UC Santa Cruz Tuition 2026: Costs, Fees & Aid Guide

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🐌 UC Santa Cruz tuition 2026-27

UC Santa Cruz Tuition 2026: Costs, Fees, In-State, Out-of-State, Aid and Payment Guide

UC Santa Cruz tuition is not one number. For 2026-27 entering undergraduates, UCSC lists $17,490 tuition and fees for California residents and adds $39,270 nonresident tuition for out-of-state students.

The full budget is higher because UCSC also includes living expenses, books, transportation, personal expenses and campus health insurance. Use this guide to compare on-campus, off-campus, commuter, in-state, out-of-state and aid-based cost.

💰 Cost table 🎁 Aid options 💳 Pay tuition
$17,490

2026-27 entering California resident undergraduate tuition and fees.

$47,628

Entering California resident on-campus total budget.

$39,270

Additional nonresident tuition for entering non-California residents.

$86,898

Entering nonresident on-campus total budget before aid.

Quick answer: what should students budget for UC Santa Cruz?

For 2026-27 entering undergraduates, California residents should plan around $47,628 on campus, $48,657 off campus, or $37,002 as a commuter before financial aid.

Non-California residents should add the nonresident tuition charge. UCSC lists total nonresident budgets of $86,898 on campus, $87,927 off campus, and $76,272 commuter.

Most important point: For California residents, the Blue and Gold Opportunity Plan may cover UC tuition for many families earning up to $100,000, but housing, food, insurance, books and personal costs still matter.

UC Santa Cruz tuition guide quick navigation

💰 2026-27 cost table 🔎 Popular searches answered 🏛️ In-state vs out-of-state 📌 Continuing student costs 🎁 Grants and scholarships 🏥 UC SHIP and waiver 💳 Payment and billing ☎️ Contacts and map

UC Santa Cruz tuition and fees 2026-27: entering undergraduate cost breakdown

This table uses UCSC’s 2026-27 undergraduate budget for entering students. Costs are for Fall, Winter and Spring terms.

UC Santa Cruz 2026-27 entering undergraduate budgets
Cost item On-campus Off-campus Commuter What it means
Tuition and fees $17,490 $17,490 $17,490 Includes $15,588 tuition/student services fees and $1,901 campus fees.
Living expenses $21,477 $21,522 $8,619 Housing and food/living estimate based on housing plan.
Books, course materials, supplies and equipment $1,176 $1,176 $1,176 Estimated study materials and supplies.
Transportation $963 $1,899 $2,808 Higher for commuters and some off-campus students.
Miscellaneous personal expenses $2,652 $2,700 $3,039 Personal spending estimate.
Campus health insurance $3,870 $3,870 $3,870 UC SHIP unless waived with approved comparable coverage.
Total California resident budget $47,628 $48,657 $37,002 Total estimated yearly budget before aid.
Nonresident tuition add-on $39,270 $39,270 $39,270 Added for non-California residents.
Total non-California resident budget $86,898 $87,927 $76,272 Total estimated yearly budget before aid.
UC Santa Cruz net price = official cost of attendance − grants − scholarships. Loans and work-study can help pay, but they are not the same as free aid.
Official UCSC cost sources: Cost to Attend UC Santa Cruz · Undergraduate Tuition & Fees

UC Santa Cruz in-state vs out-of-state tuition

UC Santa Cruz residency status affects the tuition and fees charged. New or continuing students may need to complete the Statement of Legal Residence in MyUCSC.

