Rankings of University of California, Santa Cruz

The University of California-Santa Cruz is on Monterey Bay near the city of Santa Cruz, California. UCSC is a relatively young higher education institution, established in 1965 with the intent of providing progressive, cross-disciplinary education using innovative teaching methods in a natural setting which would showcase contemporary architecture. UCSC is extremely well respected for its natural sciences (earth, marine, and agricultural in particular), space sciences, and biological sciences programs.

Latest ranking updates for University of California, Santa Cruz
  • March 2024: New edition of Scimago Institutions Rankings. University of California, Santa Cruz ranked #414.
  • January 2024: THE World’s Most International Universities update. University of California, Santa Cruz achieves place 105.
  • December 2023: URAP World Ranking - University Ranking by Academic Performance update. University of California, Santa Cruz achieves place 432.
  • December 2023: British Quacquarelli Symonds, UK announced latest results of QS World University Rankings: Sustainability with University of California, Santa Cruz in position 132.

University rankings

    • #263 
    • #264 
    Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education US College Rankings
    [Published 14 September, 2021]
    • #57 
    • #201 
    THE World University Rankings
    [Published 27 September, 2023]
    • #61 
    • #332 
    QS World University Rankings
    [Published 27 June, 2023]
    • #82 
    • #82 
    US News Best National Universities
    [Published 17 September, 2023]
    • #87 
    • #87 
    Forbes: America's Top Colleges
    [Published 30 August, 2022]
    • #154 
    • #155 
    Payscale College Salary Report - Best Universities (Bachelors only)
    [Published 11 November, 2021]
    • #43 
    • #105 
    US News: Best Global Universities
    [Published 24 October, 2022]
    • #61 
    • #151 
    ARWU Academic Ranking of World Universities - ShanghaiRanking
    [Published 15 August, 2023]
    • #124 
    • #126 
    Washington Monthly - National Universities
    [Published 28 August, 2022]
    • #28 
    • #105 
    THE World’s Most International Universities
    [Published 25 January, 2024]
    • #218 
    • #220 
    Kiplinger's Best College Values
    [Published 31 July, 2019]
    • #3 
    • #3 
    The Princeton Review: Top 50 Green Colleges
    [Published 26 October, 2021]
    • #30 
    • #30 
    The Princeton Review: Top 50 Best Value Colleges (Public Schools)
    [Published 26 April, 2022]
    • #129 
    • #694 
    CWTS Leiden Ranking
    [Published 22 June, 2022]
    • #104 
    • #414 
    Scimago Institutions Rankings
    [Published 06 March, 2024]
    • #95 
    • #299 
    CWUR Center for World University Rankings
    [Published 25 April, 2022]
    • #77 
    • #267 
    Nature Index - Academic
    [Published 15 June, 2023]
    • #69 
    • #241 
    NTU Performance Ranking of Scientific Papers
    [Published 11 July, 2023]
    • #91 
    • #432 
    URAP World Ranking - University Ranking by Academic Performance
    [Published 19 December, 2023]
    • #110 
    • #453 
    RUR World University Rankings
    [Published 25 May, 2023]
    • #78 
    • #209 
    RUR Reputation Ranking
    [Published 25 May, 2023]
    • #70 
    • #170 
    RUR Academic Rankings
    [Published 25 May, 2023]
    • #279 
    • #280 
    MONEY Best Colleges in America, ranked by value
    [Published 16 May, 2022]
    • #172 
    • #242 
    StuDocu World University Ranking - US & Canada
    [Published 06 September, 2021]
    • #172 
    • #173 
    Payscale College Salary Report - Best Universities (All Alumni)
    [Published 11 November, 2021]
    • #69 
    • #94 
    UniRank 4icu: Top 200 Universities in the World
    [Published 11 August, 2022]
    • #69 
    • #87 
    UniRank 4icu: Top 200 English-Speaking Universities
    [Published 11 August, 2022]
    • #15 
    • #132 
    QS World University Rankings: Sustainability
    [Published 05 December, 2023]
    • #75 
    • #160 
    Webometrics Ranking Web of Universities
    [Published 31 July, 2023]
    • #69 
    • #221 
    THE China Subject Ratings Overall
    [Published 11 May, 2022]

