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# Schools Similar to University of California-Santa Cruz

Updated September 30, 2026

[Overview](/school/university-of-california-santa-cruz/)[Cost & aid](/school/university-of-california-santa-cruz/cost/)[Outcomes](/school/university-of-california-santa-cruz/outcomes/)[Admissions](/school/university-of-california-santa-cruz/admissions/)[Majors](/school/university-of-california-santa-cruz/majors/)Similar schools

**On this page**+

## Compare alternatives to UC Santa Cruz

-   [Similar admissions profiles](#similar-admissions) · 3 matches
-   [Higher admission rates](#higher-admission) · 5 matches
-   [Nearby alternatives](#nearby-alternatives) · 5 matches
-   [Higher earnings at similar cost](#higher-earnings) · 2 matches
-   [Lower cost with similar earnings](#lower-cost) · 5 matches
-   [Similar overall profiles](#related-peers) · 10 matches

## Similar admissions profiles

Similar admissions profiles · matching order within this group

| School | UC Santa Cruz · admission rate | Admission rate | Earnings |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Menlo College | 65.8% | 68.5% | $79,903 4 years after completion |
| [Capitol Technology University](/school/capitol-technology-university/) | 65.8% | 74.4% | $104,028 4 years after completion |
| [Mount Saint Mary's University](/school/mount-saint-marys-university/) | 65.8% | 73.1% | $79,546 4 years after completion |

[Matching method and source notes](#peer-matching)

## Higher admission rates

Higher admission rates · matching order within this group

| School | UC Santa Cruz · admission rate | Admission rate | Earnings |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [San Francisco State University](/school/san-francisco-state-university/) | 65.8% | 96.4% | $67,804 4 years after completion |
| [Sonoma State University](/school/sonoma-state-university/) | 65.8% | 93.4% | $65,997 4 years after completion |
| [University of California-Merced](/school/university-of-california-merced/) | 65.8% | 90.5% | $65,410 4 years after completion |
| [California State University-San Marcos](/school/california-state-university-san-marcos/) | 65.8% | 95.1% | $67,891 4 years after completion |
| [Woodbury University](/school/woodbury-university/) | 65.8% | 81.7% | $66,794 4 years after completion |

[Matching method and source notes](#peer-matching)

## Nearby alternatives

Nearby alternatives · matching order within this group

| School | State | Earnings |
| --- | --- | --- |
| [San Francisco State University](/school/san-francisco-state-university/) | CA | $67,804 4 years after completion |
| [Sonoma State University](/school/sonoma-state-university/) | CA | $65,997 4 years after completion |
| [University of California-Merced](/school/university-of-california-merced/) | CA | $65,410 4 years after completion |
| [California State University-San Marcos](/school/california-state-university-san-marcos/) | CA | $67,891 4 years after completion |
| [California State University-Chico](/school/california-state-university-chico/) | CA | $65,228 4 years after completion |

[Matching method and source notes](#peer-matching)

## Higher earnings at similar cost

Higher earnings at similar cost · matching order within this group

| School | UC Santa Cruz · earnings | Earnings | Average annual net price |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Missouri University of Science and Technology](/school/missouri-university-of-science-and-technology/) | $67,085 4 years after completion | $93,514 4 years after completion | $16,298 |
| [New Jersey Institute of Technology](/school/new-jersey-institute-of-technology/) | $67,085 4 years after completion | $91,874 4 years after completion | $16,504 |

[Matching method and source notes](#peer-matching)

## Lower cost with similar earnings

Lower cost with similar earnings · matching order within this group

| School | UC Santa Cruz · average annual net price | Average annual net price | Earnings |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [California State University-Stanislaus](/school/california-state-university-stanislaus/) | $17,890 | $6,067 | $58,952 4 years after completion |
| [California State University-East Bay](/school/california-state-university-east-bay/) | $17,890 | $9,320 | $72,596 4 years after completion |
| [University of California-Merced](/school/university-of-california-merced/) | $17,890 | $11,983 | $65,410 4 years after completion |
| [CUNY Lehman College](/school/cuny-lehman-college/) | $17,890 | $3,148 | $63,353 4 years after completion |
| [CUNY City College](/school/cuny-city-college/) | $17,890 | $3,776 | $67,740 4 years after completion |

[Matching method and source notes](#peer-matching)

## Similar overall profiles

Similar overall profiles · matching order within this group

| School | State | Earnings |
| --- | --- | --- |
| [San Francisco State University](/school/san-francisco-state-university/) | CA | $67,804 4 years after completion |
| [Boise State University](/school/boise-state-university/) | ID | $64,791 4 years after completion |
| [California State University-San Marcos](/school/california-state-university-san-marcos/) | CA | $67,891 4 years after completion |
| [California State University-Chico](/school/california-state-university-chico/) | CA | $65,228 4 years after completion |
| Montana State University | MT | $65,157 4 years after completion |
| [Washington State University](/school/washington-state-university/) | WA | $73,467 4 years after completion |
| [University of Oregon](/school/university-of-oregon/) | OR | $62,174 4 years after completion |
| [University of Hawaii at Manoa](/school/university-of-hawaii-at-manoa/) | HI | $61,903 4 years after completion |
| [Metropolitan State University of Denver](/school/metropolitan-state-university-of-denver/) | CO | $60,186 4 years after completion |
| [University of California-Riverside](/school/university-of-california-riverside/) | CA | $64,926 4 years after completion |

[Matching method and source notes](#peer-matching)

## Matching methods and sources

[How schools are matched](/methodology/).

## Data & methodology

Sources and reporting periods: [methodology](/methodology/).

Analysis and methodology by [Daniel Rogers](/about/#founder), founder of College Azimuth.

Explanatory text is AI-assisted drafting checked against those figures; it is not an additional data source.

Figure notes link to sources and limitations. [About College Azimuth](/about/).