Residency impact on UC Santa Cruz tuition
Student type 2026-27 tuition treatment What to verify Best action
California resident entering undergraduate $17,490 tuition and fees before living expenses. Residency classification, aid eligibility, Cal Grant, Blue and Gold. Submit FAFSA or CADAA and Cal Grant GPA Verification by March 2 if applicable.
Non-California resident entering undergraduate Add $39,270 nonresident tuition. Residency rules, reclassification options, total nonresident budget. Use net price calculator and confirm affordability before committing.
International undergraduate Usually treated as nonresident for tuition budgeting. Visa, insurance, international payment, travel, housing deposits. Plan around nonresident cost and payment processing time.
Continuing student Tuition may depend on first admit/start year under UC tuition stability. Correct fee cohort and housing plan. Use Registrar fee chart and MyUCSC billing details.
Do not guess residency: A small residency mistake can change the budget by tens of thousands of dollars. Complete the Statement of Legal Residence if UCSC asks for it.
Official residency source: UCSC Residency for Tuition Purposes

Continuing student tuition: why your UCSC cost may not match new students

UC Santa Cruz lists separate 2026-27 undergraduate budgets by the year a student started at UCSC. This matters because tuition and nonresident tuition amounts can differ by cohort.

2026-27 continuing student tuition and fee examples
Student cohort Tuition and fees Nonresident tuition add-on California resident on-campus budget Nonresident on-campus budget
Started at UCSC in 2025-26 $16,635 $37,602 $46,773 $84,375
Started at UCSC in 2024-25 $16,137 $34,200 $46,275 $80,475
Started at UCSC in 2023-24 $15,453 Check UCSC budget table Check UCSC budget table Check UCSC budget table
Started at UCSC in 2022-23 $14,805 Check UCSC budget table Check UCSC budget table Check UCSC budget table
Started prior to 2022-23 $14,271 Check UCSC budget table Check UCSC budget table Check UCSC budget table
Practical tip: If you are a current UCSC student, do not use only the entering student cost table. Use your admit/start year, housing plan and MyUCSC account balance.

UC Santa Cruz financial aid, grants and scholarships

UC Santa Cruz financial aid can include grants, scholarships, loans, work-study and other resources. The most useful number for families is the net price after grants and scholarships.

March 2

Key deadline for FAFSA or California Dream Act Application and Cal Grant GPA Verification for many California students.

Up to $22,000

UCSC says students typically receive an average aid package of up to $22,000 in grants and scholarships.

$100,000

Blue and Gold: most California families earning up to this amount may receive enough grant/scholarship aid to cover UC tuition.

$9,000–$17,000

Some UCSC scholarship award amounts vary annually in this range, depending on program and need.

UC Santa Cruz aid checklist
Aid item What it does Student action Watch out
FAFSA Used for federal aid and many school/state aid programs. Submit as early as possible and list UCSC. Missing documents can delay aid.
California Dream Act Application Used by eligible undocumented/AB 540 students for California aid. Submit by the priority deadline if applicable. Do not submit both FAFSA and CADAA unless instructed.
Cal Grant GPA Verification Needed for new Cal Grant applicants. Submit by March 2 if required. High schools/colleges may submit electronically, but students should verify.
Blue and Gold Opportunity Plan May cover UC tuition for many eligible California families. Meet income, residency and aid application requirements. It is about tuition; other costs still need planning.
UCSC scholarships Gift aid that may reduce net price. Check UCSC scholarship requirements and deadlines. Some scholarships are need-based, transfer-specific or renewable only with conditions.
Loans Can help cover remaining balance. Borrow only what is needed. UCSC notes undergraduate students enrolled in 12+ units per quarter are considered full-time for aid purposes.
Official aid resources: UCSC Grant Programs · UCSC Scholarships · UC Blue and Gold Opportunity Plan

UC Santa Cruz Net Price Calculator: estimate your cost after aid

UCSC says the Net Price Calculator can help full-time undergraduate students planning to start in Fall 2026 estimate cost of attendance and potential aid for the 2026-27 academic year.

Open the official calculator Use the UCSC Financial Aid Calculator.
Prepare tax and income details UCSC says the 2026-27 estimator uses 2024 tax return information, W-2/pay information and asset values.
Choose the correct housing plan On-campus, off-campus and commuter budgets are different.
Use it as an estimate only UCSC notes the calculator is not a financial aid application and does not guarantee actual aid.
Apply for aid separately Complete FAFSA or CADAA as required. The calculator does not replace the aid application.
Best comparison: Compare UCSC after grants and scholarships with other colleges after grants and scholarships. Do not compare sticker price only.

