Real costs by school · Santa Cruz, CA · Public
At University of California-Santa Cruz, families earning $75,000–$110,000 paid an average of $18,986 per year — the published cost of attendance is $41,179. (Federal College Scorecard data, July 2026 refresh.)
| Household income | Avg net price / yr | ≈ four years* |
|---|---|---|
| Under $30k | $8,717 / yr | $36,742 |
| $30–48k | $10,613 / yr | $44,734 |
| $48–75k | $14,418 / yr | $60,772 |
| $75–110k | $18,986 / yr | $80,026 |
| Over $110k | $33,323 / yr | $140,456 |
*Four-year figures grow each year's price by 3.5% — the same method College Compass uses in a family's plan. "Net price" is what families actually paid after grants and scholarships, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education — not a calculator's estimate. Federal reporting groups every income above $110k into one band; families well above it often pay closer to the full cost.
Earnings and completion from federal reporting — not the school's own placement survey.
These are averages. Your family isn't average.
College Compass runs University of California-Santa Cruz against your student's real GPA, your real income band, and your actual high school — admit odds with the math shown, merit likelihood, and the season's deadlines. First three schools free.
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