The average acceptance rate at UC Santa Cruz over the past 10 years is 55.67%, and the most recent acceptance rate is 65.79%. Compared to the previous year, it became slightly easier to gain admission to UC Santa Cruz in 2025.
The average yield (enrollment rate) over the period is 12.81%, and the 2025 yield is 9.29%. Overall, the yield has decreased by 41.25% from 2015 to 2025.
The number of UC Santa Cruz applicants increased by 4.18% (2,877 applicants) compared to the previous year. Over the entire 10-year period, applicants increased by 57.52% overall.
Key Takeaways: UC Santa Cruz Admission Metrics
Acceptance Rate Overview
The current acceptance rate for the 2025 admission cycle is 65.79%, showing a decreasing selectivity trend. This suggests that UC Santa Cruz is admitting a higher proportion of applicants, which may indicate either an increase in application quality or a strategic enrollment decision by the institution.
Yield Rate & Enrollment Patterns
The admission yield (the percentage of admitted students who enroll) for the 2025 academic year is 9.29%. The declining yield trend suggests that a lower percentage of admitted students are choosing to enroll at UC Santa Cruz. This pattern may reflect increased competition from peer institutions, changing student demographics, or shifts in institutional enrollment strategy.
Application Volume & Admission Trends
For the 2025 admission cycle, UC Santa Cruz received approximately 71,722 applications, admitted 47,186 students, and enrolled 4,383 students. The rising application volume trend indicates that UC Santa Cruz is attracting an increasing number of prospective students over time. This growth in applications typically reflects enhanced institutional visibility, improved marketing initiatives, or increasing perceived value in the higher education market.
Acceptance Rate Changes
UC Santa Cruz 10-Year Admission Rate Summary: The acceptance rate trends at UC Santa Cruz over the past decade show a relatively stable trend, with fluctuations in both directions. The average acceptance rate over this period is 55.67%, while the most recent rate stands at 65.79%. This data reflects the institution's evolving competitiveness in the higher education admissions landscape.
For the most recent admission cycle (2025), the acceptance rate is 65.79%. By gender, the average acceptance rate for men is 54.02% and for women is 56.90%.
The following table and chart show how acceptance rates at UC Santa Cruz have changed over the past 10 years (2015-2025).
Admission Yield (Enrollment Rate) Changes
UC Santa Cruz has demonstrated a decline in admission yield over the past 10 years. The institution's yield rate has decreased from 15.81% in 2015 to 9.29% in 2025, representing a 41.25% decrease. The 10-year average yield stands at 12.81%, reflecting weakening enrollment performance.
The following table and chart illustrate the changes in yield at UC Santa Cruz from 2015 to 2025. The admission yield has decreased by 41.25% over this period.
Applicants, Admitted, and Enrolled Headcount Changes
Over the past 10 years, The average number of applicants is 58,323, the average number of admitted is 32,692, and the average number of first-year enrolled students is 4,048.
The number of UC Santa Cruz applicants increased by 4.18% (2,877 applicants) compared to the previous year. Over the entire 10-year period, applicants increased by 57.52% overall.
The following table and chart show the changes of applicants, admitted, and enrolled headcount at University of California-Santa Cruz from 2015 to 2025.
Compare Acceptance Rate Change to Similar Colleges
The following table compares University of California-Santa Cruz' acceptance rate to similar schools.