University of California-Santa Cruz Acceptance Rate
Santa Cruz, California · Public · 4-year or above
- Applicants
- 68,845
- Admitted
- 43,054
- Yield
- 10.2%
- Test policy
- Test-blind
Latest official IPEDS 2023–24 · Updated July 2026
Acceptance rate & applications over time
Hover or tap the chart to read any year.
Over the 10 years of federal data, University of California-Santa Cruz's acceptance rate has risen from 55.7% in 2014–15 to 62.5% in 2023–24. Applications grew from 40,727 to 68,845 (+69%) over that period.
Its 62.5% rate makes University of California-Santa Cruz more selective than about 72% of the 1,419 schools tracked here. Among 84 tracked California schools, it is more selective than about 54%.
In 2023–24, women were admitted at a higher rate (65.7% for women vs 58.7% for men, a 7-point gap). University of California-Santa Cruz has been test-blind (scores not considered) since 2021–22. Of admitted students, 10.2% enrolled (the yield rate) in 2023–24.
Full year-by-year table
| Year | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance | Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014–15 | 40,727 | 22,695 | 55.7% | 4,035 |
| 2015–16 | 45,532 | 22,897 | 50.3% | 3,620 |
| 2016–17 | 49,181 | 28,452 | 57.9% | 4,221 |
| 2017–18 | 52,969 | 26,984 | 50.9% | 4,048 |
| 2018–19 | 56,586 | 26,803 | 47.4% | 3,695 |
| 2019–20 | 55,796 | 28,629 | 51.3% | 3,712 |
| 2020–21 | 54,988 | 35,591 | 64.7% | 4,193 |
| 2021–22 | 61,695 | 36,177 | 58.6% | 4,187 |
| 2022–23 | 65,912 | 30,926 | 46.9% | 3,859 |
| 2023–24 | 68,845 | 43,054 | 62.5% | 4,381 |
Acceptance rate by gender
| Group | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Women | 38,104 | 25,018 | 65.7% |
| Men | 30,741 | 18,036 | 58.7% |
SAT / ACT ranges & policy
Test-blind (not considered).
How University of California compares
Where this school sits among peers of similar selectivity — each dot is a school's current acceptance rate on the same scale.
Frequently asked
What is University of California-Santa Cruz's acceptance rate?
University of California-Santa Cruz's acceptance rate is 62.5% for 2023–24, the most recent year of federal IPEDS data (43,054 admitted of 68,845 applicants).
Is University of California-Santa Cruz test optional?
University of California-Santa Cruz is test-blind: SAT/ACT scores are not considered in admission.
How many people apply to University of California-Santa Cruz?
University of California-Santa Cruz received 68,845 applications in 2023–24 and admitted 43,054.
Is University of California-Santa Cruz getting harder to get into?
University of California-Santa Cruz has become easier to get into: its acceptance rate went from 55.7% in 2014–15 to 62.5% in 2023–24.
How this is calculated
Acceptance rate = admitted ÷ applicants, first-time degree-seeking undergraduates, from the U.S. Department of Education's IPEDS Admissions (ADM) survey; institution details from the IPEDS Institutional Characteristics (HD) survey. Data span: 2014–15 to 2023–24. Official site: www.ucsc.edu/.