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
Volunteering for democracy
UC Santa Cruz students, staff, and retirees are providing an essential service to the community by volunteering as poll workers in the 2024 election.
Breaking ground in Black representation
Associate Professor A.M. Darke is a leading voice of diversity in games, especially in the context of representing Black hair. For her latest work, Darke has helped compile a program that better represents coily hair in animation.
Celebrating 60 years of leading change
Founded in 1965, UC Santa Cruz is preparing to mark six decades of educational excellence, groundbreaking teaching and research, and lasting accomplishments in 2025, while looking with anticipation toward an ascendant future.
Voices of the Century: César Rojas-Bravo, celebrating our celestial bond
César Rojas Bravo, a Ph.D. candidate in astronomy, shows how all humanity is linked by the vast canopy of our shared night sky.
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.