Historic rankings in TOP global university rankings

Chart Data

Subject rankings

Agriculture

    • #49 
    • #190 
    Agriculture
    URAP University Ranking by Academic Performance - By Field
    [Published 22 July, 2023]

Computer Science

    • #12 
    • #12 
    Computer Science
    Best Colleges for Computer Science Majors
    [Published 25 August, 2020]
    • #18 
    • #18 
    Computer Science
    Payscale College Salary Report - Best Schools by Majors
    [Published 11 November, 2021]
    • #52 
    • #176 
    Computer Science
    THE World University Rankings by Subject
    [Published 19 October, 2023]
    • #98 
    • #224 
    Computer Science
    NTU Rankings by Subject
    [Published 11 July, 2023]

Education

    • #149 
    • #143 
    Education
    US News: Best Grad Schools (US)
    [Published 28 March, 2022]
    • #96 
    • #151 
    Education
    GRAS Global Ranking of Academic Subjects - ShanghaiRanking
    [Published 27 October, 2023]
    • #52 
    • #176 
    Education
    THE World University Rankings by Subject
    [Published 19 October, 2023]

Engineering

    • #98 
    • #698 
    Chemical Engineering
    URAP University Ranking by Academic Performance - By Field
    [Published 22 July, 2023]
    • #53 
    • #52 
    Engineering
    Payscale College Salary Report - Best Schools by Majors
    [Published 11 November, 2021]
    • #88 
    • #86 
    Engineering
    US News: Best Grad Schools (US)
    [Published 28 March, 2022]
    • #61 
    • #201 
    Engineering
    THE World University Rankings by Subject
    [Published 19 October, 2023]
    • #139 
    • #1002 
    Engineering
    URAP University Ranking by Academic Performance - By Field
    [Published 22 July, 2023]
    • #69 
    • #425 
    Environmental Engineering
    URAP University Ranking by Academic Performance - By Field
    [Published 22 July, 2023]
    • #54 
    • #142 
    Materials Science
    NTU Rankings by Subject
    [Published 11 July, 2023]
    • #92 
    • #600 
    Mechanical Engineering
    URAP University Ranking by Academic Performance - By Field
    [Published 22 July, 2023]

Languages & Literature

    • #24 
    • #71 
    Linguistics
    QS World University Rankings By Subject
    [Published 22 March, 2023]

Mathematics

    • #60 
    • #260 
    Mathematics
    NTU Rankings by Subject
    [Published 11 July, 2023]
    • #70 
    • #301 
    Mathematics
    GRAS Global Ranking of Academic Subjects - ShanghaiRanking
    [Published 27 October, 2023]
    • #90 
    • #501 
    Mathematics
    QS World University Rankings By Subject
    [Published 22 March, 2023]

Natural Sciences

    • #98 
    • #216 
    Chemistry
    NTU Rankings by Subject
    [Published 11 July, 2023]
    • #76 
    • #301 
    Chemistry
    GRAS Global Ranking of Academic Subjects - ShanghaiRanking
    [Published 27 October, 2023]
    • #94 
    • #501 
    Chemistry
    QS World University Rankings By Subject
    [Published 22 March, 2023]
    • #23 
    • #51 
    Geology
    QS World University Rankings By Subject
    [Published 22 March, 2023]
    • #33 
    • #137 
    Geology
    URAP University Ranking by Academic Performance - By Field
    [Published 22 July, 2023]
    • #44 
    • #101 
    Physics
    GRAS Global Ranking of Academic Subjects - ShanghaiRanking
    [Published 27 October, 2023]
    • #54 
    • #220 
    Physics
    NTU Rankings by Subject
    [Published 11 July, 2023]

