Students at all UC campuses pay the same systemwide tuition and fees of USD 12,570. International students, on the other hand, pay an additional USD 29,754 in non-resident supplemental tuition, for a total of USD 42,324 (31.54 lakhs).

At UCSC, there are four types of accommodation available: in-class accommodation, coursework accommodation, exam accommodation, and other accommodation. In-house halls are furnishings, adapted equipment, dining halls, ADA accessible rooms, debunked beds, visible fire alarm, parking and van service, among other things. On-campus accommodation costs about $18,866 on average. Slug lunches are convenient and inexpensive dining options for students who live off-campus.

The university has a total of 19912 students enrolled. The University of California, Santa Cruz has 1,912 international students on campus. 50.9 percent of applicants are accepted.

The 2,000-acre campus of the University of California, Santa Cruz overlooks the picturesque Monterey Bay. 55 percent of the entire land area has been designated as a protected natural landscape. Silicon Valley Campus and Santa Clara Coastal Science Campus both have one main campus and two satellite campuses. The University features two library buildings - McHenry Library and Science and Engineering Library - that provide students with remote and physical access to a significant number of study aids, digital collections, video games, journals, and general literature. Student Organizations, Advising, and Resources (SOAR) promotes up to 174 student organisations that cater to various student interests. There are 21 competitive sports clubs and 15 recreational sports available to university students.

UC Santa Cruz has been fully accredited since 1965 by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC). 

The average pay of University of California, Santa Cruz graduates is $75,804 USD, according to Payscale. After two years of graduation, 91 percent of graduates are employed. UCSC also offers on-demand online career videos, online tests, and career advisors. It also includes a CAN (Career Advice Network). The university holds regular workshops and activities such as internship and career fairs, webinars, and so on.