Undergrad Programs Graduate Programs

---

University of California-Santa Cruz Ranking Badges

UC Santa Cruz earned 161 ranking badges in the 2027 College Factual rankings: 7 in the top 1%, 51 in the top 5%, 69 in the top 10% and 34 in the top 15% of the schools in each ranking. Its highest placement is #1 of 23 in Top Ranked Veterans for General Physical Sciences, a top 1% award.

Key facts

• Badges earned: 161 (2027 edition)
• In the top 1% / top 5%: 7 / 51
• Highest placement: #1 of 23, a top 1% award
• Fields of study with a badge: 21
• Placements this edition: 352
• Badge cutoff: a top 15% placement in a ranking

Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.

How Many Ranking Badges Has University of California-Santa Cruz Earned?

University of California-Santa Cruz holds 161 ranking badges across 21 fields of study, 58 of them in the top 5% or better; each badge is an award for placing in the top 15% of a ranking. It has no placements this edition in College Factual’s online-program rankings. Each ranking is recalculated when updated data becomes available. The current ranking cycle is 2027 edition. Each row marks the highest award tier reached in that ranking. Read about our data sources and methodologies. If you are an administrator interested in using our badge program to showcase your college’s strengths, please contact us.

Count by Award Level

Award Level	Badges
Top 1%	7
Top 5%	51
Top 10%	69
Top 15%	34
Total	161

What Is University of California-Santa Cruz Known For?

University of California-Santa Cruz is best known for Biological & Biomedical Sciences: 12 of its 91 traditional-student awards are in that field. Its top-ranked majors include Linguistics & Literature, Managerial Economics and Behavioral Science. Its highest traditional-student placement is #2 of 407 in Most Popular for Linguistics & Literature.

College Overall

Ranking	Top 15%	Top 10%	Top 5%	Top 1%
Overall Best			✓
Overall Best (Far Western)			✓
Overall Best (California)		✓
Male / Female Diversity			✓
Male / Female Diversity (Far Western)			✓
Male / Female Diversity (California)			✓
Ethnic Diversity		✓
Most Popular (Far Western)		✓
Most Popular (California)		✓

Agriculture

Ranking	Top 15%	Top 10%	Top 5%	Top 1%
Top Ranked				✓
Agricultural Production
Top Ranked			✓
Plant Sciences
Top Ranked		✓
Highest Paid Graduates		✓

Biological & Biomedical Sciences

Ranking	Top 15%	Top 10%	Top 5%	Top 1%
Top Ranked		✓
Most Popular			✓
Biochemistry & Biophysics
Top Ranked	✓
Most Popular		✓
Biomathematics & Bioinformatics
Most Popular		✓
Most Focused		✓
Cell Biology & Anatomical Sciences
Most Popular			✓
Highest Paid Graduates	✓
Most Focused		✓
Ecology & Systematics Biology
Most Popular			✓
Most Focused		✓
General Biology
Top Ranked			✓

Business, Management & Marketing

Ranking	Top 15%	Top 10%	Top 5%	Top 1%
Top Ranked			✓
Managerial Economics
Most Popular				✓
Most Focused		✓

Communication & Journalism

Ranking	Top 15%	Top 10%	Top 5%	Top 1%
Top Ranked	✓

Communications Technology/Support

Ranking	Top 15%	Top 10%	Top 5%	Top 1%
Top Ranked			✓
Most Popular			✓
Graphic Communications
Top Ranked			✓
Most Popular			✓

Computer & Information Sciences

Ranking	Top 15%	Top 10%	Top 5%	Top 1%
Top Ranked			✓
Most Popular			✓
Computer Information Systems
Top Ranked		✓
Computer Science
Top Ranked		✓
Most Popular			✓
Most Focused			✓
Computer Software Applications
Top Ranked		✓
Information Technology
Top Ranked			✓

Education

Ranking	Top 15%	Top 10%	Top 5%	Top 1%
Top Ranked		✓
Education Philosophy
Most Popular			✓
Most Focused	✓
Educational Assessment
Most Popular			✓

Engineering

Ranking	Top 15%	Top 10%	Top 5%	Top 1%
Top Ranked	✓
Computer Engineering
Most Popular		✓
Most Focused	✓
Electrical Engineering
Highest Paid Graduates		✓

