Explore alternatives based on outcomes, location, cost, and admission difficulty
With a 62.5% admission rate, UC Santa Cruz is moderately selective, meaning qualified students have reasonable admission prospects while backup options remain prudent for comprehensive college planning.
These schools offer higher acceptance rates while delivering comparable career outcomes.
For similar outcomes with higher acceptance rates, consider San Francisco State University (96.2% acceptance, $68,077 median earnings) located 55 miles north, or California State University-East Bay (96.8% acceptance, $71,401 median earnings) 46 miles away. Sonoma State University admits 94.7% of applicants while producing graduates earning $65,986, located 99 miles north of Santa Cruz.
Strong options in the same region with comparable academic profiles.
Students preferring to remain in California should consider Menlo College (67.8% acceptance, $76,419 earnings) just 32 miles away, offering higher earnings potential. San Francisco State University and CSU East Bay both provide similar earnings within 55 miles, while maintaining the public university environment and California resident benefits.
Elite universities with similar prestige and academic caliber
