answer Personal Insight Questions, and provide accurate academic records.

The main difference is the higher minimum GPA requirement for non-residents.

Does UC Santa Cruz require SAT or ACT scores?

No. UC Santa Cruz does not require or consider SAT or ACT scores for admission decisions. Applicants are evaluated based on their academic records, coursework, achievements, and application responses.

What can improve my chances of getting into UC Santa Cruz?

Applicants can improve their chances by maintaining a strong GPA, taking challenging courses such as AP, IB, or honors classes, completing major preparation courses, writing strong Personal Insight Question responses, and showcasing meaningful extracurricular activities.

Conclusion

UC Santa Cruz is a moderately selective university with an acceptance rate of about 72.7%. While the minimum requirements allow students to apply, successful applicants usually present strong academic records, challenging coursework, and a well-prepared application.

In-state students need a 3.0 UC GPA, while out-of-state and international applicants need a 3.4 UC GPA to be considered.

With this I hope you have gained one or two things about UC Santa Cruz acceptance rate.