Why the ACT and SAT boxes say N/A: UC Santa Cruz, like every University of California campus, is test-free through at least fall 2027. SAT and ACT scores are not used for admission or for scholarships, even if your student sends them. What carries the weight is the transcript, the rigor of the classes taken, and the Personal Insight Questions on the UC application.
📌 University of California, Santa Cruz at a Glance
🏆 Full ride for high-need California students (Sabatte Scholarship)
Average Net Price
$17,890/year (in-state estimate)
Average paid for residents.
Automatic Merit
$2,000–$25,000/yr merit (need-based aid can go higher)
No separate application.
Scholarships Tracked
14 opportunities
5 automatic · 1 competitive · 8 hidden gem
Merit Evaluation
Holistic Review / Varies
Merit depends on profile rigor.
Testing Policy
Test-free (SAT/ACT not used)
No superscore.
Key Deadlines
Priority: Nov 30 • FAFSA: Mar 2
Full-Tuition / Full-Ride
Sabatte Family Scholarship (CA residents, high merit + high need)
Financial Aid Forms
FAFSA Only
🚨 Easy-to-Miss “Gotchas” at UC Santa Cruz (Read This First)
The UC application is the scholarship application. There is no separate merit form. UCSC picks its Regents, Campus Merit, and Deans’ winners straight from the UC application, so fill out the scholarship section and treat the Personal Insight Questions like they’re worth money. Because they are. The filing window is October 1 to November 30.
March 2 is the real money deadline. The FAFSA (or CA Dream Act Application) and, for California students, the Cal Grant GPA Verification Form are due March 2. Sabatte, Caldwell, Pister, Cal Grant, and UC’s Blue and Gold tuition coverage all depend on it.
You have to say “yes” to the money every single year. UCSC scholarships must be accepted on the MyUCSC portal before the end of fall quarter each year. Miss it once and the award is gone for the rest of your student’s time there.
Out-of-state awards come with strings. The Deans’ Award and Caldwell Access Scholarship end if your student becomes a California resident for tuition purposes, and the first Deans’ offer is final. UCSC does not take appeals for more.
FAQ
Is this college test-optional? Yes, for admission. University of California, Santa Cruz is test-optional for admission.
What is the middle 50% ACT/SAT? ACT: N/A; SAT: N/A.
Average net price? About $17,890/year after aid.
Does this school use waivers/reciprocity?
No broad regional reciprocity path.
💰 Cost of Attendance at University of California, Santa Cruz: 2026–2027 Rates
Figures verified against official sources in October 2026.
📅 Planning for 2027–2028? These are the 2026–2027 rates, the newest University of California, Santa Cruz has published. Colleges usually release next year's costs in the spring, and we update this page when they do.
Budgeting tip: costs typically rise 2% to 5% a year. For 2027–2028, plan on roughly
$800 to $2,000 more than the in-state total below.$1,600 to $3,900 more than the out-of-state total below.
In-State: billed cost per year
$39,396
Tuition, fees, housing, and meals for two semesters
Tuition & mandatory fees
$17,439
Housing & meals (typical)
$21,957
Total billed cost
$39,396
Out-of-State: billed cost per year
$78,666
Tuition, fees, housing, and meals for two semesters
Tuition & mandatory fees
$56,709
Housing & meals (typical)
$21,957
Total billed cost
$78,666
That is $39,270 more per year than California residents pay, before any waivers or scholarships.
Average federal net price: $17,890 per year.
This is what first-time, full-time students who received grant aid paid after grants and scholarships, for in-state students only, based on the most recent federal data. It counts books and living costs, so it can run higher than the billed total above. Families who got no grants are not in this average, so many middle-income families pay more. New to Net Price & SAI? Read our guide.
Out-of-state families: this average does not include you. Run the college's own net price calculator for a number based on your situation.
What the table leaves out
The table above shows what UCSC bills you: tuition, fees, housing, and food. UCSC’s own 2026-27 budget for a new student living on campus adds about $1,212 for books, $993 for transportation, $2,727 for personal expenses, and $4,209 for UC student health insurance. All in, that’s $48,537 for California residents and $87,807 for out-of-state students. Those are the numbers your financial aid offer is built on.
FAQ: Cost of Attendance at UC Santa Cruz
Will tuition go up every year we’re there?
No, and this is one of the nicest things about the UC system. Under UC’s Tuition Stability Plan, your student’s tuition is set when they first enroll and stays the same for up to six years. Housing and food can still go up, but the tuition line is locked.
Do we have to pay the $4,209 for health insurance?
Every UC student is automatically enrolled in the UC Student Health Insurance Plan. If your student is already covered by a comparable family plan, you can file a waiver and skip the charge. One catch: financial aid won’t cover partial insurance costs for students who waive out.
We’re a California family making under $100,000. Will we pay tuition?
