University of California-Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz, CA · official site ↗
PublicR1: Doctoral, Very High ResearchLarge
33
Fin. Resilience
University of California-Santa Cruz is a public institution in Santa Cruz, CA, classified by Carnegie as “R1: Doctoral, Very High Research.”
It enrolls about 17,940 undergraduates and is benchmarked here against 107 peer institutions (R1: Doctoral, Very High Research · Public).
On Ibex's Financial Resilience score it rates 33 out of 100 within that peer group, a transparent composite of endowment per undergraduate, net tuition revenue per student, and instructional spend per student.
Its strongest standing relative to peers is avg monthly faculty salary ($17,994, 94th percentile).
Its weakest is admission yield (10.2%).
Peer group
R1: Doctoral, Very High Research · Public
107 institutions
No cross-metric risk flags triggered.
Policy & demographic exposure
How exposed University of California-Santa Cruz is to the structural shifts reshaping higher ed: a composite structural-risk index plus the 2025 federal budget law’s endowment excise tax, Grad PLUS elimination, new Parent PLUS borrowing cap and new Workforce Pell short-term-credential opportunity, and the demographic enrollment cliff. Only signals that apply to this institution are shown.
Structural risk indexAn indicative 0–100 structural-risk index (higher = more pressure) blending operating margin, months of cash cushion, tuition dependency and the home-state enrollment cliff. Screens for the financial and demographic strain that precedes closures and mergers, directional, not a prediction.
62
ElevatedGrad PLUS exposureShare of the school's graduate federal loan dollars that came from Grad PLUS, the program the 2025 budget law eliminates for new borrowers from July 2026 (FSA Direct Loan data). Higher = more graduate borrowing that will disappear above the new caps.
32.5%
Moderate exposureHigher than 68% of schools nationally
AY2025-26 YTD (through Q2, Dec 2025)
Avg Grad PLUS loanAverage Grad PLUS loan per borrower (FSA). The 2025 law caps unsubsidized grad borrowing at $20,500/yr and ends Grad PLUS, this is the average per-student amount that vanishes above the cap. The depth half of the Grad PLUS shock; pair with Grad PLUS exposure (the reliance share).
$25,355
Above the capHigher than 70% of schools nationally
AY2025-26 YTD (through Q2, Dec 2025)
Parent PLUS cap gapHow far the average Parent PLUS loan at this school exceeds the new $20,000/yr Parent PLUS borrowing cap the 2025 budget law imposes from July 2026 (FSA Direct Loan data). A positive gap is per-borrower financing that must shift to private loans, savings, or institutional aid; shown only where the average already tops the cap.
$7,105
Above capHigher than 56% of schools nationally
AY2025-26 YTD (through Q2, Dec 2025)
Enrollment cliff (home state)Projected change in the institution's home-state high-school graduates from 2025 to 2041 (WICHE). The U.S. total falls about 13%; a directional feeder-market signal, not an enrollment forecast.
-27.7%
Severe declineIndicative signals, not forecasts, see each metric’s definition and the methodology. Endowment-tax, Grad PLUS, Parent PLUS and Workforce Pell figures appear only where the institution is actually exposed; “nationally” compares against all schools that report each signal.
Turn these signals into action
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Revenue composition
Where the money comes from
$989.5M total revenue · IPEDS FY2022-23
Tuition & fees is the largest single source at 28% of revenue.
Tuition & fees27.6%
Government appropriations26.8%
Government grants & contracts15.5%
Auxiliary enterprises12.2%
Other revenue9.3%
Private gifts & grants7.0%
Investment return1.5%
Where each dollar of revenue comes from, as a share of total positive revenue. Sources are standardized across public (GASB) and private (FASB) reporting; a net investment loss in a down market is shown as 0% and excluded from the mix.
Federal funding mix
Which agencies fund this schoolThe share of this school's federal funding that comes from each awarding agency in FY2024. These are dollars agencies committed (obligations), not dollars the school spent, so the total will not match the audited federal-awards-expended figure elsewhere on this page. Matched to the school by its own SAM.gov Unique Entity ID.
$137.4M obligated · FY2024
Health & Human Services is the largest single funder at 35%.
Health & Human Services35.3%
Education32.0%
NSF15.8%
Energy5.6%
Defense3.6%
NASA2.6%
Other agencies (6)5.2%
Federal dollars each agency committed to this institution in FY2024, as a share of its total positive obligations (USAspending.gov). Obligations are money committed, not money spent, so this total will not match the audited “Federal awards expended” figure elsewhere on this page. Amounts an agency reclaimed during the year are excluded.
Net price by income
Average net price by family income
After grant & scholarship aid · Scorecard 2024-25
$0–30K$8,717
$30–48K$10,613
$48–75K$14,418
$75–110K$18,986
$110K+$33,323
Average annual net price (total cost minus grant and scholarship aid) paid by federal-aid recipients in each family-income band. Lower-income bands often pay less where need-based aid is strong.
Financial Health
Net tuition revenue / FTETuition revenue per full-time-equivalent student after institutional aid/discounts, what tuition actually nets.
Average
$13,437
54th percentile in peer grouppeer median $13,324
2024-25107 peers
Instructional spend / FTESpending on instruction per FTE student, how much of the budget reaches the classroom.
Average
$13,595
38th percentile in peer grouppeer median $14,929
2024-25107 peers
Endowment (end of year)Total endowment value at year end, long-term invested wealth that funds operations and cushions shocks.
Below peers
$151.2M
6th percentile in peer grouppeer median $870.7M
FY2022-23105 peers
Value of endowment assets at the end of the fiscal year (IPEDS finance, FY2022-23: FASB F2H02 / GASB F1H02), co-vintage with the other finance-year metrics on this page. Usually filed at the parent campus: most branch and online sub-units show the parent's endowment as a clearly labeled inherited value, and a few report a small endowment of their own alongside it. Multi-year trend from College Scorecard, shown only where it matches the IPEDS filing.
In-state tuition & feesPublished in-state tuition and fees before aid (sticker price).
$16,005
81st percentile in peer grouppeer median $12,180
2024-25107 peers
Out-of-state tuition & feesPublished out-of-state tuition and fees before aid (sticker price).
$50,205
94th percentile in peer grouppeer median $33,256
2024-25107 peers
Avg annual cost of attendanceAverage total annual cost, tuition, fees and living costs, before aid.
$41,179
97th percentile in peer grouppeer median $29,283
2024-25106 peers
Avg monthly faculty salaryAverage monthly salary of full-time faculty (IPEDS) – a proxy for faculty investment.
Strong
$17,994
94th percentile in peer grouppeer median $12,415
2024-25107 peers
Average monthly salary of full-time faculty, as reported to IPEDS.
Average net priceAverage yearly price families actually pay after grants and scholarships.
Average
$17,890
58th percentile in peer grouppeer median $17,321
2024-25106 peers
Endowment per undergradEndowment divided by undergraduate headcount, endowment wealth behind each undergrad.
Below peers
$8,431
7th percentile in peer grouppeer median $38,561
FY2022-23105 peers
Net price, low-income families (under $30K)Average yearly cost after all grant and scholarship aid for students from families earning under ~$30,000. Lower is better.
Strong
$8,717
30th percentile in peer grouppeer median $11,423
2024-25106 peers
Average annual net price (cost of attendance minus all grant and scholarship aid) paid by students whose families earn under about $30,000 a year (College Scorecard, FY2024-25). This is what the neediest admitted students actually pay, often far below the sticker price. Read it beside the overall net price and the high-income net price: a low figure here signals strong need-based aid. Lower is better.
Net price, high-income families (over $110K)Average yearly cost after grant aid for students from families earning over ~$110,000. Shown as context, not quality.
$33,323
91st percentile in peer grouppeer median $25,510
2024-25106 peers
Average annual net price paid by students whose families earn more than about $110,000 a year (College Scorecard, FY2024-25), close to the full-pay cost since little need-based aid applies. Reported as context: the gap between this and the low-income net price shows how steeply the school discounts by family income. Not a measure of quality.
Net price, middle-income families ($30K-$48K)Average yearly cost after all grant and scholarship aid for students from families earning roughly $30,000 to $48,000. Lower is better.
Average
$10,613
37th percentile in peer grouppeer median $12,140
2024-25106 peers
Average annual net price (cost of attendance minus all grant and scholarship aid) paid by students whose families earn roughly $30,000 to $48,000 a year (College Scorecard, FY2024-25). It is the middle rung of the income net-price ladder: read it together with the low-income (under ~$30K) and high-income (over ~$110K) net prices to see how steeply the school discounts as family income rises. Lower is better.
Net price, upper-middle families ($48K-$75K)Average yearly cost after all grant and scholarship aid for students from families earning roughly $48,000 to $75,000. Lower is better.
Average
$14,418
45th percentile in peer grouppeer median $14,665
2024-25106 peers
Average annual net price (cost of attendance minus all grant and scholarship aid) paid by students whose families earn roughly $48,000 to $75,000 a year (College Scorecard, FY2024-25). It is the fourth rung of the five-rung income net-price ladder: read it with the low, middle, upper and high-income net prices to see how steeply the school discounts as family income rises. Lower is better.
Net price, upper-income families ($75K-$110K)Average yearly cost after all grant and scholarship aid for students from families earning roughly $75,000 to $110,000. Lower is better.