UC SHIP health insurance: cost, waiver and deadline checks

UC requires students to have health insurance. UCSC says students are automatically enrolled in and charged for UC SHIP unless they submit an approved waiver confirming comparable coverage.

UC Santa Cruz UC SHIP checks for 2026-27
Item Official detail Student action Why it matters
Campus health insurance budget $3,870 in UCSC 2026-27 undergraduate budget. Check if UC SHIP appears on your bill. It affects total cost of attendance.
Fall 2026 waiver period July 17–September 18, 2026. Submit waiver if you have comparable coverage. Late or missed waiver can leave insurance charges on the bill.
Winter 2027 waiver period November 2–December 18, 2026. Check if waiver is needed for your term/status. Waiver timing can change what you owe.
Spring 2027 waiver period February 1–March 12, 2027. Submit on time if applicable. Insurance deadlines are easy to miss.
Partial insurance note UCSC says financial aid will not cover partial health insurance costs for students who waive out of UC SHIP. Read waiver and coverage rules carefully. Do not assume partial coverage is funded.
Billing warning: If you already have family insurance, do not assume the UC SHIP charge disappears automatically. You must follow the waiver process and verify the charge/credit in your account.
Official health insurance resources: UCSC UC SHIP Waiver · UC SHIP Premiums and Dates

How to pay UC Santa Cruz tuition: eBill, ePay, card fees, 529 and mail

UC Santa Cruz Student Business Services handles billing and payment information. Students should review MyUCSC, UCSC eBill/ePay, aid credits and the billing schedule before paying.

Open UCSC eBill/ePay UCSC lists eCheck, credit card, 529 Savings Plan online payments and international payment options through eBill/ePay.
Check payment posting time UCSC says online payments through eBill/ePay are typically posted within one business day.
Watch card fees Domestic credit card convenience fee is 2.95% or $3.00 minimum. International rate is 4.25% or $3.00 minimum.
Use student ID on checks Mail payments should be payable to “UC Regents” and include the student account ID number.
Do not mail cash UCSC says not to send cash through the mail.
Set payer access early If a parent uses a 529 payment or eBill/ePay, make sure the payer has proper authorized access.
UC Santa Cruz payment methods and practical notes
Payment method What UCSC says Practical warning
eCheck / eBill/ePay Electronic payments are the safest and most convenient way to pay. Confirm posting before deadline.
Credit card Allowed online, but convenience fee applies. Large tuition payments can create a high fee.
529 Savings Plan 529 payments may appear in eBill/ePay; UCSC lists a $10 fee for 529 Plan Payment. Not all plans are available online; paper check may be needed.
International payments IFT and Flywire options are available for international payments. Start early because bank and currency processing can take time.
Mail payment Check, cashier’s check or money order payable to UC Regents. Include student account ID; do not send cash.
In person Payments may be made on campus via 24-hour depository; cards are not accepted in person. Depository payments after 8:00 AM may not post until the next business day.
Official billing resources: UCSC Payments & Billing · UCSC Billing Schedule

UC Santa Cruz tuition payment checklist before the due date

Confirm your housing budget On-campus, off-campus and commuter budgets are different. Your financial aid budget follows your selected housing plan.
Check tuition cohort Entering and continuing students may see different tuition and fee amounts.
Review aid status Make sure grants, scholarships, loans and work-study are showing correctly before paying the full balance.
Check UC SHIP If you plan to waive insurance, submit the waiver and verify the credit before assuming the bill is final.
Compare card vs eCheck cost Credit card convenience fees can be expensive on a tuition-sized payment.
Save receipts Keep payment confirmations, 529 distribution proof, scholarship notices and eBill snapshots.