Probably not. Through UC’s Blue and Gold commitment, most California families earning up to $100,000 get enough grants and scholarships to cover UC tuition. There’s no separate application. File the FAFSA or CA Dream Act Application and the Cal Grant GPA Verification Form by March 2. Housing and food are still on you, which is where Pell, Cal Grant, and UCSC scholarships come in.
Is there any way out-of-state students can get in-state tuition?
Not through a regional deal. California isn’t part of the Western Undergraduate Exchange, and UCSC has no reciprocity program. Instead, UCSC automatically considers out-of-state admits for the Undergraduate Deans’ Award, and domestic students with financial need for the Caldwell Access Scholarship. Both are designed to chip away at the $39,270 nonresident charge.
Is the average net price really around $17,900?
That’s the federal College Scorecard figure: what first-year students who received aid actually paid on average after grants and scholarships. Lower-income California families often pay much less. Families who don’t qualify for need-based aid, and most out-of-state families, pay more.
Is on-campus housing guaranteed?
Yes, for two years now. Students entering in 2026-27 or later get a two-year housing guarantee if they choose university housing when they accept admission and meet every housing deadline. Regents and Sabatte Scholars who start as first-years get four years. In a town with Santa Cruz rents, that guarantee is worth real money.
October 1: The FAFSA, CA Dream Act Application, and UC application filing period all open.
November 30: UC application due. This doubles as your scholarship application.
March 2: FAFSA or CA Dream Act Application, plus the Cal Grant GPA Verification Form for California students.
Mid-March: Admission decisions and scholarship notices arrive.
August: UCSC emails instructions to accept awards on MyUCSC.
End of fall quarter, every year: Accept the award again or lose it for good.
Parent rule of thumb: the November application gets your student considered for merit. The March paperwork is what unlocks the need-based money stacked on top.
Automatic Scholarships at UC Santa Cruz
Every admitted first-year and transfer student is automatically considered for UCSC’s merit awards through the UC application. There are no GPA cutoffs or test score charts to look up. UCSC reads the whole application and looks at what your student achieved with the opportunities they had. Several awards can stack, and the need-based ones (Sabatte and Caldwell) also require a FAFSA or CA Dream Act Application by March 2.
Find your student's tier
Enter the numbers you have. We'll highlight the automatic award your student would actually get and tuck the rest out of the way. Leave it blank to browse everything.
Residency
Based on published cutoffs for entering freshmen. Always verify with the college before finalizing plans.
Start with your state. The awards in this first group come from the state, not the college. They are decided by residency and the FAFSA, and they stack on top of whatever automatic merit award the college gives below. If you live out of state, use the toggle above and these will step aside.
State AidFull TuitionAutomaticstate residencyneed based
Cal Grant A
📅 Deadline: FAFSA or CADAA plus GPA verification by March 2 ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Full Tuition
✔ Stackable
🏫 3.0+ GPACalifornia resident or AB 540 student; 3.0 high school GPA (or 2.4 college GPA); 2026-27 income ceiling $144,700 for a family of four, assets under $111,900; FAFSA or CADAA and a verified GPA by March 2; within one year of high school graduation for the entitlement award
✚
Stacking & Combining
Pays UC systemwide tuition and fees, $15,588 in 2026-27. Housing is not included. Stacks with the UC grant, Pell, and campus scholarships. Guaranteed (an entitlement) for every graduating senior who meets the GPA, income, and deadline.
💡
Strategic Detail
State program, not a University of California, Santa Cruz award. Rules and amounts are set by the state and can change with each budget. Full details on the CollegeReadyParent CA page.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Every California senior with a 3.0 whose family is under the ceiling and whose school sent the GPA to CSAC by March 2. The miss is almost always the GPA verification, which the high school must submit separately; a student with a perfect FAFSA and no verified GPA gets nothing.
State AidAutomaticstate residencyneed based
Cal Grant B
📅 Deadline: FAFSA or CADAA plus GPA verification by March 2 ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Varies
✔ Stackable
🏫 2.0+ GPACalifornia resident or AB 540 student; 2.0 GPA; 2026-27 income ceiling $76,100 for a family of four, assets under $111,900; FAFSA or CADAA and a verified GPA by March 2
✚
Stacking & Combining
For lower-income families. Year one is a $1,648 access award for books and living costs; from year two it adds the full Cal Grant A tuition amount for your school on top of the access award. Students with dependent children or a foster care history can get up to $6,000 in access money. Stacks with Pell and college aid.
💡
Strategic Detail
State program, not a University of California, Santa Cruz award. Rules and amounts are set by the state and can change with each budget. Full details on the CollegeReadyParent CA page.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Low-income seniors with at least a 2.0 who filed by March 2. The first-year letter looks small because tuition does not kick in until sophomore year; families sometimes decline a school over that without realizing year two is worth ten times more.