Average
$18,986
43rd percentile in peer grouppeer median $19,503
2024-25106 peers
Average annual net price (cost of attendance minus all grant and scholarship aid) paid by students whose families earn roughly $75,000 to $110,000 a year (College Scorecard, FY2024-25). It is the fifth rung of the income net-price ladder, just below the full-pay tier: read it with the lower rungs and the high-income net price to see the full cost gradient by family income. Lower is better.
Operating marginNet surplus as a share of total revenue, whether the institution runs in the black.
Thin
2.1%
22nd percentile in peer grouppeer median 6.5%
FY2022-23107 peers
Net surplus as a share of total revenue (IPEDS FY2022-23): (total revenues − total expenses) ÷ total revenues. A surplus above 4% is strong; a thin surplus near 0% leaves little margin for shocks.
Tuition dependencyTuition's share of total revenue, how exposed the budget is to enrollment swings.
27.6%
69th percentile in peer grouppeer median 22.2%
FY2022-23107 peers
Tuition & fees as a share of total revenue (IPEDS FY2022-23). Higher = more exposed to enrollment swings.
State appropriations shareState appropriations' share of total revenue, material for public institutions, near zero for private.
26.8%
83rd percentile in peer grouppeer median 17.3%
FY2022-23107 peers
State appropriations as a share of total revenue (IPEDS FY2022-23). Material for public institutions; ~0 for private.
Endowment per FTE studentEndowment per full-time-equivalent student, the FTE-correct measure of endowment wealth per student.
Below peers
$7,375
8th percentile in peer grouppeer median $31,709
FY2022-23105 peers
End-of-year endowment ÷ 12-month FTE enrollment, endowment wealth per full-time-equivalent student. The FTE-correct companion to endowment-per-undergraduate; FTE counts graduate and part-time load, so research universities look less wealthy on this basis than on a headcount basis.
Avg Parent PLUS loanAverage Parent PLUS loan originated per recipient family.
$27,105
79th percentile in peer grouppeer median $23,118
2024-25103 peers
Average federal Parent PLUS loan per recipient (U.S. Dept. of Education, FSA Direct Loan Dashboard, AY2025-26 YTD). Parent PLUS faces new aggregate borrowing caps under the 2025 budget law; a high average shows how far families currently borrow above other federal aid. Companion to the Grad PLUS and Parent PLUS cap-gap signals. Context, not a quality measure.
Grad PLUS exposureShare of the school's graduate federal loan dollars that came from Grad PLUS, the program the 2025 budget law eliminates for new borrowers from July 2026 (FSA Direct Loan data). Higher = more graduate borrowing that will disappear above the new caps.
Moderate exposure
32.5%
2024-25
Share of the institution's graduate federal loan dollars (Grad Unsubsidized + Grad PLUS) that came from Grad PLUS, the program the 2025 budget law eliminates for new borrowers from July 1, 2026, alongside new caps on graduate borrowing. A higher share means more of the school's graduate students rely on borrowing that will no longer exist above the unsubsidized cap. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education / Federal Student Aid Direct Loan Dashboard, primarily award year 2025-26 (year-to-date through Q2, December 2025), the most current federal data; schools not yet reporting Grad PLUS in 2025-26 retain their most recent complete year (2024-25), shown per school. The reliance share is stable across the two vintages. Shown only for schools with Grad PLUS originations; an exposure signal, not a forecast of revenue loss.
Avg Grad PLUS loanAverage Grad PLUS loan per borrower (FSA). The 2025 law caps unsubsidized grad borrowing at $20,500/yr and ends Grad PLUS, this is the average per-student amount that vanishes above the cap. The depth half of the Grad PLUS shock; pair with Grad PLUS exposure (the reliance share).
Above the cap
$25,355
2024-25
Average Grad PLUS loan per recipient (FSA Direct Loan Dashboard, award year 2025-26 year-to-date through Q2, with 2024-25 full-year retained where 2025-26 is not yet reported). The 2025 budget law eliminates Grad PLUS for new borrowers from July 1, 2026 and caps unsubsidized graduate borrowing at $20,500/year, so this is the average per-borrower amount that will no longer be available above that cap. Paired with Grad PLUS exposure (the institution's reliance share), it is the depth axis of the Grad PLUS shock: how much each affected borrower stands to lose. Shown only where Grad PLUS was originated.
Parent PLUS cap gapHow far the average Parent PLUS loan at this school exceeds the new $20,000/yr Parent PLUS borrowing cap the 2025 budget law imposes from July 2026 (FSA Direct Loan data). A positive gap is per-borrower financing that must shift to private loans, savings, or institutional aid; shown only where the average already tops the cap.
Above cap
$7,105
2024-25
How far the AVERAGE Parent PLUS loan at this institution exceeds the new $20,000 annual Parent PLUS borrowing cap the 2025 budget law imposes from July 1, 2026 (the law also sets a $65,000 per-student aggregate Parent PLUS limit). A positive gap means the typical parent borrowing here currently takes more in a year than the new cap will allow, financing that must shift to private loans, savings, or institutional aid. Average annual loan per Parent PLUS recipient from the U.S. Dept. of Education / Federal Student Aid Direct Loan Dashboard, primarily award year 2025-26 (year-to-date through Q2, December 2025), with 2024-25 full-year retained where 2025-26 is not yet reported (labelled per school). Shown only where the average already exceeds the new cap; an exposure signal, not a forecast.
Structural risk indexAn indicative 0–100 structural-risk index (higher = more pressure) blending operating margin, months of cash cushion, tuition dependency and the home-state enrollment cliff. Screens for the financial and demographic strain that precedes closures and mergers, directional, not a prediction.
Elevated
62
2024-25
An indicative 0–100 structural-risk index (higher = more pressure), an equal-weight blend of the stress signals we measure: thin or negative operating margin, low months of operating cushion, high tuition dependency, and a shrinking home-state high-school-graduate pipeline (enrollment cliff). Averaged over whichever signals are available (at least two required). It screens for the financial and demographic pressures that precede closures and mergers, a directional indicator, NOT a prediction that any institution will close, and not a credit rating.
Federal funding obligatedTotal federal dollars all agencies committed to this institution in FY2024, across grants, contracts, and student aid.
Average
$137.4M
38th percentile in peer grouppeer median $168M
FY2024 (USAspending.gov)66 peers
Obligations reported to USAspending.gov for FY2024 (Oct 2023 to Sep 2024), summed across every awarding agency. This is money committed, not money spent, so it will not equal the audited 'Federal awards expended' figure and the two should not be subtracted from one another. Negative amounts (agencies reclaiming prior commitments) are excluded.
Federal funding agenciesHow many distinct federal agencies committed money to this institution in FY2024.
12
35th percentile in peer grouppeer median 15
FY2024 (USAspending.gov)66 peers
A count of awarding agencies with positive FY2024 obligations. Neither high nor low is inherently better: a community college funded solely by the Department of Education is behaving normally, while a research university typically draws on ten or more agencies.
Largest funder's shareShare of federal funding that comes from the single largest awarding agency.
35.3%
33rd percentile in peer grouppeer median 44.7%
FY2024 (USAspending.gov)66 peers
The largest agency's FY2024 obligations as a share of the institution's total positive federal obligations. Read it as concentration, not risk: most teaching colleges sit near 100% because nearly all their federal money is Department of Education student aid.
Net-cost payback periodEstimated years to recoup the four-year net cost from the annual earnings premium over a high-school graduate in this state.
Average
2.4 yrs
44th percentile in peer grouppeer median 2.8 yrs
2024-25106 peers
Four-year net price divided by the median 10-year earnings premium over a typical high-school graduate in the institution's state (College Scorecard earnings and net price; U.S. Census Bureau ACS state baselines). A simple value-for-cost gauge: fewer years is stronger. Shown only where net price and earnings are both reported and earnings exceed the state high-school baseline; it ignores aid timing, debt and non-completion, so read it as a directional comparison, not a financial projection.
Graduation & completion
Graduation rate · first-time, full-time
75.1%
75.1% graduate within 6 years (150% of normal time)
61.5% on-time, within 4 years (100%)
Counts only students who entered full-time as first-time freshmen and earned a bachelor's here, the conventional headline rate. Excludes part-time entrants and transfer-ins.
Completion rate · all students
80%
80% earned a degree or certificate within 8 years (IPEDS Outcome Measures)
The broader cohort, also counts part-time entrants and transfer-ins, and any credential. More inclusive, so it can run higher than the graduation rate.
Why two numbers? They measure different students over different windows, so they are not directly comparable. The graduation rate is the standard federal headline but tracks only first-time, full-time students through a bachelor's; the all-students completion rate adds the part-time and transfer students it leaves out, over a longer window. Read each for what it covers. Source: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS Graduation Rates & Outcome Measures, via College Scorecard.
Enrollment & Pipeline
Undergraduate enrollmentNumber of degree-seeking undergraduates (IPEDS fall headcount). A size measure, not a quality signal.
17,940
26th percentile in peer grouppeer median 23,113
2024-25107 peers
Admission rateShare of applicants offered admission. Lower means more selective; open-admission schools report none.
65.8%
39th percentile in peer grouppeer median 74.2%
2024-25107 peers
First-year retentionShare of first-time, full-time freshmen who return for a second year, an early signal of student fit and support.
Average
87.9%
54th percentile in peer grouppeer median 87.4%
2024-25106 peers
Graduation rate (6-yr · first-time, full-time)Of first-time, full-time freshmen, the share who earn a bachelor's at this institution within six years (150% of normal time) – the conventional headline graduation rate. It counts only first-time, full-time students and excludes part-time entrants and transfer-ins, who are captured instead by the all-students completion rate.
