UCSC Tuition 2026: Costs, Fees, Housing, Aid, Residency and Payment Guide
UC Santa Cruz tuition searchers need exact campus numbers, not a generic UC answer. For 2026-2027 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 UCSC budget before aid is $47,628 on campus, $48,657 off campus, or $37,002 commuter for California residents. Nonresidents should plan for $86,898 on campus, $87,927 off campus, or $76,272 commuter.
This guide answers UCSC tuition fees in-state, UCSC tuition out-of-state, cost of attendance, housing, health insurance, Blue and Gold, scholarships, residency, aid deadlines, eBills, fee due dates, and net price.
2026-2027 tuition and fees for entering California resident undergraduates.
Additional nonresident tuition listed for entering non-California students.
California resident on-campus budget before aid.
Non-California resident on-campus budget before aid.
Quick answer: what should a family budget for UCSC?
For a new 2026-2027 UCSC undergraduate, use the housing plan to choose the right budget. The FAFSA or Dream Application housing choice matters because UCSC assigns on-campus, off-campus, or commuter budgets for financial aid.
| Student type | On campus | Off campus | Commuter |
|---|---|---|---|
| California resident | $47,628 | $48,657 | $37,002 |
| Non-California resident | $86,898 | $87,927 | $76,272 |
UCSC tuition guide quick navigation
UCSC tuition and fees 2026-2027: official entering undergraduate budget
This is the core cost table for a student starting UC Santa Cruz in Fall 2026. UCSC notes that budgets are standard estimates used to determine financial aid and that actual costs may vary.
| Cost item | On campus | Off campus | Commuter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition and fees | $17,490 | $17,490 | $17,490 |
| Living expenses | $21,477 | $21,522 | $8,619 |
| Books, course materials, supplies and equipment | $1,176 | $1,176 | $1,176 |
| Transportation | $963 | $1,899 | $2,808 |
| Miscellaneous personal expenses | $2,652 | $2,700 | $3,039 |
| Campus health insurance | $3,870 | $3,870 | $3,870 |
| Total California resident budget | $47,628 | $48,657 | $37,002 |
| Nonresident tuition add-on | $39,270 | $39,270 | $39,270 |
| Total non-California resident budget | $86,898 | $87,927 | $76,272 |
Popular UCSC tuition searches answered fast
These are the common searches students and parents make before comparing UC Santa Cruz with other UC campuses, Cal State, private colleges, or out-of-state public universities.
UCSC tuition fees in-state
$17,490 for 2026-2027 entering California resident undergraduates.
UCSC says this includes $15,588 for tuition/student services fees and $1,901 for campus fees.
UCSC tuition fees out-of-state
Nonresidents add $39,270 in nonresident tuition.
Total nonresident budget is $86,898 on campus, $87,927 off campus, or $76,272 commuter.
UCSC tuition per year
California resident tuition and fees: $17,490.
Use the full budget for real planning because housing, insurance and personal costs matter.
UCSC tuition per quarter
Simple tuition-and-fee estimate: about $5,830 per quarter for entering California residents.
Actual bills can vary by housing, dining, insurance, aid credits, campus charges and refunds.
UCSC room and board
UCSC lists $21,477 living expenses for on-campus students.
Off-campus living expenses are estimated at $21,522.
UCSC health insurance
Campus health insurance is listed at $3,870 in the 2026-2027 undergraduate budget.
Check waiver deadlines if the student has qualifying coverage.
UCSC cost of attendance
California resident: $47,628 on campus, $48,657 off campus, $37,002 commuter.
Nonresident: $86,898 on campus, $87,927 off campus, $76,272 commuter.
UCSC tuition after aid
California students may qualify for grants, Blue and Gold, Cal Grant, UCSC Grant, scholarships and work-study.
Use the UCSC calculator for an estimate before assuming the sticker price is the final cost.