State AidAutomaticstate residencyneed based
Middle Class Scholarship
📅 Deadline: FAFSA or CADAA by March 2; no separate application ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Varies
✔ Stackable
California resident or AB 540 student at a UC or CSU; household income and assets under $262,000 (dependent students, 2027-28 ceiling); no GPA requirement; no separate application
✚
Stacking & Combining
No fixed amount: the state computes cost of attendance minus other gift aid, minus an $8,616 student contribution, minus a parent contribution for incomes over $100,000, and pays a share of what is left based on the year's budget. Comes after Cal Grant and Pell, stacks with campus aid, and reaches families well above the Cal Grant ceiling.
💡
Strategic Detail
State program, not a University of California, Santa Cruz award. Rules and amounts are set by the state and can change with each budget. Full details on the CollegeReadyParent CA page.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Families between roughly $100,000 and $262,000 at a UC or CSU, the group that gets nothing from Cal Grant. The award changes every year with the state budget, so a sophomore's letter can be smaller than freshman year's for reasons that have nothing to do with the student.
One award, not a pile. Colleges apply your student's single best automatic award. Automatic scholarships almost never stack with each other, though some stack with housing, departmental, or outside money. The stacking notes on each card tell you which.
Full RideAutomaticgeographicneed based
Sabatte Family Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Mar 2 · 📢 Results: Spring, included with financial aid notification to selected scholars ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Full Ride
full_ride_gift_aid_scholarship
✔ Stackable
⚠ California‑resident (incl. AB 540) freshmen with high merit and significant financial need may automatically be selected as Sabatte Scholars; the scholarship fills remaining need so their full COA is covered with grants/scholarships, but it’s limited to a small, high‑need in‑state cohort.
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Sabatte is designed to go last. It stacks behind Pell, Cal Grant, UC grants, and other scholarships, then fills the remaining gap so the family's cost is covered with gift aid rather than loans. Scholars also get priority enrollment and a four-year university housing guarantee when they meet every housing deadline.
💡
Strategic Detail
The Sabatte Family Scholarship is UCSC's highest honor for entering first-year students, funded by a bequest from alumnus Richard "Rick" Sabatte (Kresge '75). It is open to California residents, including students who qualify under AB 540, who combine high merit with financial need. The award fills whatever is left after other grants and scholarships so the full cost of attendance is covered by gift aid, typically replacing loans, work-study, and the Student Aid Index contribution. Amounts vary with need, generally $9,000 to $17,000 a year ($36,000 to $68,000 over four years). Selection is automatic from the UC application plus a FAFSA or CA Dream Act Application filed by March 2. Renewal requires continued financial need, California residency, full-time enrollment, Satisfactory Academic Progress, and accepting the award on MyUCSC every year.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students who are California residents (AB 540 included), academically strong in the context of their school, and from families with significant financial need. The cohort is small.
Automatic
Regents Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Nov 30 · 📢 Results: March, with admission and preliminary financial aid offers ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
$5,000/yr
✔ Stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Regents stacks with Campus Merit, the Undergraduate Deans' Award, the Caldwell Access Scholarship, and need-based grants, up to the cost of attendance. The perks can matter as much as the money: Regents Scholars get priority enrollment, and those who enter as first-years get a four-year university housing guarantee (two years for transfers) as long as they meet every housing deadline and stay in university housing.
💡
Strategic Detail
Regents is UCSC's top merit recognition: $5,000 a year for up to four years for first-years ($20,000 total) or two years for transfers ($10,000 total). It is open to California residents, AB 540 students, out-of-state students, and international students, and financial need plays no role. Students are selected automatically in March from the UC application. Renewal requires full-time enrollment (12+ units per quarter) and Satisfactory Academic Progress, and the award must be accepted on MyUCSC before the end of fall quarter every year or it is forfeited for the rest of the student's time at UCSC.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students in the top slice of the admitted class, judged holistically on the rigor and breadth of their coursework, grades, and achievement in the context of the opportunities they had. Residency and financial need do not matter.
Automatic
Undergraduate Deans' Award
📅 Deadline: Nov 30 · 📢 Results: Mid-March (email notification); must be accepted on MyUCSC each year ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
$3,000–$25,000/yr
✔ Stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Deans' combines with Regents or Campus Merit, and domestic students with financial need can add the Caldwell Access Scholarship on top. It ends if the student becomes a California resident for tuition purposes.
💡
Strategic Detail
The Undergraduate Deans' Award exists to soften nonresident supplemental tuition for out-of-state and international students. First-years receive $12,000 to $100,000 total, paid evenly over four years ($3,000 to $25,000 a year); transfers receive $6,000 to $42,000 over two years. UCSC's Terms and Conditions page lists a $5,000 a year floor, so confirm the figure in your award email. No FAFSA is required, notifications typically go out in mid-March, and the first offer is the maximum: UCSC does not consider appeals for a higher amount. The award must be accepted on MyUCSC each year before the end of fall quarter.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students admitted from outside California (domestic and international) whose coursework and UC application show strong academic preparation. Two similar students can receive very different amounts based on holistic review.