Average
75.1%
57th percentile in peer grouppeer median 74.1%
2024-25106 peers
Graduation rate (4-yr on-time · first-time, full-time)Of first-time, full-time freshmen, the share who earn a bachelor's within four years (100% of normal time) – the 'on-time' rate. It runs well below the six-year rate because many students take a fifth or sixth year; same first-time, full-time cohort as the six-year rate.
Average
61.5%
63rd percentile in peer grouppeer median 56.6%
2024-25106 peers
Pell recipient shareShare of undergraduates on a federal Pell Grant, a proxy for the share from lower-income families.
31.6%
75th percentile in peer grouppeer median 25.4%
2024-25107 peers
Completion rate (all students · 8-yr)Of ALL entering degree-seeking undergraduates, full- and part-time, first-time and transfer-in, the share who earned a degree or certificate at this institution within eight years (IPEDS Outcome Measures). Broader than the graduation rate, which counts only first-time, full-time students, so the two are measured on different students and are not directly comparable.
Strong
80%
69th percentile in peer grouppeer median 72.4%
2024-25107 peers
Share of ALL entering degree-seeking undergraduates, full- and part-time, first-time and transfer-in, who earned a degree or certificate at this institution within eight years (IPEDS Outcome Measures, via College Scorecard). Broader and more inclusive than the graduation-rate figures, which count only first-time, full-time students entering a bachelor's program, so the two are measured on different groups of students and are not directly comparable.
First-generation studentsShare of undergraduates who are the first in their family to attend college.
36.8%
80th percentile in peer grouppeer median 29.4%
2024-25107 peers
Share of undergraduates who are first-generation college students (College Scorecard, FY2024-25). An access signal, not a measure of quality: a higher share often reflects a stronger commitment to serving students whose parents did not attend college.
Adult learners (25+)Share of undergraduates aged 25 or older.
3.6%
30th percentile in peer grouppeer median 5.6%
2024-25107 peers
Share of undergraduates aged 25 or older (College Scorecard, FY2024-25). Read as context on the student mix: schools serving many working adults look different on persistence and part-time measures than traditional-age campuses, and neither is inherently better.
Part-time undergraduatesShare of undergraduates enrolled part-time.
2.9%
16th percentile in peer grouppeer median 7%
2024-25107 peers
Share of undergraduates enrolled part-time (College Scorecard, FY2024-25). Context, not quality: a high part-time share is common at community and commuter institutions and affects graduation-rate comparisons, which are based only on full-time, first-time students.
Median family incomeMedian family income of students at this institution.
$42,014
36th percentile in peer grouppeer median $50,411
2024-25107 peers
Median family income of students at this institution (College Scorecard, FY2024-25). An affordability and access signal, not a measure of quality: a lower figure typically means the school enrolls more students from modest-income families.
Low-income students (under $30K)Share of students from families earning under about $30,000 a year.
36.8%
64th percentile in peer grouppeer median 32.1%
2024-25107 peers
Share of students whose families earn under roughly $30,000 a year (College Scorecard, FY2024-25). A direct low-income access signal: a higher share usually reflects a school enrolling more students from modest-income households, and pairs naturally with the Pell recipient share.
Women (share of undergraduates)Share of undergraduates who are women.
52.8%
40th percentile in peer grouppeer median 54.1%
2024-25107 peers
Share of undergraduates who are women (College Scorecard, FY2024-25). Reported as context on the student mix, not a measure of quality.
Middle-income students ($30K-$75K)Share of students from families earning roughly $30,000 to $75,000 a year.
34.1%
93rd percentile in peer grouppeer median 30.1%
2024-25107 peers
Share of students whose families earn roughly $30,000 to $75,000 a year (College Scorecard, FY2024-25), the two middle income bands combined. Reported as context on the student mix: together with the low-income (under ~$30K) and upper-income (over ~$75K) shares it sketches the full family-income picture, and the three bands sum to about 100%.
Upper-income students (over $75K)Share of students from families earning more than about $75,000 a year.
29.1%
31st percentile in peer grouppeer median 36.9%
2024-25107 peers
Share of students whose families earn more than roughly $75,000 a year (College Scorecard, FY2024-25), the two upper income bands combined. Reported as context on the student mix, not a measure of quality: together with the low-income (under ~$30K) and middle-income (~$30K-$75K) shares it sketches the full family-income picture, and the three bands sum to about 100%.
8-year completion (all students)Share of all entering students, including part-time and transfer-in, who earn an award within 8 years. Higher is better.
Strong
80%
69th percentile in peer grouppeer median 72.4%
2024-25107 peers
Share of ALL entering students, full-time and part-time, first-time and transfer-in, who complete an award within eight years (College Scorecard Outcome Measures, FY2024-25). It is a broader, more representative completion signal than the first-time-full-time graduation rates, because it counts the part-time and returning students those rates exclude. Higher is better.
Transfer-out rateShare of students who transfer to a different school within the tracking window. Shown as context, not quality.
9.7%
52nd percentile in peer grouppeer median 9.6%
2024-25106 peers
Share of students who transfer OUT to a different institution within the tracking window (College Scorecard, FY2024-25). Reported as context, not a quality measure: it runs high at access-oriented schools and two-year feeders whose students routinely move on to a four-year program, and it should be read together with the completion and retention figures rather than on its own.
Admission yield
Below peers
10.2%
1st percentile in peer grouppeer median 23.9%
Fall 2023107 peers
Share of admitted students who enrolled (IPEDS Admissions, Fall 2023): students who enrolled ÷ students admitted. A demand signal, how many accepted offers the institution converts to enrollment. Higher yield generally reflects stronger demand, though binding early-decision programs and price positioning can inflate it. Open-admission institutions do not report admissions and show none.
Program concentration (HHI)How concentrated a school's annual completions are across academic fields, as a Herfindahl-Hirschman Index (10,000 = one field, lower = many). Higher means more reliance on a few fields; lower means a diversified program portfolio.
Diversified
915
2022-23
How concentrated the institution's degree and certificate output is across academic fields (CIP 2-digit families), as a Herfindahl-Hirschman Index on the latest year's completions: 10,000 means every completion is in one field; lower means output is spread across many. A higher value means the school leans on fewer fields and is more exposed to demand shifts in them; a lower value reflects a broad program portfolio. Shown for institutions reporting at least 100 annual completions. A structural-diversification signal, not a measure of quality.
12-month FTE enrollmentFull-time-equivalent enrollment over the full year, the denominator for per-student finance measures.
20,507
24th percentile in peer grouppeer median 28,679
2022-23107 peers
Full-time-equivalent enrollment over the full 12-month year (IPEDS 12-month enrollment, 2022-23). Counts part-time students at their fractional load, so it runs above fall full-time headcount and is the denominator used for per-student finance measures.
Student-faculty ratioStudents per instructional faculty member, lower usually means smaller classes and more contact.
22:1
93rd percentile in peer grouppeer median 18:1
fall 2023107 peers
Students per instructional faculty member (IPEDS, fall 2023). Lower generally means smaller classes and more faculty contact, though the measure mixes undergraduate and graduate teaching and is institution-reported.
Out-of-state studentsShare of first-time students whose legal residence is outside the institution's state.
7%
22nd percentile in peer grouppeer median 18%
2024-2599 peers
Share of first-time degree-seeking students coming from outside the state (IPEDS, Fall 2023). A reach signal: high values mark national-draw institutions, low values mark in-state and commuter campuses. Context, not quality.
Fully online studentsShare of students enrolled exclusively in distance-education (online) courses.
1%
7th percentile in peer grouppeer median 10%
2024-25107 peers
Share of students enrolled exclusively in distance-education courses (IPEDS, Fall 2023). Describes delivery model, not quality; online-heavy institutions look different on residential measures.
Applicant-pool diversity shiftProjected change in the non-white share of the home state's public high-school graduating class, class of 2025 to 2037.
+5%
WICHE 2024 (11th ed.)
Percentage-point change in the non-white share of the institution's home-state public high-school graduating class between the class of 2025 (the national peak) and 2037 (WICHE, Knocking at the College Door, 11th ed., public-school race detail). A forward look at who the future applicant pool will be: a positive value means the state's graduating class is projected to grow more racially diverse. Strategic recruiting context, not a forecast of any one school's enrollment, and a college recruits from many states.
Hybrid (some online) enrollmentShare of students enrolled in some but not all courses online (hybrid), Fall 2023.
28%
30th percentile in peer grouppeer median 37%
Fall 2023107 peers
Share of all students taking some, but not all, of their courses at a distance (IPEDS, Fall 2023). This is the hybrid middle ground between the fully online share and the fully in-person share, and it signals how far a school has moved coursework online without going exclusively remote. Context metric, not better or worse. Banded against the school's peer group.
Transfer-in share (undergraduate)Transfer-in students as a share of undergraduate enrollment, Fall 2023.
6.3%
58th percentile in peer grouppeer median 5.9%
Fall 2023107 peers
Transfer-in students as a share of all undergraduates (IPEDS, Fall 2023). A high share means the school depends on transfer pipelines rather than first-time freshmen, which changes both recruitment strategy and melt/retention risk. Context metric, not better or worse. Banded against the school's peer group.
Graduate share of enrollmentGraduate students as a share of total enrollment, Fall 2023.
