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University of California-San Diego (UC San Diego) vs. University of California-Santa Cruz (UCSC) Overview
You’re wrestling with a tough question: “Should I go to UCSD or UC Santa Cruz?“
University of California-San Diego (UC San Diego)
University of California-Santa Cruz (UCSC)
Can you get in?
Calculate Your ChancesCan you get in?
Calculate Your ChancesThis complete guide analyzes both the quantitative and qualitative differences between University of California-San Diego (UC San Diego) and University of California-Santa Cruz (UCSC). This comparison is particularly valuable at understanding the cultural nuances between the colleges since it uses student videos to capture the “vibes” of campus - these videos are exclusively available on CampusReel :)
Differences between University of California-San Diego (UC San Diego) and University of California-Santa Cruz (UCSC)
Before we get into the nitty-gritty, let’s go through a general overview of the high-level differences between University of California-San Diego (UC San Diego) and University of California-Santa Cruz (UCSC). The table below summarizes some of the most important statistics around competitiveness, costs, etc.
| University of California-San Diego (UC San Diego) | University of California-Santa Cruz (UCSC) | |
|---|---|---|
| In-state Tuition | $13,530 | $13,461 |
| Net Price | $13,913 | $17,222 |
| Average Financial Aid | $8,462 | $9,193 |
| Total Undergraduates | 26584 | 16231 |
| Average SAT Scores | 1220 - 1450 | 1050 - 1300 |
| Acceptance Rate | 34 | 50 |
| Location | 9500 Gilman Dr | 1156 High St |
| City Name | La Jolla | Santa Cruz |
WARNINGS: Based on net price alone, University of California-San Diego (UC San Diego) is the cheaper option. However, this sticker price may not adequately represent the difference in living costs between La Jolla and Santa Cruz. UCSD is in a Mountain and UC Santa Cruz is in a Mountain - sometimes off campus meals and housing costs can dramatically vary between schools
Is University of California-San Diego (UC San Diego) or University of California-Santa Cruz (UCSC) Harder to get into? Which school is easier to get into?
If you’re looking at acceptance rate alone, then University of California-San Diego (UC San Diego) is more difficult to get into. However, each college is looking to fill its incoming class with a variety of students with different strengths, backgrounds, etc.
Therefore, the acceptance rate alone is not a good indicator that University of California-San Diego (UC San Diego) is a better school or will be more difficult for you specifically to get into. On the flipside, University of California-Santa Cruz (UCSC) is easier to get into based on acceptance rate alone.
You can use the below college admissions predictor to determine your likelihood of acceptance at either school.
How Do UCSD Dorms Compare to housing Options at UC Santa Cruz?
Both colleges provide on-campus living options. UCSD charges for on-campus living, while UC Santa Cruz charges N/A for on-campus living. Most importantly, though, check out the video below for a sample of dorm tours at each school.
UCSD and UC Santa Cruz student body differences
The table below helps demonstrate the student body differences as well.
| University of California-San Diego (UC San Diego), % | UC Santa Cruz,% | |
|---|---|---|
| White | 21.44 | 33.01 |
| Hispanic | 15.58 | 31.16 |
| Black | 1.23 | 1.95 |
| Foreign | 17.330000000000002 | 3.55 |
| Others | 44.4 | 30.3 |
How different is the University of California-San Diego (UC San Diego) campus compared to University of California-Santa Cruz (UCSC) campus?
The UCSD campus is located in La Jolla, CA and is characterized as City: Large (population of 250,000 or more). The UC Santa Cruz campus is located in Santa Cruz, CA and is characterized as City: Small (population less than 100,000).
Which school gives more financial aid?
UCSD provides $8,462 whereas UC Santa Cruz provides an average of $9,193.
How does UCSD academics compare to UC Santa Cruz?
When analyzing academics between University of California-San Diego (UC San Diego) and University of California-Santa Cruz (UCSC) we’ll look at both what current students are studying and also where they end up after graduation. After all, college should prepare you for a career! Analyzing each school’s outcomes is super valuable to understand the value of the degree.
| Majors | UCSD | UC Santa Cruz |
|---|---|---|
| Agriculture agriculture operations and related sciences | N/A | 14 |
| Natural resources and conservation | 40 | 197 |
| Architecture and related services | N/A | N/A |
| Area ethnic cultural gender and group studies | 30 | 113 |
| Communication journalism and related programs | 299 | N/A |
| Computer and information sciences and support services | 604 | 376 |
| Communications technologies technicians and support services | N/A | N/A |
| Personal and culinary services | N/A | N/A |
| Engineering | 1262 | 163 |
| Education | 10 | 1 |
| Engineering technologies and engineering related fields | N/A | N/A |
Which is better: University of California-San Diego (UC San Diego) or University of California-Santa Cruz (UCSC)?
We’ve compared dorm life, costs, outcomes and more to provide the most complete comparison between UCSD and UC Santa Cruz. But, you’re smart enough to know that numbers paint a terrible picture for truly understanding what each college and community is like. And, the real answer to which school is better is: the school that’s right for you. No matter who you ask, if they know what they’re talking about, the answer is the same: the “better” school is whatever is the best fit for you personally. That’s why it’s extremely important to check out all the videos on CampusReel for each school.
How does UCSD social life compare to UC Santa Cruz?
It’s tough to understand the nuances of social life with data alone. That’s why we’ve brought in real student videos to show how UCSD social life differs from UC Santa Cruz.
Check here.
Check here.