Automatic
Caldwell Access Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Mar 2 · 📢 Results: Mid-March, included with admission and financial aid offers ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
$5,000–$50,000/yr
✔ Stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Caldwell stacks with the Undergraduate Deans' Award and Regents. For a high-need out-of-state student, that combination can neutralize most or all of the nonresident charge. It ends if the student becomes a California resident for tuition purposes.
💡
Strategic Detail
The Caldwell Access Scholarship is for domestic out-of-state first-years and transfers with financial need. Students are considered automatically once admitted, as long as the FAFSA is filed by March 2. Awards run $5,000 to $50,000 a year, and UCSC says its highest Caldwell offers fully fund the cost of attendance after other grants and scholarships. Renewal requires continued need, paying nonresident tuition, full-time enrollment, Satisfactory Academic Progress, annual financial aid paperwork, and accepting the award on MyUCSC before the end of fall quarter each year.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students from outside California (U.S. citizens and eligible noncitizens who can file the FAFSA) with strong academics and real financial need. Award size moves with both merit and need.
Automatic
Campus Merit Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Nov 30 · 📢 Results: March, alongside admission and preliminary aid offers ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
$2,000/yr
✔ Stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Campus Merit stacks with Regents, the Undergraduate Deans' Award, Caldwell, and need-based grants, up to the cost of attendance.
💡
Strategic Detail
Campus Merit is UCSC's broadest automatic merit award: $2,000 a year for up to four years for first-years ($8,000 total) or two years for transfers ($4,000 total). It is open to every residency type, including international students, and financial need is not required. Heads up: UCSC's main scholarships page lists $2,000 a year, while its Terms and Conditions page lists $3,000 a year, so check the amount in your student's award email. Renewal requires 12+ units per quarter and Satisfactory Academic Progress, and the award must be accepted on MyUCSC every year.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students whose UC application shows strong academic preparation for their context. It reaches a wider slice of the admitted class than Regents.
Data last verified Oct 5, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.
Note: UCSC’s own pages list two different amounts for Campus Merit ($2,000 a year on the main scholarships page, $3,000 a year on the Terms and Conditions page) and two different floors for the Deans’ Award ($3,000 vs. $5,000 a year). We show the main-page figures. The award email your student receives is the final word.
Automatic Scholarships: FAQs (UC Santa Cruz)
Do we need to apply separately for UCSC scholarships?
No. The UC application is the scholarship application for Regents, Campus Merit, Deans’, Sabatte, and Caldwell. Fill out the scholarship section and write strong Personal Insight Questions. For Sabatte and Caldwell, also file the FAFSA (or CA Dream Act Application for Sabatte) by March 2.
Do test scores help with merit money?
No. UC campuses don’t use SAT or ACT scores for admission or scholarships, even if your student sends them.
What is the Sabatte Scholarship, and who gets it?
It’s UCSC’s highest honor for incoming first-years: a full ride for California residents (including AB 540 students) who combine high merit with significant financial need. It fills the gap after other grants so the cost of attendance is covered by gift aid rather than loans, usually $9,000 to $17,000 a year on top of other aid. The group is small and selection is automatic.
What do Regents Scholars get besides $5,000 a year?
Priority enrollment, so they register for classes ahead of most students, plus a four-year university housing guarantee for those who start as first-years. Given how tight housing is in Santa Cruz, families often say the perks are worth as much as the check.
Can my student get more than one of these?
Yes. Campus Merit or Regents can combine with the Deans’ Award and Caldwell, and all of it stacks with need-based grants. The ceiling is the cost of attendance.
We’re out of state. What should we expect?
Out-of-state and international admits are automatically considered for the Undergraduate Deans’ Award, $3,000 to $25,000 a year with no FAFSA needed. Domestic out-of-state students with financial need can add the Caldwell Access Scholarship ($5,000 to $50,000 a year) by filing the FAFSA by March 2. UCSC says its top Caldwell awards fully cover the cost of attendance after other aid.
Can we appeal the Deans’ Award amount?
No. UCSC says the amount first offered is the most it can give, and it doesn’t consider appeals for more.
How do these renew?
Stay full-time (12+ units a quarter), keep Satisfactory Academic Progress, and accept the award on MyUCSC before the end of fall quarter every year. Sabatte and Caldwell also require financial aid paperwork every year and continued need.
UC Santa Cruz doesn’t run a big essay-and-interview scholarship competition for incoming first-years. Its biggest awards (Sabatte, Regents, Deans’, Caldwell) are all chosen automatically from the UC application. The one major competitive award is for transfer students: the Karl S. Pister Leadership Opportunity Award.
✅ Can You Stack Scholarships at UCSC?
Aid Type
Stacks?
UCSC Parent Translation
Regents / Campus Merit
Yes
Combine with the out-of-state awards and with need-based grants.
Deans’ Award + Caldwell
Yes
Out-of-state students can hold both, plus Regents. Both end if the student becomes a California resident.
Sabatte
Goes last
Fills whatever gap is left after other grants so the cost of attendance is covered with gift aid.