9.9%
1st percentile in peer grouppeer median 23.1%
Fall 2023107 peers
Graduate students as a share of total headcount enrollment (IPEDS, Fall 2023). It separates research-intensive universities with large graduate bodies from undergraduate-focused institutions. Context metric, not better or worse. Banded against the school's peer group.
Women share of facultyWomen as a share of instructional staff (full- and part-time), Fall 2023.
49%
66th percentile in peer grouppeer median 46.7%
2023-24107 peers
Women as a share of all instructional staff, full- and part-time combined (IPEDS Human Resources, Fall 2023). A gender-composition signal for the teaching workforce. Context metric, not better or worse. Banded against the school's peer group.
Faculty of color shareU.S. faculty of color as a share of instructional staff, Fall 2023.
30.6%
81st percentile in peer grouppeer median 24%
2023-24107 peers
Instructional staff who are American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian, Black, Hispanic, Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, or two-or-more races, as a share of all instructional staff (IPEDS Human Resources, Fall 2023). Nonresident and race-unknown staff are excluded from the numerator. Context metric, not better or worse. Banded against the school's peer group.
Women in applicant poolWomen as a share of all first-time degree-seeking applicants.
55.4%
49th percentile in peer grouppeer median 55.7%
2023-24107 peers
Women as a share of the school's first-time degree-seeking applicant pool (IPEDS Admissions, 2023-24). A read on the funnel's composition, useful for targeting and a proxy for program mix: nursing- and education-heavy schools skew female, engineering- and trade-heavy schools skew male. Neither skew is inherently better. Banded against the school's peer group.
Varsity athlete shareVarsity athletes as a share of total enrollment (EADA, 2024-25).
2.6%
45th percentile in peer grouppeer median 2.7%
2024-25105 peers
Student-athletes on varsity rosters as a share of total enrollment, from the federal Equity in Athletics Disclosure Act filing (2024-25). At small athletics-driven schools this share is large and athletics recruiting is a core part of the enrollment funnel; at big universities it is small. Context metric, not better or worse. Banded against the school's peer group.
Athletics revenue (total)Total intercollegiate-athletics revenue reported under EADA, 2024-25.
$4.7M
2nd percentile in peer grouppeer median $104.8M
2024-25105 peers
Total revenue attributed to the school's intercollegiate-athletics program, from the federal Equity in Athletics Disclosure Act filing (2024-25). It indicates the scale of the athletics enterprise, which at some schools is a major brand and enrollment driver. Context metric, not better or worse. Banded against the school's peer group.
Direct competitors within 100 miNumber of same-type institutions (same Carnegie class and control) within 100 miles.
Average
1
58th percentile in peer grouppeer median 1
2024-25107 peers
How many institutions of the same type (same Carnegie classification and control, i.e. the schools competing for the same students) sit within roughly 100 miles. A higher count means a more crowded local market and a harder yield fight, which matters most as the regional pool of high school graduates shrinks; a low count means the school has its catchment largely to itself. Distance is straight-line from campus coordinates. Banded against the school's peer group. Fewer is better for recruiting leverage.
States recruited fromNumber of distinct US states sending at least one first-time student.
Average
41
40th percentile in peer grouppeer median 43
Fall 2022106 peers
How many distinct US states the school's first-time degree-seeking class is drawn from (IPEDS Residence & Migration, Fall 2022). A higher count signals broader geographic reach and less dependence on any single state's shrinking pool of high school graduates; a low count means the school recruits from a narrow region and is more exposed to that region's demographic decline. Banded against the school's peer group.
Foreign first-time shareShare of first-time students whose legal residence is a foreign country.
2.9%
63rd percentile in peer grouppeer median 1.5%
Fall 2022106 peers
Share of the school's first-time degree-seeking class whose legal residence is outside the United States (IPEDS Residence & Migration, Fall 2022). A measure of international reach in the entering class. Neither high nor low is inherently better; it is context for tuition-revenue mix and exposure to visa and geopolitical risk. Banded against the school's peer group.
Metro-area unemployment rateUnemployment rate in the school's metro area, ACS 2019-23.
Below peers
5.6%
75th percentile in peer grouppeer median 4.7%
ACS 2019-23107 peers
The civilian unemployment rate in the school's metropolitan or micropolitan area (US Census ACS 2019-23, mapped by the school's federal CBSA code). It is a proxy for local labor demand: a lower rate means a tighter job market, a stronger near-term destination for graduates and a smaller pool of working adults to recruit. It describes the local economy, not the school. Schools outside any metro area are not scored. Banded against the school's peer group.
On-campus crime rateOn-campus criminal offenses per 1,000 students, 2024 (Clery Act).
Below peers
4.8 per 1k
79th percentile in peer grouppeer median 2.2 per 1k
2024 (Clery)107 peers
Criminal offenses reported on campus in 2024 (murder, manslaughter, the four sex-offense categories, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, motor-vehicle theft and arson) per 1,000 students, from the school's federal Clery Act filing. Counts and enrollment are summed across the institution's campuses. A higher number does not always mean a more dangerous school: thorough reporting and dense residential campuses raise it. Lower is generally safer. Banded against the school's peer group.
Research & development spendingTotal academic R&D expenditures, FY2023 (NSF HERD).
$203.9M
23rd percentile in peer grouppeer median $358.4M
FY2023 (NSF HERD)82 peers
Total research and development expenditures in FY2023, from the National Science Foundation's Higher Education R&D (HERD) survey. It separates research-intensive universities from teaching-focused peers and indicates grant capacity. Reported only for the institutions HERD surveys (those with at least $150,000 in R&D), matched to this tool by name. Context metric, not better or worse. Banded against the school's peer group.
Enrollment cliff (home state)Projected change in the institution's home-state high-school graduates from 2025 to 2041 (WICHE). The U.S. total falls about 13%; a directional feeder-market signal, not an enrollment forecast.
Severe decline
-27.7%
2024-25
Projected change in the number of high-school graduates in the institution's HOME STATE from the class of 2025 (the national peak) to 2041, per WICHE's Knocking at the College Door, 11th Edition (Dec 2024). The 'enrollment cliff' is the post-2008 birth decline reaching college age; the U.S. total is projected to fall about 13% over this window. A college recruits from many states, so its home-state projection is an indicative directional signal of feeder-market pressure, not a forecast of that institution's own enrollment.
Scholarly works publishedLifetime indexed scholarly works (OpenAlex).
76,503
40th percentile in peer grouppeer median 96,350
2024 (OpenAlex)73 peers
From OpenAlex, an open catalog of the world's scholarly works. Counts the institution's lifetime indexed research works (papers, datasets, books and other outputs). It separates research-intensive universities from teaching-focused peers and signals scholarly capacity; reported only where OpenAlex has a confident match to this school. Context metric, not better or worse. Banded against the school's peer group.
Research citationsLifetime citations to the institution's works (OpenAlex).
12,001,643
73rd percentile in peer grouppeer median 7,065,431
2024 (OpenAlex)73 peers
From OpenAlex, an open catalog of the world's scholarly works. Counts the institution's lifetime indexed citations received by its scholarly works. It separates research-intensive universities from teaching-focused peers and signals scholarly capacity; reported only where OpenAlex has a confident match to this school. Context metric, not better or worse. Banded against the school's peer group.
Institutional h-indexInstitutional h-index (OpenAlex): h works each cited ≥ h times.
1,084
81st percentile in peer grouppeer median 691
2024 (OpenAlex)73 peers
From OpenAlex. The institution has an h-index of h when h of its works have each been cited at least h times: a single figure blending output and impact. Reported only where OpenAlex has a confident match. Context metric, not better or worse. Banded against peers.
NIH research fundingTotal NIH award dollars, FY2024 (NIH RePORTER).
$46M
52nd percentile in peer grouppeer median $45.6M
FY2024 (NIH RePORTER)69 peers
Total National Institutes of Health award dollars the institution received in fiscal year 2024, from NIH RePORTER. It signals biomedical research strength and federal grant capacity; reported only for schools NIH funds and that match this tool by name and state. Dollars from multiple campuses or centers are summed. Context metric, not better or worse. Banded against the school's peer group.
Wikipedia pageviews (monthly)Average monthly English-Wikipedia pageviews, trailing 12 months.
15,251
43rd percentile in peer grouppeer median 17,186
trailing 12 mo (Wikipedia)
Average monthly views of the institution's English-Wikipedia article over the trailing 12 months (Wikimedia REST API). A top-of-funnel public-attention proxy: how often people look the school up. Reported only where a matching Wikipedia article exists. Context metric, not better or worse. Banded against the school's peer group.
In-state HS graduatesPublic + private high-school graduates in the school's state, class of 2025.
469,214
100th percentile in peer grouppeer median 83,021
Class of 2025 (WICHE)107 peers
The size of the school's home-state high-school graduating class in 2025 (WICHE Knocking at the College Door, public and private combined). It is the near-term in-state feeder market, the complement to the enrollment-cliff projection, which shows the direction that market is heading. Context metric, not better or worse. Banded against the school's peer group.
Enrollment momentum (CAGR)Enrollment momentum (CAGR).
Average
0.7%
46th percentile in peer grouppeer median 0.9%
2024-25107 peers
Compound annual growth rate of undergraduate enrollment over the years the tool tracks (College Scorecard, roughly 2016-2024). Positive means the school is growing; negative means it is shrinking, the leading indicator of demand stress ahead of the demographic cliff. Banded against the school's peer group.
Net-price momentum (CAGR)Net-price momentum (CAGR).