UC Santa Cruz tuition contacts, office details and map

Use Student Business Services for billing, payment and student account questions. Use Financial Aid and Scholarships for FAFSA, CADAA, grants, scholarships, loans and aid documents.

Student Business Services

Best for: eBill, ePay, payment posting, card fees, mail payments, account holds, 529 payments and billing questions.

Email: sbs@ucsc.edu

Phone: (831) 459-2107

Location: Hahn Student Services, Room 102, 1156 High Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95062.

Open Student Business Services

Financial Aid and Scholarships

Best for: grants, scholarships, FAFSA, CADAA, Cal Grant, net price calculator, loans and aid eligibility.

Use: MyUCSC and official Financial Aid pages for aid status and required documents.

Open UCSC Financial Aid

Before contacting UCSC: Keep your student ID, MyUCSC screenshot, term, housing plan, bill amount, aid offer, UC SHIP waiver status, payment receipt and 529/scholarship documentation ready.

UC Santa Cruz map

Student and parent checklist before choosing UC Santa Cruz

Start with the correct budget Use entering vs continuing, resident vs nonresident, and on-campus vs off-campus vs commuter.
Run the Net Price Calculator Estimate aid before deciding UCSC is too expensive.
Separate free aid from loans Grants and scholarships reduce cost. Loans must be repaid.
Plan health insurance early UC SHIP can change your bill unless waived with approved comparable coverage.
Check transportation and housing reality Santa Cruz housing and commute costs can make your actual budget higher than expected.
Review payment timing Aid, eBill/ePay, card fees, 529 payments and international payments all have timing issues.

FAQs about UC Santa Cruz tuition 2026

How much is UC Santa Cruz tuition in 2026-27?

For 2026-27 entering California resident undergraduates, UC Santa Cruz lists tuition and fees at $17,490.

What is UC Santa Cruz total cost of attendance?

For entering California residents, UCSC lists total budgets of $47,628 on campus, $48,657 off campus, and $37,002 commuter.

What is UC Santa Cruz out-of-state tuition?

For 2026-27 entering undergraduates, UCSC lists nonresident tuition at $39,270 in addition to resident tuition/fees and other costs.

What is UC Santa Cruz cost for out-of-state students?

UCSC lists total 2026-27 nonresident budgets of $86,898 on campus, $87,927 off campus, and $76,272 commuter for entering students.

What is UC Santa Cruz tuition per quarter?

A simple estimate for entering California resident tuition and fees is about $5,830 per quarter, but actual bills can vary because housing, food, insurance and aid post differently.

Does UC Santa Cruz have Blue and Gold tuition coverage?

UC’s Blue and Gold Opportunity Plan says most California families earning up to $100,000 receive enough grant and scholarship funds to cover UC tuition, if they qualify for aid.

Does UC Santa Cruz require health insurance?

Yes. UCSC says all students are automatically enrolled and charged for UC SHIP unless they submit an approved waiver showing comparable health insurance.

How do I pay UC Santa Cruz tuition?

Students can pay through UCSC eBill/ePay using eCheck, credit card, 529 Savings Plan online payments and international payment options. UCSC also lists mail and in-person/depository options.

What is the UC Santa Cruz credit card fee?

UCSC lists a domestic credit card convenience fee of 2.95% or $3.00 minimum, and an international rate of 4.25% or $3.00 minimum.

Is UC Santa Cruz worth the cost?

It depends on net price after grants and scholarships, housing plan, residency, major, career goals, debt level and personal fit. Compare UCSC by net price, not sticker price alone.

Bottom line: For 2026-27 entering undergraduates, UC Santa Cruz tuition and fees are $17,490 for California residents, while nonresidents add $39,270. The full resident budget is $47,628 on campus, $48,657 off campus, or $37,002 commuter. The full nonresident budget is $86,898 on campus, $87,927 off campus, or $76,272 commuter. Use UCSC’s Net Price Calculator, verify UC SHIP waiver rules, and compare your final net price after grants and scholarships before making a decision.

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