Pell, Cal Grant, UC grants
Yes
Need-based money layered on top of merit. March 2 paperwork is what gets you in the door.
Department and outside scholarships
Usually
Added to the aid package. The hard ceiling for everything combined is the cost of attendance.
If your student is a high schooler hunting for a big essay-based scholarship, UCSC isn’t that school. The good news is that you don’t have to win a competition to get UCSC’s best money. A strong UC application and on-time financial aid paperwork do most of the work. If your student is at a community college near Santa Cruz, though, keep reading. The Pister Award is one of the best transfer deals in the UC system.
Automatic⚠ Transfer Only
Karl S. Pister Leadership Opportunity Award
📅 Deadline: Mar 2 · 📢 Results: Spring, with admission and financial aid notification ✓ Renews (2 yrs)
$10,000/yr
✔ Stackable
👥 ~One or more students selected from each of the 13 participating California community colleges annually winners/yr🎓 Transfer
✚
Stacking & Combining
Pister stacks with Pell, Cal Grant, and UC grants up to the cost of attendance. UCSC says that for students with significant need, Pister plus other grants can potentially cover the full cost to attend. It must be accepted on MyUCSC every year before the end of fall quarter.
💡
Strategic Detail
Established in 1993 by former Chancellor Karl S. Pister, this award gives $10,000 a year for two years ($20,000 total) plus priority enrollment to transfer students from 13 partner community colleges: Cabrillo, Cañada, College of San Mateo, De Anza, Evergreen Valley, Foothill, Gavilan, Hartnell, Mission, Monterey Peninsula, San Jose City, Skyline, and West Valley. One or more students from each college are selected each year. To be considered, the student must check the transfer scholarship category for community college students who have overcome adverse socioeconomic conditions on the UC application and file the FAFSA or CA Dream Act Application by March 2. Students on F-1 or J-1 visas are not eligible.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students transferring from one of the 13 partner colleges who have excelled academically while overcoming significant socioeconomic challenges, show a record of service and leadership, and have financial need that would otherwise keep them from attending.
Data last verified Oct 5, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.
❓ Competitive Scholarship FAQs
Which community colleges qualify for the Pister Award?
Thirteen: Cabrillo, Cañada, College of San Mateo, De Anza, Evergreen Valley, Foothill, Gavilan, Hartnell, Mission, Monterey Peninsula, San Jose City, Skyline, and West Valley. At least one student from each college is selected every year.
How does a transfer student apply for Pister?
On the UC application, in the transfer scholarship section, check the category for community college students who have overcome adverse socioeconomic conditions. Then file the FAFSA or CA Dream Act Application by March 2. Skip that checkbox and your student isn’t considered.
How much is it worth?
$10,000 a year for two years ($20,000 total), plus priority enrollment. UCSC says that for students with significant need, Pister combined with other grants can cover the full cost to attend.
Can transfer students get the other UCSC merit awards too?
Yes. Regents ($5,000 a year) and Campus Merit ($2,000 a year) are open to transfers for two years, and out-of-state transfers are considered for the Deans’ Award and Caldwell.
Who is not eligible for Pister?
Students on non-immigrant visas such as F-1 or J-1.
Is UCSC a National Merit or QuestBridge partner?
No. UCSC isn’t a QuestBridge partner and doesn’t run a National Merit Finalist package.
Most of UCSC’s smaller scholarships aren’t for incoming freshmen. They’re run by the academic divisions, the ten residential colleges, and individual departments, and they go to students who are already on campus. UCSC hands out more than $6 million a year this way. Nobody mails your student an invitation.
File the FAFSA or CA Dream Act Application by March 2 every year. Many campus awards weigh financial need.
Once your student picks a major, bookmark that division’s scholarship page (Arts, Baskin Engineering, Humanities, Physical and Biological Sciences, Social Sciences).
Check your student’s residential college page too. Colleges fund their own awards.
Find a faculty mentor early. Many of the best awards (Keeley, Sullivan) are for summer research and need a professor’s letter.
Parent translation: the freshman package is set in March. The extra few thousand dollars a year comes from your student knocking on doors after they arrive.
💎 Hidden Gem Scholarships
These aren’t automatic, and several are for continuing students in specific majors. They stack on top of the main package and can make a real dent in housing and summer costs.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Keeley Coastal Scholars Award
📅 Deadline: March 2 Non-Renewable
$1,000–$4,000
✔ Stackable
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Paid for summer expenses (June through August) and combinable with other aid up to the cost of attendance.
📄
How to Apply
Submit the online application, a project budget, a faculty mentor's letter of support, and an unofficial transcript.
