Reputation and ranking

With more than 19,000 students and 60 graduate programs, we’re proud of the impact our academic excellence is making on society. UCSC is a great place to study and here are some of the reasons why:

• We’re a member of the Association of American Universities; this is an endorsement of both the quality and impact of our research.
• We’re proud of our R1 Carnegie Classification. This recognizes our high level research activity which means you can be confident you are learning from experts at the leading edge in their fields.
• Our expertise is recognized globally. UCSC was rated 15th in the world in the for research influence. (1)
• Our Silicon Valley Campus enables students to learn in state-of-the-art facilities located in the heart of Silicon Valley. This proximity makes us “one of 20 universities most likely to land you a job in Silicon Valley” (2)
• UCSC is the #2 Top Paying College for High-Paying Jobs in Engineering. (3)
• We are the #2 Public University for “Making an Impact”. (4)
• Our spacious campus in Santa Cruz overlooks scenic Monterey Bay and is only minutes away from the beach.
• We’re one of just five national universities to receive a Social Mobility Innovator Award in recognition or our commitment to educational opportunity for all. (5)

1 THE World University Rankings 2018-9
2 Business Insider
3 Wall Street Journal, 2023
4 The Princeton Review, 2021
5  2017