Ethnic, Culture & Gender Studies

Ranking	Top 15%	Top 10%	Top 5%	Top 1%
Most Popular			✓
Ethnic Studies
Most Popular				✓
Most Focused		✓

Foreign Languages & Linguistics

Ranking	Top 15%	Top 10%	Top 5%	Top 1%
Most Popular			✓
Linguistics & Literature
Most Popular				✓
Most Focused			✓

History

Ranking	Top 15%	Top 10%	Top 5%	Top 1%
Most Popular			✓
History
Most Popular			✓

Legal Professions

Ranking	Top 15%	Top 10%	Top 5%	Top 1%
Non-Professional Legal Studies
Most Popular			✓
Most Focused	✓

Mathematics & Statistics

Ranking	Top 15%	Top 10%	Top 5%	Top 1%
Most Popular		✓

Multi / Interdisciplinary Studies

Ranking	Top 15%	Top 10%	Top 5%	Top 1%
Most Popular			✓
Behavioral Science
Most Popular				✓
Most Focused		✓
Cognitive Science
Most Popular		✓
Most Focused			✓

Natural Resources & Conservation

Ranking	Top 15%	Top 10%	Top 5%	Top 1%
Most Popular			✓
Natural Resources Conservation
Most Popular			✓
Most Focused	✓

Philosophy & Religious Studies

Ranking	Top 15%	Top 10%	Top 5%	Top 1%
Most Popular		✓
Philosophy
Most Popular			✓

Physical Sciences

Ranking	Top 15%	Top 10%	Top 5%	Top 1%
Most Popular			✓
Astronomy & Astrophysics
Most Popular			✓
Most Focused	✓
General Physical Sciences
Top Ranked		✓
Most Popular		✓
Geological & Earth Sciences
Most Popular			✓
Physics
Most Popular		✓

Psychology

Ranking	Top 15%	Top 10%	Top 5%	Top 1%
Top Ranked		✓

Public & Social Service

Ranking	Top 15%	Top 10%	Top 5%	Top 1%
Top Ranked			✓
Community Organization & Advocacy
Top Ranked	✓

Social Sciences

Ranking	Top 15%	Top 10%	Top 5%	Top 1%
Top Ranked	✓
Most Popular		✓
Anthropology
Most Popular			✓
Most Focused		✓
Economics
Most Popular	✓
Political Science & Government
Top Ranked	✓
Most Popular		✓
Sociology
Most Popular			✓
Most Focused	✓

Visual & Performing Arts

Ranking	Top 15%	Top 10%	Top 5%	Top 1%
Film, Video & Photographic Arts
Most Popular		✓
Fine & Studio Arts
Most Popular			✓

How Does University of California-Santa Cruz Rank in Athletics?

In College Factual’s 2027 athletics rankings, University of California-Santa Cruz earned 18 badges across 10 sports, 1 of them in the top 5% or better; its highest placement is #14 of 613 in Golf.

College Overall

Ranking	Top 15%	Top 10%	Top 5%	Top 1%
Overall Athletics (D3)		✓
Overall Athletics		✓

Men’s Sports

Ranking	Top 15%	Top 10%	Top 5%	Top 1%
Basketball	✓
Basketball (D3)	✓
Soccer	✓
Soccer (D3)	✓
Tennis		✓
Volleyball		✓
Volleyball (D3)		✓

Women’s Sports

Ranking	Top 15%	Top 10%	Top 5%	Top 1%
Basketball	✓
Basketball (D3)	✓
Golf			✓
Golf (D3)		✓
Soccer	✓
Soccer (D3)		✓
Tennis		✓
Volleyball		✓
Volleyball (D3)	✓

How Does University of California-Santa Cruz Rank for Veterans?

In College Factual’s 2027 veterans rankings, University of California-Santa Cruz earned 52 badges, 12 of them in the top 5% or better; its highest placement is #1 of 23 in Top Ranked Veterans for General Physical Sciences.