✎ Essays💌 Letters of Rec
💡
Strategic Detail
Named for former Assemblymember and Santa Cruz Mayor Fred Keeley, this award pays $1,000 to $4,000 so students can do summer research or policy work on coastal sustainability instead of taking a summer job. Projects can cover land, freshwater, or marine systems, and applicants from both Social Sciences and Physical and Biological Sciences are considered. Students must be in good academic standing with established financial need. A sister award, the Daniel Briggs Memorial Award, uses the same application criteria.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students with a faculty mentor and a concrete coastal research or policy project for the summer, plus documented financial need.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Kathryn D. Sullivan Award in Earth & Marine Sciences
📅 Deadline: February 20 Non-Renewable
$4,500
✔ Stackable
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
One-time award that can be combined with other aid up to the cost of attendance.
📄
How to Apply
Apply through the Science Division's online form with a research proposal and a faculty mentor's recommendation.
✎ Essays💌 Letters of Rec
💡
Strategic Detail
A $4,500 award for a Science Division undergraduate doing research in Earth or marine sciences, from biological, physical, or chemical angles. Funds can cover lab or field research, conferences, or other professional development. The applicant needs a faculty mentor and must not graduate before the project is finished.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners are declared upper-division majors (rising juniors and seniors), often in Earth and Planetary Sciences or Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, with a strong proposal and faculty backing.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Walsh Family Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Set by the featured department; the call for applications goes out around March 1. Non-Renewable
$5,000
✔ Stackable
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Can be combined with other aid up to the cost of attendance.
📄
How to Apply
Apply through your undergraduate advisor in the featured department.
💡
Strategic Detail
Established by Distinguished Professor of Economics Carl Walsh and his wife Judy, a Crown College alumna, this scholarship gives one or more awards of up to $5,000 to undergraduates in a single Social Sciences department. The featured department rotates every year, so it is worth asking your advisor each spring whether your major is up.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students in that year's featured Social Sciences department with strong grades and financial need.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Gabriel Zimmerman Memorial Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Set by each Social Sciences department; the divisional deadline was March 2 in 2026. Calls go out in late February or early March. Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
👥 ~Limited number of awards funded each year winners/yr🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Can be combined with other scholarships and financial aid up to the cost of attendance.
📄
How to Apply
Apply through the Social Sciences Division with an application describing public service, social justice engagement, and academic plans; typically requires a faculty reference.
Selection criteria: Evaluated on depth of community engagement, alignment with public service values, and academic potential.
✎ Essays💌 Letters of Rec
💡
Strategic Detail
Created in memory of Gabriel "Gabe" Zimmerman (Sociology '02), who was killed while serving as community outreach director for Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. The fund supports Social Sciences undergraduates who are passionate about social issues and committed to public service. Each department nominates one candidate, and a committee of faculty, community members, and a past recipient makes the final pick. Award amounts vary by year, and financial need is considered but not required.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students in Social Sciences majors with a sustained, demonstrated record of public service and strong academics. Applications go through the student's undergraduate advisor and include a transcript, resume, and a 2 to 3 page essay.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Education Abroad Program (EAP) Scholarships
📅 Deadline: Varies by scholarship; most deadlines fall 6 to 8 months before the program starts. Non-Renewable
$500–$5,000
✔ Stackable
👥 ~Varies by scholarship fund and year winners/yr🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
One-time awards that can be used alongside financial aid and external study abroad scholarships.
📄
How to Apply
Apply for UC Education Abroad or UCSC Global Learning programs and submit the associated scholarship application through the Global Learning office by the stated deadline.
Selection criteria: Committees review academic preparation, financial need, and clarity of goals for the abroad experience.
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
UCSC Global Learning lists dozens of study abroad and study away scholarships. Campus examples include the Top It Off Scholarship (up to $1,500 for students with financial need, six short-answer questions), the Dean and Jane McHenry Scholarship (up to $2,500 for students planning to apply to Rhodes, Marshall, Fulbright, or Schwarzman), and Porter College's Foley-Mendelssohn Travel Scholarship (up to $5,000). Pell Grant recipients can also apply for the federal Gilman Scholarship (up to $5,000).
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students who apply early and to several awards at once. Need-based awards like Top It Off favor students with financial need.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
UC Santa Cruz Campus Scholarships
📅 Deadline: March 2 Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
👥 ~Hundreds of individual awards funded by various campus endowments winners/yr🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Campus scholarships are added to the aid package and count toward the cost of attendance limit.
📄
How to Apply
Continuing undergraduates complete the UCSC Campus Scholarship application via the Financial Aid & Scholarships portal, answering essay prompts and updating financial information by the annual deadline.
Selection criteria: Central review of academic performance, financial circumstances, and essay responses; some awards layer on additional criteria such as major or identity.
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
UCSC awards more than $6 million in donor-funded campus scholarships each year, and most consider both academic achievement and financial need. Many financial aid office awards are matched from the UC application and the student's aid file, so filling out the UC application's scholarship section matters. Others are run by academic divisions, the ten residential colleges, and individual departments, each with its own application.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students who file the FAFSA or CA Dream Act Application on time and then check their division, college, and department award pages every year instead of waiting to be contacted.