Strong
0.4%
19th percentile in peer grouppeer median 1.6%
2024-25107 peers
Compound annual growth rate of net tuition revenue per full-time-equivalent student over the tracked years. A high positive rate means the school's real net price is climbing faster than peers, which can strain affordability and yield. Banded against the school's peer group. Lower is better.
Selectivity momentum (CAGR)Selectivity momentum (CAGR).
Below peers
1.6%
72nd percentile in peer grouppeer median 0.3%
2024-25107 peers
Compound annual growth rate of the admission rate over the tracked years. A negative value means the school is admitting a smaller share of applicants over time (getting more selective); a positive value means its admit rate is rising (getting less selective), often a sign of softening demand. Banded against the school's peer group.
Enrollment forecast (5-yr)Projected change in total enrollment about five years out, from the school's own trend.
Average
1.7%
47th percentile in peer grouppeer median 2.5%
2024-2029 projection107 peers
Projected cumulative change in total enrollment roughly five years out, modeled by a least-squares log-linear fit on the school's own enrollment history (2016-2024). It uses the full multi-year series, so a single shock year (such as 2020) does not drive the result. This is a naive trend extrapolation, not a demographic model, and is capped at plus or minus 60 percent; treat it as direction-of-travel, not a precise count. Banded against the school's peer group; higher means projected growth.
Enrollment-demand indexComposite 0-100 of admission yield, selectivity and enrollment trend vs peers.
Below peers
36.0
29th percentile in peer grouppeer median 48.0
2024-25107 peers
A 0-100 composite of how much demand the school commands relative to its peer group: the average of its peer percentile ranks for admission yield, selectivity (a lower admit rate counts as stronger demand) and recent enrollment trend. Built only where at least two of those three are reported. Higher means stronger pull in the market. Banded against the school's peer group.
Admissions test policy
SAT / ACT requirement
IPEDS Fall 2023
Test-optional
This school is test-optional: applicants may submit SAT or ACT scores, but they are not required. Reported to IPEDS for the most recent admissions cycle. Test policy is a live enrollment lever, so it is shown as the school's stated category rather than a peer rank.
Completion equity
Six-year graduation rate by group
First-time, full-time bachelor’s cohort · Scorecard 2024-25
White78%
Black67%
Hispanic/Latino67%
Asian79%
American Indian/Alaska Native0%
Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander50%
Two or more races75%
International77%
Pell recipients71%
Six-year graduation rate (150% of normal time) for the first-time, full-time bachelor’s cohort, broken out by race and ethnicity and for Pell-grant recipients (College Scorecard). Each bar uses the same measure as the headline graduation rate, so the gaps between groups are directly comparable. School overall: 75%.
Student body
Undergraduate race & ethnicity
IPEDS 2024-25
White30.6%
Hispanic/Latino28.6%
Asian24.3%
Two or more races8.9%
International3.0%
Unknown2.3%
Black2.1%
American Indian/Alaska Native0.2%
Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander0.1%
Undergraduate enrollment by race and ethnicity, as reported to IPEDS (College Scorecard). “International” denotes nonresident students; “Unknown” means race/ethnicity was not reported.
Student Outcomes & Risk
Median earnings (10 yr)Median earnings of former students ten years after first enrolling (working, federally-aided students).
Average
$68,396
65th percentile in peer grouppeer median $63,403
2024-25107 peers
Median debt at graduationMedian federal loan debt graduates carry at the point they complete.
Strong
$16,666
12th percentile in peer grouppeer median $20,500
2024-25107 peers
3-yr cohort default rateShare of borrowers who default within three years of entering repayment. Lower is better.
Strong
2.9%
32nd percentile in peer grouppeer median 4.2%
FY2017 cohort107 peers
Share of borrowers who defaulted within three years of entering repayment (U.S. Dept. of Education official cohort default rate). Shown for the FY2017 borrower cohort, the most recent cohort whose full three-year default window closed before the 2020-23 federal student-loan payment pause. More recent cohorts are reported by the College Scorecard at essentially 0%, but that reflects the payment pause (no payments were due, so almost no one could default), not borrower health, so the pre-pause cohort is the last meaningful reading. Lower is better.
Share taking federal loansShare of students taking out federal loans, a borrowing-reliance signal.
28.4%
38th percentile in peer grouppeer median 31.7%
2024-25107 peers
Full-time faculty shareShare of faculty employed full-time, higher generally means more availability and continuity.
Strong
84.9%
68th percentile in peer grouppeer median 79.8%
2024-25107 peers
Debt-to-earnings ratioMedian graduate debt divided by median earnings, how heavy the debt load is versus what graduates earn. Lower is better.
Strong
0.24×
18th percentile in peer grouppeer median 0.32×
2024-25107 peers
Loan repayment rate (3-yr)
75%
74th percentile in peer grouppeer median 68.4%
2024-25107 peers
Share of student-loan borrowers who had repaid at least $1 of their loan principal within three years of entering repayment (College Scorecard, FY2024-25). Read it as context, not a simple good/bad score: a low rate can mean borrowers are struggling, but it can also mean many graduates have postponed payments while enrolled in graduate or professional school, which is common at selective schools and pushes their rate down. Unlike the cohort default rate, it is not distorted by the 2020-23 federal payment pause. Reported only where enough borrowers exist.
Earn more than a HS grad (6-yr)Share earning more than $28,000 (about a high-school graduate's wage) six years after entry.
Below peers
60.4%
9th percentile in peer grouppeer median 70.1%
2024-25107 peers
Share of students earning more than $28,000 a year, roughly what a typical high-school graduate earns, six years after entering this institution (College Scorecard, FY2024-25). A direct read on whether attending beats not attending, and conceptually aligned with the 2025 budget law's program-level earnings-premium test.
Working 10 years after entryShare of the no-longer-enrolled cohort who are working ten years after entering.
Average
89.7%
59th percentile in peer grouppeer median 89.1%
2024-25107 peers
Share of students who are working (not still enrolled) ten years after entering this institution, of those whose employment status is known (College Scorecard, FY2024-25). A coarse employment signal; it does not capture earnings level or job quality.
Withdrew by year 2Share of entrants who had withdrawn by their second year. Lower is better.
Strong
9.7%
34th percentile in peer grouppeer median 12%
2024-25107 peers
Share of students who had withdrawn from this institution by the end of their second year (College Scorecard, FY2024-25). An early-attrition signal, where lower is better; high part-time or adult-learner enrollment can raise it without reflecting institutional quality.
Loan repayment rate (5-yr)Share of borrowers who repaid at least $1 of principal within five years of entering repayment.
Average
76.4%
62nd percentile in peer grouppeer median 74%
2024-25107 peers
Share of student-loan borrowers who had repaid at least $1 of their loan principal within five years of entering repayment (College Scorecard, FY2024-25), a longer-horizon companion to the three-year repayment rate. As with the three-year figure, a low rate can reflect graduates deferring payments while in further schooling rather than financial distress.
Median earnings (6 yr)Median earnings of working former students six years after they first enrolled.
Average
$49,716
38th percentile in peer grouppeer median $52,696
2024-25107 peers
Median earnings of former students who are working and were federally aided, measured six years after they first enrolled (College Scorecard, FY2024-25). A shorter-horizon companion to the ten-year earnings figure; early-career pay tends to run below the ten-year mark, so read the two together rather than in isolation.
Earn more than a HS grad (10-yr)Share earning more than $28,000 (about a high-school graduate's wage) ten years after entry.
Below peers
74.6%
17th percentile in peer grouppeer median 79.3%
2024-25107 peers
Share of students earning more than $28,000 a year, roughly what a typical high-school graduate earns, ten years after entering this institution (College Scorecard, FY2024-25). The long-horizon companion to the six-year figure and the closest public analogue to the 2025 budget law's program-level earnings-premium test.
Median debt (did not complete)Median federal loan debt of students who left without completing. Lower is better.
Average
$9,166
64th percentile in peer grouppeer median $8,750
2024-25107 peers
Median federal loan debt carried by students who withdrew from this institution without completing a credential (College Scorecard, FY2024-25). The counterpart to debt at graduation, and often the higher-risk group: borrowing with no degree to show for it. Lower is better, but compare it against the school's completion and withdrawal rates rather than on its own.
Loan repayment rate (1-yr)Share of borrowers who repaid at least $1 of principal within one year of entering repayment.
Strong
70.1%
71st percentile in peer grouppeer median 64.3%
2024-25107 peers
Share of student-loan borrowers who had repaid at least $1 of their loan principal within one year of entering repayment (College Scorecard, FY2024-25), the earliest point on the repayment curve. As with the longer-horizon rates, a low figure can reflect borrowers deferring payments while in further schooling rather than financial distress.
Loan repayment rate (7-yr)Share of borrowers who repaid at least $1 of principal within seven years of entering repayment.
Average
80.8%
64th percentile in peer grouppeer median 79.1%
2024-25107 peers
Share of student-loan borrowers who had repaid at least $1 of their loan principal within seven years of entering repayment (College Scorecard, FY2024-25), the longest horizon reported. Together with the one-, three-, and five-year rates it traces how repayment progresses over time.
Median debt (first-generation students)Median federal loan debt of students who are the first in their family to attend college. Lower is better.
Average
$14,333
35th percentile in peer grouppeer median $15,250
2024-25107 peers
Median cumulative federal loan debt carried by first-generation students, those whose parents did not complete college (College Scorecard, FY2024-25). Read it beside the all-students median debt: a gap between the two is an equity signal about who shoulders the borrowing. Lower is better, but weigh it against completion and earnings.