Continuing student tuition: why your UCSC cost may not match a new admit
UC’s Tuition Stability Plan means students use fee charts tied to their first admit year. A continuing student who started earlier may have a different tuition-and-fee figure than a Fall 2026 entering student.
| Student group | Tuition and fees | CA resident on-campus budget | Nonresident on-campus budget |
|---|---|---|---|
| Started at UCSC in 2025-26 | $16,635 | $46,773 | $84,375 |
| Started at UCSC in 2024-25 | $16,137 | $46,275 | $80,475 |
| Started before 2022-23 | $14,271 | $44,409 | $74,163 |
UCSC in-state vs out-of-state tuition: residency can change the bill
UC Santa Cruz is a public UC campus, so residency status matters. UCSC says residency affects the tuition and fees students are charged.
| Student type | Budget impact | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| California resident | Uses California resident budget and avoids nonresident tuition. | Complete any residency tasks in MyUCSC if requested. |
| Out-of-state student | Adds $39,270 nonresident tuition for 2026-2027 entering students. | Budget using the non-California resident total. |
| AB 540 / exemption candidate | May change nonresident tuition treatment if approved. | Follow UCSC residency and exemption instructions. |
| Incomplete SLR | May revert to nonresident status with no retroactive fee adjustment. | Respond to MyUCSC To-Do List and document requests quickly. |
UCSC financial aid: grants, Blue and Gold, scholarships and work-study
UCSC financial aid can help with tuition, housing, books and other costs. The strongest aid usually comes from grants and scholarships because they do not need repayment.
UCSC says 7 out of 10 undergraduates receive scholarships, grants, loans or part-time employment.
Annual aid and resources help make UC Santa Cruz more affordable.
Undergraduate scholarships are awarded each year to nearly 7,000 students.
Blue and Gold can cover UC tuition for most eligible California families up to this income.
| Aid type | What it does | Student action |
|---|---|---|
| UCSC Grant | Need-based institutional grant for eligible California residents pursuing a first bachelor’s degree. | Meet deadlines and accept awards in MyUCSC. |
| Blue and Gold Opportunity Plan | Most California families earning up to $100,000 can receive enough grants/scholarships to cover UC tuition. | Submit FAFSA or CADAA and Cal Grant GPA Verification by March 2. |
| Cal Grant | California state grant that may help cover UC costs for eligible students. | File aid application and GPA verification by deadline. |
| Federal Pell Grant | Federal grant for eligible lower-income undergraduates. | File FAFSA and review Student Aid Index eligibility. |
| UCSC scholarships | Campus scholarships may consider aid application, UC application and scholarship section details. | Complete UC application scholarship sections and aid forms on time. |
| Outside scholarships | Private scholarships can reduce remaining cost. | Send checks payable to UC Regents and report awards to financial aid. |
| Work-study / part-time work | Can help cover remaining costs such as books, transportation and personal expenses. | Balance work hours with quarter-system course load. |
| Loans | Borrowed funds for remaining cost after gift aid. | Compare grants and scholarships first; borrow only what is needed. |
Helpful UCSC financial aid video
This official-style UCSC financial aid video is useful for the same user intent as this article: understanding college cost, aid, and how to pay. VideoObject schema is not included because this article only needs a visible helpful iframe.
UCSC financial aid deadlines for Fall 2026
The aid deadline is not a small detail. Missing it can change grant eligibility, Cal Grant consideration, document processing and the timing of your aid offer.
| Deadline | What is due? | Who should pay attention? |
|---|---|---|
| March 2, 2026 | FAFSA or California Dream Act Application. | Undergraduate students seeking Fall 2026 aid. |
| March 2, 2026 | Cal Grant GPA Verification for eligible California/AB 540 students. | Students seeking Cal Grant or Blue and Gold consideration. |
| June 2, 2026 | Requested supporting documentation through MyAid Verify. | Students with To-Do List verification requests. |
| July 1, 2026 | Documentation deadline for new transfer students. | New transfer students selected for document review. |
| June 1, 2026 | Summer financial aid enrollment deadline for on-time summer aid disbursement. | Students using summer financial aid. |
UCSC eBills, fee due dates, health insurance and disbursement dates
Students need to know when the bill appears, when aid posts, and when charges are due. UCSC lists separate dates for eBills, insurance waiver, financial aid disbursement, housing/dining fees and registration fees.