College Overall

Ranking	Top 15%	Top 10%	Top 5%	Top 1%
Best for Veterans				✓

Biological & Biomedical Sciences

Ranking	Top 15%	Top 10%	Top 5%	Top 1%
Top Ranked Veterans			✓
Biochemistry & Biophysics
Top Ranked Veterans		✓
Cell Biology & Anatomical Sciences
Top Ranked Veterans	✓
Ecology & Systematics Biology
Top Ranked Veterans		✓
General Biology
Top Ranked Veterans			✓
Neurobiology & Neurosciences
Top Ranked Veterans		✓

Business, Management & Marketing

Ranking	Top 15%	Top 10%	Top 5%	Top 1%
Top Ranked Veterans			✓
Managerial Economics
Top Ranked Veterans		✓

Computer & Information Sciences

Ranking	Top 15%	Top 10%	Top 5%	Top 1%
Top Ranked Veterans		✓
Computer Information Systems
Top Ranked Veterans		✓
Computer Science
Top Ranked Veterans			✓
Computer Software Applications
Top Ranked Veterans			✓
Information Technology
Top Ranked Veterans			✓

Engineering

Ranking	Top 15%	Top 10%	Top 5%	Top 1%
Top Ranked Veterans		✓
Computer Engineering
Top Ranked Veterans		✓
Electrical Engineering
Top Ranked Veterans		✓

Ethnic, Culture & Gender Studies

Ranking	Top 15%	Top 10%	Top 5%	Top 1%
Top Ranked Veterans	✓
Ethnic Studies
Top Ranked Veterans	✓

Foreign Languages & Linguistics

Ranking	Top 15%	Top 10%	Top 5%	Top 1%
Top Ranked Veterans	✓
Romance Languages
Top Ranked Veterans	✓

History

Ranking	Top 15%	Top 10%	Top 5%	Top 1%
Top Ranked Veterans		✓
History
Top Ranked Veterans		✓

Legal Professions

Ranking	Top 15%	Top 10%	Top 5%	Top 1%
Top Ranked Veterans		✓
Non-Professional Legal Studies
Top Ranked Veterans		✓

Mathematics & Statistics

Ranking	Top 15%	Top 10%	Top 5%	Top 1%
Top Ranked Veterans	✓
Applied Mathematics
Top Ranked Veterans	✓
Mathematics
Top Ranked Veterans	✓

Multi / Interdisciplinary Studies

Ranking	Top 15%	Top 10%	Top 5%	Top 1%
Top Ranked Veterans		✓
Cognitive Science
Top Ranked Veterans	✓
Human Computer Interaction
Top Ranked Veterans		✓

Natural Resources & Conservation

Ranking	Top 15%	Top 10%	Top 5%	Top 1%
Top Ranked Veterans		✓
Natural Resources Conservation
Top Ranked Veterans		✓

Philosophy & Religious Studies

Ranking	Top 15%	Top 10%	Top 5%	Top 1%
Philosophy
Top Ranked Veterans	✓

Physical Sciences

Ranking	Top 15%	Top 10%	Top 5%	Top 1%
Top Ranked Veterans	✓
Chemistry
Top Ranked Veterans	✓
General Physical Sciences
Top Ranked Veterans				✓

Psychology

Ranking	Top 15%	Top 10%	Top 5%	Top 1%
Top Ranked Veterans			✓
General Psychology
Top Ranked Veterans			✓

Public & Social Service

Ranking	Top 15%	Top 10%	Top 5%	Top 1%
Top Ranked Veterans		✓
Community Organization & Advocacy
Top Ranked Veterans			✓

Social Sciences

Ranking	Top 15%	Top 10%	Top 5%	Top 1%
Top Ranked Veterans		✓
Anthropology
Top Ranked Veterans		✓
Economics
Top Ranked Veterans		✓
Political Science & Government
Top Ranked Veterans		✓
Sociology
Top Ranked Veterans		✓

Visual & Performing Arts

Ranking	Top 15%	Top 10%	Top 5%	Top 1%
Top Ranked Veterans		✓
Design And Applied Arts
Top Ranked Veterans			✓
Drama & Theater Arts
Top Ranked Veterans		✓
Film, Video & Photographic Arts
Top Ranked Veterans		✓
Fine & Studio Arts
Top Ranked Veterans		✓
Music
Top Ranked Veterans		✓

Continue Your Research on UC Santa Cruz

• All rankings for UC Santa Cruz
• UC Santa Cruz overview
• Best Colleges ranking
• UC Santa Cruz official website
• UC Santa Cruz on Wikipedia
• UC Santa Cruz on Twitter
• UC Santa Cruz on Facebook

Notes and References

College Factual’s rankings are built on federal education data, 2027 edition. University of California-Santa Cruz appears in 352 of the College Factual rankings covered on this page.

• The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
• Some other college data, including much of the earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).

More about our data sources and methodologies.