Residential Colleges
All UC Santa Cruz undergraduate students, whether they live on campus or not, are affiliated with one of 10 residential colleges. Each college provides academic support, organizes student activities, and sponsors events that enhance the intellectual and social life of the campus in addition to housing students in small-scale residential communities.
Every college community includes students with diverse backgrounds and academic goals. A student’s college affiliation is independent of their choice of major, and assignments are based upon space availability and students’ requests for affiliation.
UC Santa Cruz colleges in order of their founding:
Cowell College
Founded: 1965 | College Profile
Adlai E. Stevenson College
Founded: 1966 | College Profile
Crown College
Founded: 1967 | College Profile
Merrill College
Founded: 1968 | College Profile
Benjamin F. Porter College
Founded: 1969 | College Profile
Kresge College
Founded: 1971 | College Profile
Oakes College
Founded: 1972 | College Profile
Rachel Carson College
Founded: 1972 | College Profile
College Nine
Founded: 2000 | College Profile
John R. Lewis College
Founded: 2002 | College Profile