| Billing item | Fall 2026 | Winter 2027 | Spring 2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| eBills available on UCSC eBill/ePay | Aug. 27, 2026 | Nov. 24, 2026 | Feb. 25, 2027 |
| Student health insurance waiver due | Sept. 18, 2026 | Dec. 18, 2026 | Mar. 12, 2027 |
| Financial aid disbursed to student accounts | Sept. 15, 2026 | Dec. 28, 2026 | Mar. 22, 2027 |
| Housing and dining fees due | Sept. 17, 2026 | Dec. 16, 2026 | Mar. 23, 2027 |
| Undergraduate registration fees due | Sept. 17, 2026 | Dec. 16, 2026 | Mar. 23, 2027 |
UCSC Net Price Calculator: estimate tuition after aid
UCSC says the Net Price Calculator can estimate cost of attendance and potential aid for the 2026-2027 academic year. It is for planning, not a guaranteed aid offer.
Before you commit to UCSC: parent and student checklist
Official UCSC tuition links, financial aid contact and map
Use official UCSC pages for exact cost, aid, deadlines, residency and account tasks. If your situation involves residency, AB 540, health insurance, transfer aid, outside scholarships or document verification, contact the correct office early.
Best for: aid offers, grants, scholarships, calculator, verification, appeals and aid deadlines.
Location: 205 Hahn Student Services.
In-person advising: Monday-Friday, 1-5 p.m.
Phone/Zoom advising: Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
Phone: (669) 900-6833
Best for: tuition fee charts, first admit year fees, residency, SLR, exemptions, reduced fees and academic calendar dates.
Best for: cost-of-attendance tables for entering and continuing students, housing budget type and health insurance estimate.
Best for: To-Do List, residency requests, eBills, payment activity, verification tasks and aid acceptance.
UC Santa Cruz campus map
FAQs about UCSC tuition 2026-2027
How much is UCSC tuition for California residents in 2026-2027?
For entering undergraduate students, UCSC lists tuition and fees at $17,490 for California residents.
How much is UCSC tuition for out-of-state students?
For entering undergraduate students, UCSC adds $39,270 in nonresident tuition. The total nonresident budget is $86,898 on campus, $87,927 off campus, or $76,272 commuter.
What is UCSC total cost of attendance for California residents?
For entering undergraduates in 2026-2027, the California resident budget is $47,628 on campus, $48,657 off campus, or $37,002 commuter.
Does UCSC tuition include housing?
No. Tuition and fees are listed separately from living expenses. UCSC lists on-campus living expenses at $21,477 for entering undergraduates.
How much is UCSC health insurance?
UCSC lists campus health insurance at $3,870 in the 2026-2027 entering undergraduate budget.
What is the UCSC FAFSA deadline for Fall 2026?
UCSC lists March 2, 2026 as the deadline to file the FAFSA or California Dream Act Application for Fall 2026 undergraduate aid.
Does UCSC have Blue and Gold?
Yes. The UC Blue and Gold Opportunity Plan can help most eligible California families earning up to $100,000 receive enough grants and scholarships to cover UC tuition.
Can UCSC tuition be different for continuing students?
Yes. UC’s Tuition Stability Plan and UCSC fee charts are tied to first admit year, so continuing students may have a different fee amount than Fall 2026 entering students.
When are UCSC Fall 2026 registration fees due?
UCSC lists Fall 2026 undergraduate registration fees due September 17, 2026.
Where do I estimate UCSC financial aid?
Use the official UCSC Financial Aid Calculator page and the UC Santa Cruz Net Price Calculator for a planning estimate. The final aid offer can differ from calculator results.