Tuition fees, net price and ROI
University of California-Santa Cruz Tuition Fees, Net Price and ROI Calculator
Focused cost page for University of California-Santa Cruz covering in-state tuition, out-of-state tuition, net price by income, debt payback by major, financial aid, salary and ROI.
View Full School ProfileIn-state tuition
$14,560
Out-of-state tuition
$45,337
Average net price
$16,607
Last updated August 3, 2026. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS.
University of California-Santa Cruz Tuition Fees and 4-Year Cost
Use this focused cost summary to compare published tuition with estimated attendance cost and average net price after aid. Final bills can change by residency, housing, aid eligibility, program fees and enrollment level.
Cost per year
$38,649
4-year attendance
$154,596
4-year tuition
$181,348
4-year net price
$66,428
Residency cost comparison
Should You Establish California Residency for University of California-Santa Cruz?
The reported out-of-state tuition premium is $30,777 per year, or $123,108 across four years before aid changes.
4-year in-state tuition
$58,240
4-year out-of-state tuition
$181,348
4-year premium
$123,108
University of California-Santa Cruz Net Price by Family Income
College Scorecard income-bracket net price data shows how average cost changes after grants and scholarships for students receiving federal aid.
| Family income | Avg net price | Savings vs sticker | Monthly view | Estimator |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $0–$30,000 | $9,472 | $29,177 | $789/mo | |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $10,114 | $28,535 | $843/mo | |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $13,001 | $25,648 | $1,083/mo | |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $18,786 | $19,863 | $1,566/mo | |
| Over $110,000 | $32,674 | $5,975 | $2,723/mo |
Estimated net price for :
Major-level ROI
University of California-Santa Cruz Debt Payback by Major and Program Salary
Debt payback estimates divide median completer debt by 10% of reported program earnings, then convert the result to months. This gives a directional debt-to-earnings view by program.
| Major / program | Credential | Program salary | Debt payback |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Science | Bachelor's Degree | $63,040 | ~32 months |
| Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | Bachelor's Degree | $54,725 | ~37 months |
| Business/Managerial Economics | Bachelor's Degree | $46,826 | ~43 months |
| Economics | Bachelor's Degree | $41,483 | ~48 months |
| Non-Professional General Legal Studies (Undergraduate) | Bachelor's Degree | $36,945 | ~54 months |
| Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences | Bachelor's Degree | $34,270 | ~58 months |
| Cognitive Science | Bachelor's Degree | $33,286 | ~60 months |
| Political Science and Government | Bachelor's Degree | $29,390 | ~68 months |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies | Bachelor's Degree | $29,282 | ~68 months |
| Biology, General | Bachelor's Degree | $29,134 | ~69 months |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | Bachelor's Degree | $28,054 | ~71 months |
| Sociology | Bachelor's Degree | $27,765 | ~72 months |
Interactive ROI calculator
University of California-Santa Cruz ROI and Debt Payback Simulator
Your Estimate
- 4-year net cost
- Debt payback using 10% salary
- Debt-to-salary ratio
University of California-Santa Cruz Aid, Debt and Loan Cost Signals
Pell grant rate
31.75%
Federal loan rate
29.43%
Median completer debt
$16,666
Median monthly payment
$177