Automatic⚠ All Undergrad Only
Smith Society Scholarship
📅 Deadline: No fixed deadline. Eligible students are invited after filing the FAFSA or CA Dream Act Application. Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
⚠ For students without traditional family support (foster youth, homelessness, or similar).
👥 ~Limited by Smith Society funding each year winners/yr🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Supplements other aid up to the cost of attendance.
💡
Strategic Detail
The Smith Renaissance Society supports UCSC students who arrive without traditional family support, including current and former foster youth, wards of the court, and students who have experienced homelessness. Members get undergraduate scholarships, mentors, paid research fellowships, internships, weekly community lunches, and priority enrollment through the Resilient Scholars Program. Many members enter as transfer students. Scholarship amounts are not published.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students identified through their financial aid application as lacking family support, who then accept the Society's invitation. Current students who were missed can email smithsociety@ucsc.edu for an application.
Automatic⚠ All Undergrad Only
Patrick Mantey Undergraduate Leadership Award
📅 Deadline: Faculty nominations, typically in spring. Students do not apply. Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
👥 ~Small number of recipients each year winners/yr🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
One-time award that can be combined with other scholarships and aid.
💡
Strategic Detail
Named for Patrick Mantey, founding dean of the Baskin School of Engineering, this award recognizes a Baskin Engineering undergraduate for outstanding leadership and academic merit. Faculty nominate students; there is no application. The dollar amount is not published.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students in Baskin Engineering majors who lead in student organizations, projects, or the engineering community and are noticed by faculty.
Full TuitionApp Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
ROTC Scholarships (Army via Santa Clara University, Air Force via San José State)
📅 Deadline: National ROTC high school boards meet between October and March; campus-based scholarship deadlines vary by host campus. ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Full Tuition
tuition_or_housing_plus_stipends
✔ Stackable
👥 ~Determined by the U.S. Army and Air Force; limited campus-based awards at host institutions winners/yr🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
ROTC scholarship funds are added to the aid package; total aid cannot exceed the cost of attendance.
📄
How to Apply
Apply for Army or Air Force ROTC scholarships through the host programs (such as San Jose State University for Army ROTC), then participate in cross-town training while enrolled at UCSC.
Selection criteria: National and campus boards weigh academics, leadership, physical fitness, and interview performance.
✎ Essays🎤 Interview💌 Letters of Rec
💡
Strategic Detail
UCSC has no ROTC unit on campus, but students can join Army ROTC through Santa Clara University (with local classes, shuttles, or virtual attendance options) and Air Force ROTC through Detachment 045 at San José State. Scholarship benefits follow the national Army and Air Force ROTC programs and come with a service commitment after graduation.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students who meet ROTC academic, fitness, and leadership standards and commit to serving as officers after graduation.
Data last verified Oct 5, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.
Money the college does not control. Federal programs, city promise funds, foundations, and employers. The college may help you apply, but someone else writes the check, and these almost always stack with the college's own awards.
Outside MoneyApp Required
Giles Family Scholarship
📅 Deadline: January (applications open in November) ✓ Renews
$5,000/yr
✔ Stackable
⚠ Santa Cruz County high school seniors only.
🏫 3.0+ GPA👥 ~Limited number of awards annually as determined by the foundation winners/yr
✚
Stacking & Combining
Outside scholarships like this one are added to the student's UCSC aid package; total aid cannot exceed the cost of attendance.
📄
How to Apply
Apply through the Community Foundation Santa Cruz County scholarship application, indicating interest in art, craft, or music and plans to attend UC Santa Cruz.
Selection criteria: Evaluates level of engagement and promise in art, craft, or music along with general academic readiness.
✎ Essays💌 Letters of Rec
💡
Strategic Detail
A Community Foundation Santa Cruz County fund for local students heading to UCSC, Cabrillo College, or San Jose State. One award of up to $5,000, renewable annually, goes to a graduating senior from any Santa Cruz County high school who is involved in art, craft, or music, has at least a 3.0 GPA, and shows financial need. Applications open in November and close in January through the Foundation's single scholarship portal, which also asks for the FAFSA Submission Summary or CA Dream Act Application, a transcript, and a recommendation letter.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students from Santa Cruz County high schools with active art, craft, or music involvement and financial need.
Data last verified Oct 5, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.
❓ Hidden Gems FAQ
We live in Santa Cruz County. Is there anything local?
Yes. The Community Foundation Santa Cruz County runs one portal for dozens of local scholarships. The Giles Family Scholarship (up to $5,000, renewable) is for county seniors involved in art, craft, or music who are heading to UCSC, Cabrillo, or San Jose State. Applications open in November and close in January.
My student wants to study the ocean. Is there money for that?
Two good ones. The Kathryn D. Sullivan Award gives $4,500 to a Science Division student doing Earth or marine research (deadline in late February). The Keeley Coastal Scholars Award pays $1,000 to $4,000 for summer coastal research or policy work, for students with financial need (deadline around March 2). Both need a faculty mentor.
