Gold
for excellence in sustainability
by Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education
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
2023 Year in Review: Creating real change
From making groundbreaking research discoveries to expanding access to education, UC Santa Cruz continues to lead at the intersection of innovation and social justice. See just a few of our achievements over the last 12 months.
Advancing women of color in tech
UC Santa Cruz has joined the National Academies’ new Action Collaborative on Transforming Trajectories for Women of Color in Tech, which is aimed at increasing recruitment, retention, and advancement of women of color in technology fields.
Tripping on Utopia
Historian Benjamin Breen explores the troubled birth of psychedelic science in his acclaimed new book, Tripping on Utopia, which is generating massive buzz—including in the New York Times and NPR’s Fresh Air.
Our Voices: Sylvanna Falcón, former director of the Dolores Huerta Research Center for the Americas (2018–2023)
Research about migration, social movements, and culture across the Americas deepens our understanding of the region and our commitment to our social justice values.
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.