Rankings
How every major ranking places the University of California, Santa Cruz. Lower is better.
Strongest subjects in the QS subject rankings (2025):
Postgraduate courses by field
Number of courses and typical yearly tuition for international students.
| Field | Courses | Typical fee | Courses in Course Explorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural sciences | 17 | $31,767 | See → |
| Humanities & languages | 10 | $31,767 | See → |
| Life sciences & biotechnology | 9 | $31,767 | See → |
| Arts, design & creative studies | 8 | $31,767 | See → |
| Computer science & data technology | 8 | $31,767 | See → |
| Social sciences | 3 | $31,767 | See → |
| Economics, finance & accounting | 2 | $31,767 | See → |
| Engineering & technology | 2 | $31,767 | See → |
| Environment, sustainability & agriculture | 2 | $31,767 | See → |
| Education & teaching | 1 | $31,767 | See → |
| Law, politics & governance | 1 | $31,767 | See → |
| Psychology | 1 | $31,767 | See → |
Costs and entry
Jobs after studying at the University of California, Santa Cruz
The job market for the University of California, Santa Cruz's biggest fields, and how graduates stay to work in the US.
Questions students ask
How much does a postgraduate course at the University of California, Santa Cruz cost?
Typical tuition for international students is about $31,767 a year. Most courses last 4 years. Fees vary by field: natural sciences courses are typically $31,767, natural sciences $31,767.
How is the University of California, Santa Cruz ranked?
The University of California, Santa Cruz is ranked #458 by QS (2026), #181 by Times Higher Education (2026) and #151–200 by ARWU (2025) in the world. Its strongest QS subjects include Anthropology (#51) and Earth & Marine Sciences (#101).
What IELTS score does the University of California, Santa Cruz need for a postgraduate course?
Most postgraduate courses (1 of the 1 that list it) ask for IELTS 6.5 overall with no band below 6.0.
How many postgraduate courses does the University of California, Santa Cruz offer?
64 postgraduate courses across 12 fields; the largest are natural sciences (17), humanities & languages (10) and life sciences & biotechnology (9).
Shortlisting the University of California, Santa Cruz?
Compare its courses side by side with other universities, or let UNIFER handle your applications for one flat fee.
Updated 21 September 2026. Courses and fees from the University of California, Santa Cruz's own course pages; fees converted to US dollars. Rankings: QS World University Rankings 2026, Times Higher Education 2026, ARWU 2025, QS subject rankings 2025.