Median debt (Pell recipients)Median federal loan debt of Pell Grant recipients, the lowest-income aided students. Lower is better.
Average
$15,000
36th percentile in peer grouppeer median $16,337
2024-25107 peers
Median cumulative federal loan debt carried by Pell Grant recipients (College Scorecard, FY2024-25), the lowest-income federally-aided students at the school. Compare it with the all-students median debt and the Pell share: it shows how much the neediest students borrow to attend. Lower is better.
Loan repayment rate, completers (3-yr)Share of borrowers who COMPLETED and had paid down at least $1 of principal within 3 years. Higher is better.
Average
79.3%
56th percentile in peer grouppeer median 77.9%
2024-25107 peers
Three-year loan repayment rate among borrowers who completed their program (College Scorecard, FY2024-25): the share who, three years after entering repayment, are not in default and have paid down at least a dollar of principal. Read it beside the all-borrower loan repayment rate and the non-completer rate: completers almost always repay at higher rates, so a low figure here is a strong warning sign. Higher is better.
Loan repayment rate, non-completers (3-yr)Share of borrowers who LEFT WITHOUT a credential and had paid down at least $1 of principal within 3 years. Higher is better.
Strong
66.9%
88th percentile in peer grouppeer median 57.5%
2024-25107 peers
Three-year loan repayment rate among borrowers who left WITHOUT completing (College Scorecard, FY2024-25), the group at the highest risk of default since they carry debt without the credential. Pair it with the non-completer median debt: together they show how heavily a school's dropouts are burdened. Higher is better.
Median earnings, low-income students (10-yr)Median earnings 10 years after entry for students who came from families earning under ~$30,000. Higher is better.
Strong
$67,816
79th percentile in peer grouppeer median $58,378
2024-25107 peers
Median earnings ten years after entering, measured only for students who came from the lowest family-income tier, under about $30,000 a year (College Scorecard, FY2024-25). Read it beside the overall median earnings: a school whose low-income students go on to earn near the all-student figure is delivering real upward mobility, while a large gap signals the payoff is not reaching its neediest students. Higher is better.
Median earnings, middle-income students (10-yr)Median earnings 10 years after entry for students who came from families earning roughly $30,000 to $75,000. Higher is better.
Average
$67,350
63rd percentile in peer grouppeer median $63,027
2024-25107 peers
Median earnings ten years after entering, measured only for students from middle-income families, roughly $30,000 to $75,000 a year (College Scorecard, FY2024-25). It is the middle rung of the earnings-by-family-income ladder: read it beside the low-income (under ~$30K) and high-income (over ~$75K) figures to see whether the school's payoff is even across backgrounds or tracks who students were when they arrived. Higher is better.
Median earnings, high-income students (10-yr)Median earnings 10 years after entry for students who came from families earning over ~$75,000. Higher is better.
Average
$70,251
57th percentile in peer grouppeer median $67,878
2024-25107 peers
Median earnings ten years after entering, measured only for students from higher-income families, over about $75,000 a year (College Scorecard, FY2024-25). It is the top rung of the earnings-by-family-income ladder: the gap between this and the low-income figure shows how much the school's earnings payoff depends on family background. A narrow gap signals strong upward mobility. Higher is better.
Pell completion gapOverall 6-year graduation rate minus the Pell-recipient graduation rate.
Strong
+3.5%
22nd percentile in peer grouppeer median +6.8%
2024-25
The school's overall six-year graduation rate minus the graduation rate of its Pell Grant recipients (College Scorecard). A larger positive gap means lower-income students complete at a lower rate than the student body overall; a value near zero means the school graduates Pell and non-Pell students at similar rates. Banded against the school's peer group. Smaller is better.
Debt-to-earnings rateMedian program-level debt-to-earnings rate (annual loan payment / earnings).
Average
0.6%
51st percentile in peer grouppeer median 0.6%
Scorecard FoS (indicative)107 peers
The school's median program-level debt-to-earnings rate: the annual payment on graduates' median loan debt as a share of their median earnings, the core measure in the Department of Education's gainful-employment framework (a program is flagged above 8%). This is INDICATIVE: it applies ED's methodology to public College Scorecard field-of-study data because ED has not yet published its official determinations. Computed where the school has at least three evaluated programs. Lower means debt is smaller relative to earnings. Banded against peer group.
Field-demand outlook (10-yr)Employment-weighted 10-year BLS job-growth projection for the occupations this school's program mix feeds (U.S. all-occupations benchmark +3.1%). An indicative broad-field demand signal, not a program-specific or placement guarantee.
Outpaces job-market average
+5.3%
69th percentile in peer group
BLS EP 2024-34107 peers
Projected 10-year (2024-34) change in U.S. employment for the occupations this institution's degrees and certificates feed, blended across its program mix. Built by mapping each CIP 2-digit field to its occupations via the NCES CIP-SOC crosswalk, taking the employment-weighted average of each occupation's BLS-projected percent change, then weighting fields by the institution's latest-year completions. The U.S. all-occupations benchmark is 3.1%, so a higher value means the school's graduates concentrate in faster-growing labor markets. An INDICATIVE field-level signal at broad-field granularity, not a program-specific or graduate-specific projection, and not a placement or earnings guarantee. Shown where at least 50% of completions fall in fields with a coherent occupational mapping and the school reports 100+ annual completions.
Return on credentialMedian 10-year earnings divided by the four-year cost of attendance (annual cost × 4) – a rough payback ratio for the degree.
Below peers
0.42×
6th percentile in peer grouppeer median 0.54×
2024-25106 peers
Median 10-year earnings divided by the four-year cost of attendance (average annual cost × 4). A rough payback ratio: 1.0× means a graduate's annual 10-year earnings roughly equal the full four-year sticker cost. Earnings reflect federally-aided students; cost of attendance is the published sticker price before aid, so this is conservative relative to what families net of aid pay.
Programs below earnings benchmarkShare of program completions in fields whose graduate earnings currently fall below the state earnings benchmark used by the 2025 budget law's earnings-premium test.
Average
2.1%
51st percentile in peer grouppeer median 2%
2024-25107 peers
Share of this school's measured program completions in programs whose median earnings four years after completion fall below the state benchmark (a high-school graduate's earnings for undergraduate credentials, a bachelor's for graduate credentials). This is the same early-warning screen behind our OBBBA Compliance Watchdog leaderboard, computed on public College Scorecard Field-of-Study data, not the official federal determination. Shown only where at least four programs report earnings. Lower is less exposure.
Grad rate vs predicted (access-adjusted)Actual 6-year graduation rate minus the rate predicted from the students the school enrolls.
Strong
+12.1%
89th percentile in peer grouppeer median +4.4%
2024-25
Actual six-year graduation rate minus the rate predicted, by a regression across all four-year institutions, from the school's admission rate, Pell share, first-generation share, median family income and undergraduate size (College Scorecard, FY2024-25). A positive value means the school graduates students at a higher rate than peers serving similar students at similar selectivity; a negative value means lower. This is a fairer cross-school comparison than the raw graduation rate, which penalizes access-oriented colleges. The figure is banded against a school's own peer group, so selective schools are compared with selective peers. The model uses no test-score input, so it under-predicts the most selective institutions, which therefore tend to show positive values. Reported for four-year institutions that publish an admission rate; an indicative model, not an official metric.
Net-value indexComposite 0-100 of earnings, completion, net price and debt vs peers.
Strong
63.0
76th percentile in peer grouppeer median 47.0
2024-25107 peers
A 0-100 composite of student value relative to the peer group: the average of peer percentile ranks for median earnings ten years out, graduation rate, net price (lower counts as better value) and median debt (lower is better). Built only where at least two components are reported. Higher means more outcome per dollar. Banded against the school's peer group.
Earnings spread
Earnings 10 years after entry: the middle 50%
Working, federally-aided former students · Scorecard 2024-25
25th percentile$41,808
Median$68,396
75th percentile$102,779
Annual earnings of working former students measured ten years after they first enrolled (College Scorecard), shown as a range rather than a single number. The middle half of this school’s graduates earn between the 25th- and 75th-percentile figures; the Median bar matches the headline earnings figure. A wider gap means more variation in how graduates fare. Bars are scaled to the highest value shown.
Top fields of study (bachelor's)
University of California-Santa Cruz’s largest fields by completions, with graduate earnings (4 years out) and debt benchmarked against the same field at its peer group. Sparklines show the 8-year completions trend.
| Field | Completions / yr | Median earnings, 4 yrs out | Median debt | Earnings premium | Risk score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer & Information Sciences | 705 | $119,414 77th pct · 106 peers | $16,988 14th pct · 107 peers | Above benchmark +211% | Low · 0 |
| Biological & Biomedical Sciences | 702 | $66,014 79th pct · 105 peers | $18,983 26th pct · 105 peers | Above benchmark +72% | Low · 25 |
| Social Sciences | 670 | $62,672 50th pct · 104 peers | $16,570 11th pct · 104 peers | Above benchmark +63% | Low · 24 |
| Visual & Performing Arts | 433 | $48,909 58th pct · 104 peers | $17,345 12th pct · 105 peers | Above benchmark +27% | Low · 20 |
| Psychology | 432 | $59,948 88th pct · 104 peers | $18,902 36th pct · 105 peers | Above benchmark +56% | Low · 30 |
| Business, Management & Marketing | 287 | $82,064 57th pct · 105 peers | $16,519 13th pct · 105 peers | Above benchmark +113% | Low · 22 |
| Physical Sciences | 215 | $68,352 57th pct · 90 peers | $18,000 22th pct · 100 peers | Above benchmark +78% | Low · 8 |
| Foreign Languages & Linguistics | 208 | $49,882 27th pct · 79 peers | $16,630 24th pct · 95 peers | Above benchmark +30% | Moderate · 40 |
| Engineering | 183 | $121,686 98th pct · 100 peers | $21,957 50th pct · 101 peers | Above benchmark +217% | Low · 13 |
| Natural Resources & Conservation | 153 | $55,240 52th pct · 77 peers | $18,487 31th pct · 81 peers | Above benchmark +44% | Moderate · 39 |
All 10 top fields shown clear the CA state earnings-premium benchmark (indicative).
