Research and education
improve lives and livelihoods
Leading at the intersection of innovation and social justice.
A global research university with an uncommon emphasis on undergraduate research and education, UC Santa Cruz is part of the world’s most celebrated system of public higher education, and stands among the most renowned institutions of higher learning.
News
Celebrating the Class of 2025: Innovators, advocates, and leaders
Thousands of UC Santa Cruz graduates are ready to make a positive impact. Learn more about our incredible students and their plans.
A data-driven model to help avoid ecosystem collapse
A new study gives conservationists a simpler, general approach for predicting an ecosystem’s tipping point and what comes next
A legacy of Slugs
As UC Santa Cruz continues to celebrate its 60th birthday this year, a deeply connected Slug family recounts how the campus has played an important role in its story—from the university’s very beginning to the present day.
Brook Thompson: Sharing traditions, shaping better practices
Brook Thompson, a Ph.D. student in environmental studies, is connecting Indigenous knowledge with current science through her studies of chinook salmon—aiming to improve conservation efforts.
To lead means …
Creating real change
Students at UC Santa Cruz learn from incredible faculty, develop new skills through hands-on research opportunities, and have a track record of making an impact. What kind of a pathbreaker, innovator, or changemaker will you become?
Serving our society
World-class researchers at UC Santa Cruz unlock mysteries and help to transform our world, addressing some of our most pressing needs—from decoding cancer to protecting our natural environment to creating art that challenges assumptions. What will you contribute?
Shaping our future
A global community of students, faculty, staff, and alumni, we are committed to climate and economic resiliency for our local and coastal environments through multidisciplinary research, and sustainable and equitable practices.
Become a Banana Slug, and lead the change.
Get ready for your future
UC Santa Cruz graduates are sought after for their knowledge, skills, and passion. Whether you plan to start working right away, or pursue graduate school or professional school, your UC Santa Cruz degree will help you on your way.
See for yourself
One of the most extraordinary campuses in the world, UC Santa Cruz pairs high-impact research with 10 residential colleges—offering students the experience of a small liberal arts college with the depth and rigor of a major research university.
Here to help
A UC degree is worth it—and we can help you pay for it. Our financial aid program is one of the best out there. It supports students in all kinds of ways, whatever their background—with grants, scholarships, low-interest loans, and more.
Your journey awaits.
When you become a Banana Slug, you join a community of artists, innovators, creators,
and justice seekers united in using their voices to change the world.