This fall, the University of California, Santa Cruz is preparing to welcome approximately 5,700 new undergraduate students to campus. The new class, selected from a highly competitive pool of 83,915 applicants, will bring academic achievements, and diverse perspectives and lived experiences to the campus community, enriching our vibrant student community. The campus employs a holistic approach to recruit, evaluate, and support prospective and admitted students.
“We are thrilled to welcome this cohort of students,” said Chancellor Cynthia Larive. “Their unique perspectives and experiences will enrich our campus community and further our mission of fostering academic excellence and social responsibility. We are dedicated to providing an inclusive and supportive environment where all students can thrive and make meaningful contributions to society.”
Diverse and accomplished cohort
Chosen for their outstanding academic achievements, this cohort boasts an average weighted high school GPA of 4.01. Among these exceptional students, approximately 26 percent will be the first in their families to attend a university and 26 percent are from low-income families.
“We are incredibly proud of the academic achievements and diversity of this year’s incoming class,” said Associate Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Michelle Whittingham. “Students faced some significant hurdles as they began high school and during the financial aid process this year. We are grateful for their resilience in the face of those challenges.”
Compared with fall 2023, the campus extended offers of admission to 12 percent more students from underrepresented groups, including 10 percent more Black students, 1 percent more American Indian students, 15 percent more Pacific Islander students, and 14 percent more Chicanx/Latinx students.
UC Santa Cruz extended admissions offers to 1,902 Black high school and transfer students from California, 12,767 Chicanx/Latinx California high school and transfer students, 123 Pacific Islander high school and transfer students from California, and 298 American Indian high school and transfer students from California.
California students at the forefront
UC Santa Cruz prioritizes serving California residents, offering admission to 35,008 California high school seniors and 7,330 transfer students from California community colleges, a 6 percent increase over the number of California high school and transfer students who were admitted last year. This dedication to providing access to a high-quality and affordable education to California residents ensures that the campus community remains diverse and inclusive.
“Our commitment to holistic admissions and support throughout the decision-making process ensures that we bring together students who are not only academically talented but also bring rich, varied experiences to our campus,” Whittingham said. “We look forward to seeing how they will contribute to the vibrant intellectual and social fabric of UC Santa Cruz.”
“I’m looking forward to starting at UC Santa Cruz,” said Sean Decuir, a first year student from Upland, California. “Being by the ocean will bring me closer to the water, which will help my future goals of becoming a marine biologist.”
Enhancing on campus student housing
This fall, UC Santa Cruz will provide on-campus housing for approximately 9,200 students, approximately half of the undergraduate class. The campus is pursuing an ambitious plan to provide more than 40 percent additional student housing by 2030. The second phase of the Kresge College renewal will be completed in 2025 and additional projects are in various phases of construction.
Welcome and orientation
New students are already embarking on their academic journey through UC Santa Cruz’s innovative Slug Orientation, an award-winning course facilitating a seamless transition to university life. The Summer Sessions' Summer Edge program offers an early start for new frosh and transfer students, supporting timely degree completion. With a focus on access, all students with high financial need joining Summer Edge will receive the Summer Edge Promise Award, fully covering tuition and fees for the program.
Current UC Santa Cruz families, alumni, and friends of the University are hosting Slug Summer Send-Offs in a variety of places across the state. The events are an opportunity for incoming first-years, transfers, and their families to connect with fellow Slugs in their local communities before they arrive on campus in the fall.
Welcome Week, a continuation of Slug Orientation, fosters connections among incoming students and introduces vital resources to support their academic and social transition to university life. Fall classes begin Sept. 26, with move-in starting Sept. 19.
UC Santa Cruz eagerly anticipates welcoming the incoming cohort of Banana Slugs, nurturing their academic and personal growth as they contribute to the university's tradition of excellence and societal impact.