Earnings-premium status is an indicative estimate: median graduate earnings four years out vs the CA state median earnings of a high-school graduate (undergraduate credentials) or a bachelor’s-degree holder (graduate credentials) from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (2022 ACS 5-year). The official U.S. Department of Education determination uses its own cohort definition and may differ.
The risk score (0–100) is an indicative blend of earnings-premium margin and the five-year completions trend, higher means a field pays closer to (or below) the benchmark and is shrinking. A directional screen, not an official determination.
Major-level detail (CIP 4-digit)
Computer & Information Sciences – 2 CIP programs (4-digit), 2 with earnings
| Major (CIP 4-digit) | Compl./yr | Earn 4yr | Earn 1yr | % > threshold | Median debt | Debt/earn | Earnings premium | 2 of 3 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer ScienceCIP 1107 › | 607 | $123,422 n=479 | – | 44.1% | $16,499 | 0.13× | Above benchmark +221% | Clears all 2 yrs |
| Computer/Information Technology Administration and ManagementCIP 1110 › | 98 | $94,589 n=88 | – | 100% 5yr | $20,020 | 0.21× | Above benchmark +146% | Clears all 2 yrs |
Major-level earnings, debt and threshold pass-rates are reported by College Scorecard only where enough graduates exist to protect privacy, so 2 of 2 majors show an earnings figure; the rest read “–”. % > threshold is ED’s own share of graduates out-earning the federal earnings threshold (the do-no-harm pass rate), drawn from the best available measurement window (4-, 5- or 1-year) pooled across all nine College Scorecard Field-of-Study releases; a small chip marks any figure not on the 4-year window, and hovering names the cohort size and source release. 2 of 3 yrs flags fields below the earnings-premium benchmark in two of the latest three reported cohort-years, the statutory trigger under the 2025 test (effective July 1, 2026). Indicative; the Department of Education’s official determination may differ. Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard Field of Study (2014–15 through 2022–23 cohorts + most-recent snapshot), accessed March 2026.
Biological & Biomedical Sciences – 6 CIP programs (4-digit), 5 with earnings
| Major (CIP 4-digit) | Compl./yr | Earn 4yr | Earn 1yr | % > threshold | Median debt | Debt/earn | Earnings premium | 2 of 3 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical SciencesCIP 2604 › | 237 | $69,849 n=150 | – | 73.3% | $18,534 | 0.27× | Above benchmark +82% | Clears all 2 yrs |
| Biology, GeneralCIP 2601 › | 184 | $65,036 n=145 | – | 51.7% | $20,500 | 0.32× | Above benchmark +69% | Clears all 2 yrs |
| Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population BiologyCIP 2613 › | 124 | $49,821 n=131 | – | 46.6% | $17,589 | 0.35× | Above benchmark +30% | Below benchmark 1 of 2 yrs |
| Neurobiology and NeurosciencesCIP 2615 › | 62 | $69,027 n=27 | – | 88.9% 5yr | $19,000 | 0.28× | Above benchmark +80% | Clears all 2 yrs |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular BiologyCIP 2602 › | 49 | $88,305 n=50 | – | 96.7% 5yr | $18,959 | 0.21× | Above benchmark +130% | Clears all 2 yrs |
| Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational BiologyCIP 2611 › | 46 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
Major-level earnings, debt and threshold pass-rates are reported by College Scorecard only where enough graduates exist to protect privacy, so 5 of 6 majors show an earnings figure; the rest read “–”. % > threshold is ED’s own share of graduates out-earning the federal earnings threshold (the do-no-harm pass rate), drawn from the best available measurement window (4-, 5- or 1-year) pooled across all nine College Scorecard Field-of-Study releases; a small chip marks any figure not on the 4-year window, and hovering names the cohort size and source release. 2 of 3 yrs flags fields below the earnings-premium benchmark in two of the latest three reported cohort-years, the statutory trigger under the 2025 test (effective July 1, 2026). Indicative; the Department of Education’s official determination may differ. Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard Field of Study (2014–15 through 2022–23 cohorts + most-recent snapshot), accessed March 2026.
Social Sciences – 5 CIP programs (4-digit), 4 with earnings
| Major (CIP 4-digit) | Compl./yr | Earn 4yr | Earn 1yr | % > threshold | Median debt | Debt/earn | Earnings premium | 2 of 3 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SociologyCIP 4511 › | 223 | $55,338 n=254 | – | 68.5% | $15,679 | 0.28× | Above benchmark +44% | Clears all 2 yrs |
| Political Science and GovernmentCIP 4510 › | 172 | $65,890 n=123 | – | 72.4% | $16,703 | 0.25× | Above benchmark +71% | Clears all 2 yrs |
| EconomicsCIP 4506 › | 162 | $76,382 n=93 | – | 91.5% 5yr | $18,017 | 0.24× | Above benchmark +99% | Clears all 2 yrs |
| AnthropologyCIP 4502 › | 110 | $52,315 n=121 | – | 59.5% | $16,035 | 0.31× | Above benchmark +36% | Clears all 2 yrs |
| ArcheologyCIP 4503 | 3 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
Major-level earnings, debt and threshold pass-rates are reported by College Scorecard only where enough graduates exist to protect privacy, so 4 of 5 majors show an earnings figure; the rest read “–”. % > threshold is ED’s own share of graduates out-earning the federal earnings threshold (the do-no-harm pass rate), drawn from the best available measurement window (4-, 5- or 1-year) pooled across all nine College Scorecard Field-of-Study releases; a small chip marks any figure not on the 4-year window, and hovering names the cohort size and source release. 2 of 3 yrs flags fields below the earnings-premium benchmark in two of the latest three reported cohort-years, the statutory trigger under the 2025 test (effective July 1, 2026). Indicative; the Department of Education’s official determination may differ. Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard Field of Study (2014–15 through 2022–23 cohorts + most-recent snapshot), accessed March 2026.
Visual & Performing Arts – 5 CIP programs (4-digit), 4 with earnings
| Major (CIP 4-digit) | Compl./yr | Earn 4yr | Earn 1yr | % > threshold | Median debt | Debt/earn | Earnings premium | 2 of 3 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Film/Video and Photographic ArtsCIP 5006 › | 172 | $45,815 n=142 | – | 47.9% | $15,692 | 0.34× | Above benchmark +19% | Below benchmark 1 of 2 yrs |
| Design and Applied ArtsCIP 5004 › | 114 | $66,333 n=20 | – | – | – | – | Above benchmark +73% | – |
| Fine and Studio ArtsCIP 5007 › | 101 | $40,156 n=106 | – | 64.2% | $19,500 | 0.49× | Above benchmark +4% | Below benchmark 1 of 2 yrs |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and StagecraftCIP 5005 › | 31 | $30,524 n=25 | – | 61.3% 5yr | $19,500 | 0.64× | Below benchmark -21% | Below benchmark 2 of 2 yrs |
| MusicCIP 5009 › | 15 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
Major-level earnings, debt and threshold pass-rates are reported by College Scorecard only where enough graduates exist to protect privacy, so 4 of 5 majors show an earnings figure; the rest read “–”. % > threshold is ED’s own share of graduates out-earning the federal earnings threshold (the do-no-harm pass rate), drawn from the best available measurement window (4-, 5- or 1-year) pooled across all nine College Scorecard Field-of-Study releases; a small chip marks any figure not on the 4-year window, and hovering names the cohort size and source release. 2 of 3 yrs flags fields below the earnings-premium benchmark in two of the latest three reported cohort-years, the statutory trigger under the 2025 test (effective July 1, 2026). Indicative; the Department of Education’s official determination may differ. Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard Field of Study (2014–15 through 2022–23 cohorts + most-recent snapshot), accessed March 2026.
Psychology – 2 CIP programs (4-digit), 1 with earnings
| Major (CIP 4-digit) | Compl./yr | Earn 4yr | Earn 1yr | % > threshold | Median debt | Debt/earn | Earnings premium | 2 of 3 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Psychology, GeneralCIP 4201 › | 431 | $59,948 n=208 | – | 100% | $18,902 | 0.32× | Above benchmark +56% | Clears all 2 yrs |
| Research and Experimental PsychologyCIP 4227 › | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
Major-level earnings, debt and threshold pass-rates are reported by College Scorecard only where enough graduates exist to protect privacy, so 1 of 2 majors show an earnings figure; the rest read “–”. % > threshold is ED’s own share of graduates out-earning the federal earnings threshold (the do-no-harm pass rate), drawn from the best available measurement window (4-, 5- or 1-year) pooled across all nine College Scorecard Field-of-Study releases; a small chip marks any figure not on the 4-year window, and hovering names the cohort size and source release. 2 of 3 yrs flags fields below the earnings-premium benchmark in two of the latest three reported cohort-years, the statutory trigger under the 2025 test (effective July 1, 2026). Indicative; the Department of Education’s official determination may differ. Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard Field of Study (2014–15 through 2022–23 cohorts + most-recent snapshot), accessed March 2026.
