How to get into UC Santa Cruz
What 437 admitted applicants actually had: their grades, test scores, activities, awards and intended majors, counted from 501 UC Santa Cruz results that students posted for the 2016 to 2027 cycles. Every number below is counted, not estimated.
Applying to UC Santa Cruz? Book a free call with a Specialist to see how your student’s file compares.
UC Santa Cruz admits by the numbers
Median unweighted GPA
3.93
Middle half 3.80 to 4.00
Median SAT
1,530
Middle half 1,470 to 1,560
Median ACT
35
Middle half 34 to 35
Median weighted GPA
4.39
Middle half 4.21 to 4.54
Results posted: 437 admitted, 13 rejected, 51 waitlisted. People who post results are a self-selected group, so this is not the UC Santa Cruz acceptance rate; the official rate is in UC Santa Cruz’s Common Data Set.
What UC Santa Cruz admits did outside class
Share of admitted applicants listing at least one activity of each type.
- Nonprofit/Service69%
- Tutoring/Teaching44%
- Research43%
- Athletics42%
- Internship39%
- STEM club/competition34%
- Work/Job33%
- Music30%
Held a leadership role
88%
Founded something
44%
National or intl. award
62%
Did research
43%
Intended majors of UC Santa Cruz admits
- Computer Science27%
- Engineering13%
- Biology8%
- Business5%
- Political Science5%
- Environmental4%
Who got in
Of the admitted posters, 10% first-generation, 9% low income, 8% underrepresented minority, 8% legacy, 2% recruited athlete and 10% international. Of those who said where they enrolled, 1% chose UC Santa Cruz.
Three recent UC Santa Cruz admits
2027 cycle · Chemistry
STEM outreach leader across Science Olympiad, WiSTEM, and teaching programs for younger students.
GPA 3.85 UW · SAT 1520 · Original post
2026 cycle · Physics
Physics student and visual-novel studio leader who publishes astrophysics research and exhibits digital art.
GPA 4.00 UW · SAT 1530 · Original post
2026 cycle · Economics
Multidisciplinary student blending economics, orchestral leadership, autism research, and Chinese-language fluency.
GPA 3.98 UW · SAT 1550 · Original post
Where else UC Santa Cruz admits got in
UC Santa Cruz admissions questions
- What GPA do you need to get into UC Santa Cruz?
- Among 437 applicants who posted a UC Santa Cruz admission on r/collegeresults, the median unweighted GPA was 3.93 and the middle half reported 3.80 to 4.00 (387 reported a GPA). UC Santa Cruz sets no minimum GPA; these are what admitted posters reported.
- What SAT score do you need for UC Santa Cruz?
- Among 437 applicants who posted a UC Santa Cruz admission on r/collegeresults, the median SAT was 1,530 and the middle half scored 1,470 to 1,560 (296 reported an SAT). The median ACT was 35.
- What extracurriculars do UC Santa Cruz admits have?
- The most common activity types among admitted posters were nonprofit/service (69%), tutoring/teaching (44%), research (43%), athletics (42%). 88% held at least one leadership role and 62% listed a national or international award.
- What is the UC Santa Cruz acceptance rate?
- The official rate is published by UC Santa Cruz in its Common Data Set. These pages do not compute one: people who post results are a self-selected group, so the share of admits among them is far higher than the real rate.
Applying to UC Santa Cruz?
A Specialist who got into a school like UC Santa Cruz can read your student’s file against these numbers and say where it stands out and where it doesn’t.
Source: self-reported results posts on r/collegeresults, each linked from our Database, counted across the 2016 to 2027 cycles with transfer applicants excluded. Aristo Scholars is not affiliated with UC Santa Cruz. All colleges