History, Affiliations and Rankings

The University of California, Santa Cruz was established at the end of the 18th century as an open research education institution. Locals around the university often call this university UCSC or UC Santa Cruz. It took almost a year for the construction of this university. The first batch of this university was started in 1965. At that time, the campus had undergraduate research, progressive teaching methods, contemporary architecture, and many other facilities that were potent enough to bring more students. UC Santa Cruz is affiliated with Association of American Universities (AAU), APRU, Universities Research Association (URA), and with the Space-grant colleges in the United States. The university has sporting affiliations with NCAA Division III, Coast to Coast Athletic Conference, American Southwest Conference (ASC). Today, it is noted for its political activism, campus location, and research opportunities at the Undergraduate level. According to the QS World University Rankings 2022, the university ranks #347 while the US News and World Report ranks the University at #103 in the National Universities category. 

Infrastructure, Campuses and Courses

The University of California, Santa Cruz campus, popularly known as the "Banana Slug territory," is situated in the extraordinarily beautiful oceanside of the Santa Cruz area. The campus is in close proximity to the Silicon Valley, the Monterey Bay and the San Francisco Bay Area, which makes it closely connected to the world's most bustling technology and corporate areas. UC Santa Cruz is composed of 10 Residential Colleges that offer 63 undergraduate majors. Courses are offered across 6 study areas, namely, Arts and Media, Behavioral and Social Sciences, Science and Mathematics, Humanities, Business and Engineering and Technology, with the curriculums grounded on interdisciplinarity and innovation. In addition, there are opportunities for undergraduate research, three-year pathways, fieldwork and internships abroad semesters, and entrepreneurship. Undergraduate students are encouraged to conduct research projects and they often co-author papers with their Professors. The University also provides several Honors and Enrichment programs to expose students to global perspectives, and help them build industry-ready skills. 

Accomplishments and Alumni

The University of California, Santa Cruz is an internationally reputed public research University that holds the prestigious R1 Carnegie Classification, indicating "very high research activity." It ranks #1 in the USA for students making an impact in the world according to the Princeton Review 2021. In 2019, the University became affiliated with the Association of American Universities (AAU) which is a group of 65 universities including Harvard and Stanford, that are shaping the future of higher education through innovative solutions. Also, the US News and World Report 2020 ranks UCSC at #4 for Social Mobility. The University of California Santa Cruz campus has been recognized as one of the 15 Most Beautiful College Campuses in the United States. The university has produced various Pulitzer Prize-winning journalists so far along with other celebrated personalities. Some of the notable alumni of the university include filmmakers, comedians, and actors like Maya Rudolph, Miranda July, Huey P Newton, Cary Fukunaga, and Jonah Peretti.

Student Diversity and Visiting Companies

The University of California, Santa Cruz has a student population of 19,800+ out of which nearly 17,800 are undergraduates, while 1900+ are graduate students. 87% of the total students are residents of California, 4% belong to the other US States, and international students constitute about 9% of the student population on the campus. At UC Santa Cruz, students are said to be a part of the "Banana Slug" community in which diversity and difference are encouraged. There are 150+ student clubs and organizations at UC Santa Cruz that offer an array of exciting opportunities for the students to get involved in. Also, students can join community clubs, including the Global Engagement Center, Lionel Cantu Queer Center, Women's Center, Asian American/Pacific Islander Resource Center and more. When it comes to work opportunities, UC Santa Cruz is a fertile ground, offering students plenty of resources, such as volunteering, internships or work placements, and fieldwork within, or outside the USA. As such, students get the necessary skills that make them highly employable prospects for corporations worldwide, including, Google, Apple, Amazon, Microsoft, Meta, Salesforce, Cisco and others.