Campus News
UC Santa Cruz among top 15 Alt-Ivies of 2025 by Town & Country
Town & Country said UC Santa Cruz was included because of its “growing reputation for research, social justice, and environmental sustainability.”
Noting that UC Santa Cruz is “becoming a top pick for high-achieving students interested in science, activism, and sustainability,” Town & Country named UCSC as one of the top 15 Alt-Ivies of 2025.
“Already a longtime global leader in genomics and bioinformatics—the school posted the first human genome sequence online 25 years ago with the Human Genome Project—the university now has one of the fastest growing engineering programs in the country (Baskin School of Engineering), and is especially known for health engineering, climate and sustainability, machine learning, and artificial intelligence,” Town & Country wrote in its summary of the campus.
In its annual Alt-Ivies rankings, Town & Country worked with college consulting firm IvyWise to spotlight 15 fast-rising colleges. While most schools needed to exhibit a dramatic change—a 20% rise or drop—in application trends or acceptance rates to qualify, Town & Country said UC Santa Cruz was included because of its “growing reputation for research, social justice, and environmental sustainability.”
“UCSC is quickly shedding its ‘hidden gem’ status,” the outlet noted.
UC Santa Cruz is the only UC campus included on this year’s list and one of three public universities. Other universities include the Georgia Institute of Technology, New York University, and Carnegie Mellon University.
UC Santa Cruz has earned international distinction for high-impact research and an uncommon commitment to teaching and public service. Faculty and alumni have been at the forefront of sequencing the human genome, creating the organic farming movement, unlocking the mysteries of our galaxy, identifying a new organelle within single-celled algae that converts nitrogen gas into ammonia, and using interdisciplinary research to create a more just and equitable society.
UCSC holds the distinction of being one of only six members of the Association of American Universities (AAU) designated both as a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) and an Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institution (AANAPISI), highlighting a campuswide commitment to equitable educational access and research excellence.