University of California, Santa Cruz
(UCSC)
Part of University of California System
About
The University of California, Santa Cruz is a public land-grant research university in Santa Cruz, California, United States. It is one of the ten campuses in the University of California system. Located in Monterey Bay, on the edge of the coastal community of Santa Cruz, the main campus lies on 2,001 acres (810 ha) of rolling, forested hills overlooking the Pacific Ocean. As of Fall 2024, its ten...
The University of California, Santa Cruz is a public land-grant research university in Santa Cruz, California, United States. It is one of the ten campuses in the University of California system. Located in Monterey Bay, on the edge of the coastal community of Santa Cruz, the main campus lies on 2,001 acres (810 ha) of rolling, forested hills overlooking the Pacific Ocean. As of Fall 2024, its ten residential colleges enroll some 17,940 undergraduate and 1,998 graduate students. Satellite facilities in other Santa Cruz locations include the Coastal Science Campus and the Westside Research Park and the Silicon Valley Center in Santa Clara, along with administrative control of the Lick Observatory near San Jose in the Diablo Range and the Keck Observatory near the summit of Mauna Kea in Hawaii.
Ranking Overview
Ranked Top 200 worldwide across 4 major ranking systems
Ranked in 50 subject rankings
QS World University Rankings
Academic Ranking of World Universities
U.S. News Best Global Universities Rankings
Key Facts
- Students
- 19,357
- Student-Staff Ratio
- 23.6 : 1
- Int'l Students
- 10%
- Female : Male
- 47 : 53
- Staff
- 3,930
Historical Trend
Longitudinal View
QS
ARWU
US News
Top Subjects
Best-performing areasSubject Rankings
Detailed breakdownUS News
14 subjects|
Subject
|
Rank
|
Score
|
Year
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Space Science | 12 | 67.2 | 2026 |
| Marine and Freshwater Biology | 13 | 67.2 | 2026 |
| Ecology | 56 | 67.2 | 2026 |
| Molecular Biology and Genetics | 63 | 67.2 | 2026 |
| Geosciences | 105 | 67.2 | 2026 |
| Environment/Ecology | =121 | 67.2 | 2026 |
| Biology and Biochemistry | =125 | 67.2 | 2026 |
| Arts and Humanities | =162 | 67.2 | 2026 |
| Plant and Animal Science | 187 | 67.2 | 2026 |
| Physics & Astronomy | =208 | 67.2 | 2026 |
| Social Sciences and Public Health | 488 | 67.2 | 2026 |
| Computer Science | =599 | 67.2 | 2026 |
| Chemistry | =783 | 67.2 | 2026 |
| Engineering | =985 | 67.2 | 2026 |
ARWU
24 subjects|
Subject
|
Rank
|
Score
|
Year
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Physics & Astronomy | 51-75 | - | 2025 |
| Oceanography | 51-75 | - | 2025 |
| Ecology | 76-100 | - | 2025 |
| Biological Sciences | 76-100 | - | 2025 |
| Mathematics | 101-150 | - | 2025 |
| Earth & Marine Sciences | 101-150 | - | 2025 |
| Geography | 151-200 | - | 2025 |
| Statistics & Operational Research | 151-200 | - | 2025 |
| Atmospheric Science | 201-300 | - | 2025 |
| Instruments Science & Technology | 201-300 | - | 2019 |
| Computer Science | 201-300 | - | 2025 |
| Energy Science & Engineering | 201-300 | - | 2019 |
| Agricultural Sciences | 201-300 | - | 2025 |
| Economics & Econometrics | 201-300 | - | 2025 |
| Politics | 201-300 | - | 2025 |
| Sociology | 201-300 | - | 2025 |
| Psychology | 201-300 | - | 2025 |
| Chemistry | 301-400 | - | 2025 |
| Nanoscience & Nanotechnology | 301-400 | - | 2024 |
| Human Biological Sciences | 301-400 | - | 2024 |
| Electrical & Electronic Engineering | 401-500 | - | 2025 |
| Materials Science | 401-500 | - | 2025 |
| Environmental Sciences | 401-500 | - | 2025 |
| Education & Training | 401-500 | - | 2024 |
QS
18 subjects|
Subject
|
Rank
|
Score
|
Year
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Earth & Marine Sciences | 51-100 | - | 2026 |
| Geology | 51-100 | - | 2026 |
| Geophysics | 51-100 | - | 2026 |
| Anthropology | 51-100 | - | 2026 |
| Linguistics | 101-150 | - | 2026 |
| Physics & Astronomy | 151-200 | - | 2026 |
| English Language & Literature | 201-250 | - | 2026 |
| Biological Sciences | 201-250 | - | 2026 |
| Communication & Media Studies | 201-250 | - | 2026 |
| Arts & Humanities | =331 | 63.5 | 2026 |
| Natural Sciences | =336 | 66.0 | 2026 |
| Environmental Sciences | 351-400 | - | 2026 |
| Electrical & Electronic Engineering | 401-450 | - | 2023 |
| Life Sciences & Medicine | 451-500 | - | 2026 |
| Computer Science | 451-500 | - | 2026 |
| Mathematics | 501-600 | - | 2026 |
| Economics & Econometrics | 551-700 | - | 2026 |
| Chemistry | 601-700 | - | 2025 |
THE
8 subjects|
Subject
|
Rank
|
Score
|
Year
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Physical Sciences | 98 | 62.4 | 2026 |
| Life Sciences | 126â150 | 57.0 | 2026 |
| Social Sciences | 126â150 | 50.8 | 2026 |
| Education & Training | 151â175 | 47.6 | 2026 |
| Arts & Humanities | 151â175 | 43.2 | 2026 |
| Computer Science | 176â200 | 49.5 | 2026 |
| Engineering & Technology | 201â250 | 47.5 | 2026 |
| Psychology | 301â400 | 38.3 | 2026 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the ranking of University of California, Santa Cruz?
University of California, Santa Cruz's performance in the latest university rankings: QS Rank =458, THE Rank =181, ARWU Rank 151-200, US News Rank =133.
When was University of California, Santa Cruz founded?
University of California, Santa Cruz was founded in 1965.
What are the top subjects at University of California, Santa Cruz?
Top subjects at University of California, Santa Cruz include: Space Science, Marine and Freshwater Biology, Physics & Astronomy, Oceanography, Earth & Marine Sciences.
Where is University of California, Santa Cruz located?
University of California, Santa Cruz is located in Santa Cruz, United States.