University of California-Santa Cruz

What is the cost of studying for a year at University of California-Santa Cruz?

UC Santa Cruz's annual published price depends heavily on California residency, housing choices, and aid eligibility. In 2024-25 IPEDS figures, tuition and required fees totaled about $15,035 for a full-time California undergraduate and $46,923 for a nonresident undergraduate. Those amounts do not cover a full year's living and educational expenses.

• California undergraduate tuition and required fees, 2024-25: approximately $15,035.
• Nonresident undergraduate tuition and required fees, 2024-25: approximately $46,923.
• Reported room and board charge: approximately $20,928.
• Reported books and supplies cost: approximately $1,257.

Adding the listed room, board, books, and supplies figures to tuition and fees gives a partial annual expense of roughly $37,220 for a resident or $69,108 for a nonresident. These are not complete cost-of-attendance estimates: transportation, personal expenses, and other applicable charges still matter. Actual housing and meal-plan costs also depend on the option selected. Students should use the current UCSC cost-of-attendance budget for their applicant category rather than combine charges from different years.

Published price is not necessarily the amount a student pays after grants. In the reported aid data, average net price was about $10,613 for students from families earning up to $48,000, compared with about $33,323 for those above $110,000. These are group averages, not individual aid offers. Eligible students may seek federal and state grants, UC and campus aid, scholarships, and federal loans through the applicable FAFSA or California Dream Act process. California's Cal Grant and UC's Blue and Gold Opportunity Plan have their own eligibility rules; a financial-aid offer is the appropriate place to assess their combined effect.

What are the work-study opportunities at University of California-Santa Cruz?

UC Santa Cruz students can pursue part-time employment, while eligible students may also receive Federal Work-Study as part of a financial-aid offer. Work-Study is a way to earn wages through an approved job; it is not a grant paid automatically or a guarantee of employment.

Students generally search and apply for jobs through campus student-employment resources. Positions can exist in university offices, libraries, dining, and other departments, with some approved off-campus roles. A student without Work-Study may still qualify for jobs that do not require it. Hours, pay, eligibility, and available positions vary, so applicants should distinguish an offered Work-Study amount from income they have already secured.

For longer-term career planning, UCSC's career services include individual counseling, major and career exploration, résumé and interview support, job-search resources, and employer events. Internship searches and career appointments serve a different purpose from financial-aid-funded student employment: neither a campus job nor access to career services establishes a particular postgraduation outcome.