Business, Management & Marketing – 1 CIP program (4-digit), 1 with earnings
| Major (CIP 4-digit) | Compl./yr | Earn 4yr | Earn 1yr | % > threshold | Median debt | Debt/earn | Earnings premium | 2 of 3 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business/Managerial EconomicsCIP 5206 › | 287 | $82,064 n=282 | – | 77% | $16,519 | 0.20× | Above benchmark +113% | Clears all 2 yrs |
Major-level earnings, debt and threshold pass-rates are reported by College Scorecard only where enough graduates exist to protect privacy, so 1 of 1 major shows an earnings figure; the rest read “–”. % > threshold is ED’s own share of graduates out-earning the federal earnings threshold (the do-no-harm pass rate), drawn from the best available measurement window (4-, 5- or 1-year) pooled across all nine College Scorecard Field-of-Study releases; a small chip marks any figure not on the 4-year window, and hovering names the cohort size and source release. 2 of 3 yrs flags fields below the earnings-premium benchmark in two of the latest three reported cohort-years, the statutory trigger under the 2025 test (effective July 1, 2026). Indicative; the Department of Education’s official determination may differ. Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard Field of Study (2014–15 through 2022–23 cohorts + most-recent snapshot), accessed March 2026.
Physical Sciences – 5 CIP programs (4-digit), 2 with earnings
| Major (CIP 4-digit) | Compl./yr | Earn 4yr | Earn 1yr | % > threshold | Median debt | Debt/earn | Earnings premium | 2 of 3 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ChemistryCIP 4005 › | 54 | $71,348 n=35 | – | 78% 5yr | $15,000 | 0.21× | Above benchmark +86% | Clears all 2 yrs |
| Astronomy and AstrophysicsCIP 4002 | 50 | – | – | – | $20,400 | – | – | – |
| PhysicsCIP 4008 › | 44 | – | – | 61.5% 1yr | $16,250 | – | – | – |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/GeosciencesCIP 4006 › | 42 | $64,499 n=32 | – | 85.7% 5yr | $20,833 | 0.32× | Above benchmark +68% | Clears all 2 yrs |
| Physical Sciences, GeneralCIP 4001 › | 25 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
Major-level earnings, debt and threshold pass-rates are reported by College Scorecard only where enough graduates exist to protect privacy, so 2 of 5 majors show an earnings figure; the rest read “–”. % > threshold is ED’s own share of graduates out-earning the federal earnings threshold (the do-no-harm pass rate), drawn from the best available measurement window (4-, 5- or 1-year) pooled across all nine College Scorecard Field-of-Study releases; a small chip marks any figure not on the 4-year window, and hovering names the cohort size and source release. 2 of 3 yrs flags fields below the earnings-premium benchmark in two of the latest three reported cohort-years, the statutory trigger under the 2025 test (effective July 1, 2026). Indicative; the Department of Education’s official determination may differ. Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard Field of Study (2014–15 through 2022–23 cohorts + most-recent snapshot), accessed March 2026.
Foreign Languages & Linguistics – 3 CIP programs (4-digit), 2 with earnings
| Major (CIP 4-digit) | Compl./yr | Earn 4yr | Earn 1yr | % > threshold | Median debt | Debt/earn | Earnings premium | 2 of 3 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and ServicesCIP 1601 › | 192 | $49,763 n=174 | – | 66.7% | $16,740 | 0.34× | Above benchmark +29% | Clears all 2 yrs |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and LinguisticsCIP 1609 › | 14 | $51,519 n=35 | – | 89.5% 5yr | $15,124 | 0.29× | Above benchmark +34% | – |
| Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and LinguisticsCIP 1612 | 2 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
Major-level earnings, debt and threshold pass-rates are reported by College Scorecard only where enough graduates exist to protect privacy, so 2 of 3 majors show an earnings figure; the rest read “–”. % > threshold is ED’s own share of graduates out-earning the federal earnings threshold (the do-no-harm pass rate), drawn from the best available measurement window (4-, 5- or 1-year) pooled across all nine College Scorecard Field-of-Study releases; a small chip marks any figure not on the 4-year window, and hovering names the cohort size and source release. 2 of 3 yrs flags fields below the earnings-premium benchmark in two of the latest three reported cohort-years, the statutory trigger under the 2025 test (effective July 1, 2026). Indicative; the Department of Education’s official determination may differ. Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard Field of Study (2014–15 through 2022–23 cohorts + most-recent snapshot), accessed March 2026.
Engineering – 3 CIP programs (4-digit), 3 with earnings
| Major (CIP 4-digit) | Compl./yr | Earn 4yr | Earn 1yr | % > threshold | Median debt | Debt/earn | Earnings premium | 2 of 3 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer EngineeringCIP 1409 › | 132 | $124,641 n=82 | – | 96.1% 5yr | $23,434 | 0.19× | Above benchmark +224% | Clears all 2 yrs |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications EngineeringCIP 1410 › | 40 | $118,290 n=56 | – | 90.3% 5yr | $16,796 | 0.14× | Above benchmark +208% | Clears all 2 yrs |
| Biomedical/Medical EngineeringCIP 1405 › | 11 | $98,567 n=52 | – | 93.5% 5yr | $23,000 | 0.23× | Above benchmark +156% | Clears all 2 yrs |
Major-level earnings, debt and threshold pass-rates are reported by College Scorecard only where enough graduates exist to protect privacy, so 3 of 3 majors show an earnings figure; the rest read “–”. % > threshold is ED’s own share of graduates out-earning the federal earnings threshold (the do-no-harm pass rate), drawn from the best available measurement window (4-, 5- or 1-year) pooled across all nine College Scorecard Field-of-Study releases; a small chip marks any figure not on the 4-year window, and hovering names the cohort size and source release. 2 of 3 yrs flags fields below the earnings-premium benchmark in two of the latest three reported cohort-years, the statutory trigger under the 2025 test (effective July 1, 2026). Indicative; the Department of Education’s official determination may differ. Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard Field of Study (2014–15 through 2022–23 cohorts + most-recent snapshot), accessed March 2026.
Natural Resources & Conservation – 1 CIP program (4-digit), 1 with earnings
| Major (CIP 4-digit) | Compl./yr | Earn 4yr | Earn 1yr | % > threshold | Median debt | Debt/earn | Earnings premium | 2 of 3 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Natural Resources Conservation and ResearchCIP 0301 › | 153 | $55,240 n=238 | – | 56.7% | $18,487 | 0.34× | Above benchmark +44% | Clears all 2 yrs |
Major-level earnings, debt and threshold pass-rates are reported by College Scorecard only where enough graduates exist to protect privacy, so 1 of 1 major shows an earnings figure; the rest read “–”. % > threshold is ED’s own share of graduates out-earning the federal earnings threshold (the do-no-harm pass rate), drawn from the best available measurement window (4-, 5- or 1-year) pooled across all nine College Scorecard Field-of-Study releases; a small chip marks any figure not on the 4-year window, and hovering names the cohort size and source release. 2 of 3 yrs flags fields below the earnings-premium benchmark in two of the latest three reported cohort-years, the statutory trigger under the 2025 test (effective July 1, 2026). Indicative; the Department of Education’s official determination may differ. Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard Field of Study (2014–15 through 2022–23 cohorts + most-recent snapshot), accessed March 2026.
See the interactive dashboard for all fields and credential levels (associate through doctoral). Source: College Scorecard Field of Study.
Frequently asked
How selective is University of California-Santa Cruz?
University of California-Santa Cruz admits about 66% of applicants, and roughly 88% of first-year students return for a second year.
What is University of California-Santa Cruz's student-faculty ratio?
University of California-Santa Cruz reports a student-faculty ratio of 22:1 (IPEDS, fall 2023) – that is, about 22 students for every instructional faculty member.
How much does University of California-Santa Cruz cost?
The average published cost of attendance is $41,179 and the average net price after aid is $17,890 (College Scorecard).
How much do University of California-Santa Cruz graduates earn?
Median earnings ten years after entry are $68,396 (College Scorecard), measured across students who received federal aid.
Are University of California-Santa Cruz's programs at risk under the federal earnings-premium test?
Indicatively, at University of California-Santa Cruz, all 10 of the largest fields with available earnings data clear the CA state earnings-premium benchmark used by the 2025 federal test (effective July 1, 2026) – median graduate earnings (four years out) exceed those of a typical worker without the credential. This is an estimate using College Scorecard earnings vs ACS medians; the official Department of Education determination may differ.
Which schools are University of California-Santa Cruz's peers?
University of California-Santa Cruz is benchmarked against 107 institutions in the R1: Doctoral, Very High Research · Public peer group; all percentiles and medians on this page are computed within that group.
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Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard & IPEDS (most recent releases), with the U.S. Census Bureau (ACS), the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (Employment Projections, field-demand outlook) and WICHE (enrollment-cliff projections). Figures lag the current academic year by roughly two to three years. Percentiles and medians are computed within the institution's peer group. Financial Resilience is a transparent composite, see each component above. Compiled by Ibex Insights.