Campus News
UC Santa Cruz ranks among top 50 public universities in U.S. News Best Colleges rankings
Among U.S. universities, the campus ranks No.1 for marine and freshwater biology and No. 7 for space science.
UC Santa Cruz has been named one of the nation’s top 50 public universities, according to the 2027 Best Colleges rankings released today by U.S. News & World Report.
U.S. News and World Report evaluated 422 institutions for its National Universities list, made up of institutions across the country that conduct research and offer a range of undergraduate majors, master’s degrees, and doctoral degrees. The ranking, at No. 50, places UC Santa Cruz in the top tier of public research universities recognized for academic quality and student outcomes.
Among U.S. universities, UC Santa Cruz ranks No.1 for marine and freshwater biology and No. 7 for space science, according to U.S. News and World Report. The campus also ranks in the top 20 U.S. universities for ecology.
Located in and around a redwood forest overlooking the Monterey Bay, UC Santa Cruz is widely known for impactful research, innovative teaching, and a commitment to creating a positive social impact. UC Santa Cruz pairs high-impact research with 10 residential colleges—offering students the experience of a small liberal arts college with the depth and rigor of a major research university.
UC Santa Cruz enrolls 20,000 students with nearly half of all undergraduates living on campus. The campus announced a two-year housing guarantee this past summer, made possible by the campus’s ambitious plan to provide 40 percent more student housing within the decade.
The focus on housing is part of the campus’s commitment to making a UC Santa Cruz degree accessible and affordable. 53 percent of students in the Class of 2025 graduated debt-free. Those who did take out loans graduated with an average of $18,772 in student loans—well below the national average of $30,000.
Only a short drive from Silicon Valley, UC Santa Cruz alumni regularly start their careers with leading companies, including Apple, Google and NVIDIA. Others pursue roles in health, business, and government. Top employers for recent graduates include Genentech, Amgen, Morgan Stanley, NASA, and the National Park Service.