What’s available for Social Sciences majors?
The Gabriel Zimmerman Memorial Scholarship honors students committed to public service. The Walsh Family Scholarship gives up to $5,000 to students in one featured department, and that department changes every year. Both go through your student’s undergraduate advisor, with calls in late February or early March.
My student doesn’t have family support. Is there help?
The Smith Renaissance Society supports students who’ve been in foster care, experienced homelessness, or otherwise lack family backing. Members get scholarships, mentors, paid research fellowships, and priority enrollment. Students are invited after filing the FAFSA or CA Dream Act Application, and anyone who was missed can email smithsociety@ucsc.edu.
Does study abroad cost extra, and is there help?
It can, but UCSC Global Learning lists dozens of scholarships, from $500 to $5,000. Apply early: most deadlines fall 6 to 8 months before the program starts.
Can my student do ROTC at UCSC?
Yes, through partner campuses. Army ROTC runs through Santa Clara University, with some local and virtual options, and Air Force ROTC through San José State. ROTC scholarships follow the national programs and come with a service commitment.
No. UC Santa Cruz doesn’t have an honors college or a campus-wide honors program you apply to. Its closest version, the College Scholars Program, gave a small group of first-years special seminars, shared housing, and priority enrollment, but the UCSC catalog lists it as no longer active as of 2025-26. If an older guide or a counselor mentions it, that information is out of date.
Honors-Type Scholarships
This institution does not offer designated Honors College scholarships at this time.
What fills the gap: For high-achieving students, the Regents Scholarship is UCSC’s real “honors” track. On top of $5,000 a year, Regents Scholars get priority enrollment and a four-year housing guarantee for those who enter as first-years. There’s no separate application. It’s chosen from the UC application.
Ways to Earn Honors at UCSC
Dean’s Honors: Earned each quarter with a high term GPA, and noted on the transcript.
Honors in the major: Departments can award Honors or Highest Honors at graduation, usually to no more than 15% of graduates in the major.
University Honors: Summa, magna, and cum laude go to the top 15% by GPA at graduation.
Undergraduate research: More than half of UCSC undergraduates do hands-on research, and that’s where many competitive awards come from.
Honors at UCSC: FAQs
Does UCSC have an honors program my student can apply to?
Not right now. The College Scholars Program, which used to play that role, is no longer active. Departments still award honors at graduation, and Dean’s Honors are given each quarter.
So how does a high achiever stand out?
Through the UC application (which is how Regents Scholars are chosen) and, once on campus, through research with faculty. Many of UCSC’s best hidden-gem awards fund student research.
Is there any perk like priority registration?
Yes, but it comes through scholarships rather than an honors program. Regents, Sabatte, and Pister Scholars all get priority enrollment.
UC Santa Cruz sits in a redwood forest above Monterey Bay, and a lot of what it’s best at comes straight from that setting. It’s a member of the Association of American Universities, the group of top research schools, and it organizes student life around ten residential colleges, so a big public university can feel more like a set of smaller communities.
Nationally Known Program: Marine and Freshwater Biology: UCSC says U.S. News ranks it #1 in the country for marine and freshwater biology in the 2026-27 rankings, up from #2 the year before. With the Pacific a few minutes away, students can do real ocean fieldwork as undergraduates instead of waiting for graduate school.
Space Science and Astrophysics: U.S. News ranked UCSC #7 among U.S. universities for space science in its 2025-26 rankings.
Computer Game Design: UCSC launched the first undergraduate game design major in the UC system in 2006, and it’s still a destination program for students who want to build games.
Engineering and Computer Science: The Wall Street Journal’s 2026 rankings put UCSC #2 in the country for high-paying jobs in engineering, helped by its location next to Silicon Valley.
Ecology and Environmental Research: U.S. News ranked UCSC #15 in the U.S. for ecology (2025-26), and environmental work runs through programs across campus.
Research Reach: UCSC calls itself the #1 public university in the U.S. for research influence (Clarivate, 2026), and more than half of its undergraduates do hands-on research.
🔗 Official UC Santa Cruz Links
Use UC Santa Cruz’s official pages below to double-check admissions dates, scholarship rules, costs, and campus data. Award amounts and deadlines can change from year to year, so these pages are always the final word.
UC Santa Cruz works differently from most schools on this site. There are no score charts, no separate scholarship essays, and no honors college to chase. Instead, one well-done UC application gets your student considered for everything, and the March 2 financial aid paperwork unlocks the rest. For California families, that combination can be powerful: Blue and Gold tuition coverage, Cal Grant, and a shot at a full-ride Sabatte for students with high merit and high need. For out-of-state families, the Deans’ Award and Caldwell can take a real bite out of the nonresident charge, but read the fine print on residency.
The two things we’d tape to the fridge: get the paperwork in on time, and remind your student to accept their scholarships on MyUCSC every single fall. And if your student is drawn to the ocean, space, or game design, this is one of the best places in the country to study it.
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