Social Studies & Humanities

    • #27 
    • #51 
    Anthropology
    QS World University Rankings By Subject
    [Published 22 March, 2023]
    • #74 
    • #201 
    Economics
    GRAS Global Ranking of Academic Subjects - ShanghaiRanking
    [Published 27 October, 2023]
    • #12 
    • #51 
    Geography
    GRAS Global Ranking of Academic Subjects - ShanghaiRanking
    [Published 27 October, 2023]
    • #63 
    • #176 
    Psychology
    THE World University Rankings by Subject
    [Published 19 October, 2023]
    • #53 
    • #151 
    Social Sciences
    THE World University Rankings by Subject
    [Published 19 October, 2023]
    • #144 
    • #451 
    Social Sciences
    NTU Rankings by Subject
    [Published 11 July, 2023]
    • #48 
    • #201 
    Sociology
    QS World University Rankings By Subject
    [Published 22 March, 2023]

Highest subject rankings for University of California, Santa Cruz

Computer Science Best Colleges for Computer Science Majors
#12 
Computer Science
Anthropology QS World University Rankings By Subject
#51 
Social Studies & Humanities
Geology QS World University Rankings By Subject
#51 
Natural Sciences
Engineering Payscale College Salary Report - Best Schools by Majors
#52 
Engineering
Linguistics QS World University Rankings By Subject
#71 
Languages & Literature
Education US News: Best Grad Schools (US)
#143 
Education
Agriculture URAP University Ranking by Academic Performance - By Field
#190 
Agriculture
Mathematics NTU Rankings by Subject
#260 
Mathematics

About University of California, Santa Cruz

PROS

  • Undergraduate and graduate students can participate in research, under the supervision of the university’s teaching staff. This represents an opportunity for students to get a headstart on the publications so essential to many careers.
  • The university’s libraries are excellent. Both the McHenry Library and the Science & Engineering Library are on site.

CONS

  • The campus is fairly isolated and not very close to the city of Santa Cruz. In fact, it was designed as a residential college.
  • Student housing is popular but also relatively expensive.

Key facts

Foundation year:
1965
Telephone:
(831) 459-0111
Address:
1156 High Street
95064-10, Santa Cruz
USA
Website:
https://www.ucsc.edu/
Social:
  • 10 questions with a UC Santa Cruz first-year student
  • Matthew Alvarez
  • Christina Yu
  • Meet 3 Class of 2021 grads

Map of University of California, Santa Cruz

FAQ

University of California, Santa Cruz ranks #63 in USA in our meta ranking of 112 university rankings. See rankings of all 1924 universities in USA.

University of California, Santa Cruz ranks #1 in Santa Cruz in our meta ranking.

University of California, Santa Cruz is listed in Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education US College Rankings, THE World University Rankings, QS World University Rankings, US News Best National Universities, Forbes: America's Top Colleges, Payscale College Salary Report - Best Universities (Bachelors only) and more. See all 39 rankings of University of California, Santa Cruz.

University of California, Santa Cruz achieved #3 in The Princeton Review: Top 50 Green Colleges. This is the university’s highest ranking in the 112 rankings tracked on our website. See all rankings for University of California, Santa Cruz.

University of California, Santa Cruz achieved the highest ranking for Computer Science. It is ranked #12 in Best Colleges for Computer Science Majors (Computer Science). See all subject rankings for University of California, Santa Cruz.

A large number of university rankings include surveys among academics on reputation. In our meta ranking of 112 university rankings University of California, Santa Cruz ranks #1 among universities in Santa Cruz and #63 among universities in USA. See all rankings of University of California, Santa Cruz.

In our meta ranking University of California, Santa Cruz ranks #63 among all universities in USA and Stanford University ranks #1. Apart from rankings you may also want to see the ratings from students who attended the universities.