At UC Santa Cruz, students are housed in small-scale residential communities, which provide close-knit living environments within the larger university. Each community provides an academically and socially supportive environment and offers special programs designed to help students transition to campus life, build a strong connection with the campus, and get the most out of their UCSC experience. A space in university housing is guaranteed to all new undergraduate students entering in the fall quarter who submit all forms and required fees by stated deadlines.
After accepting the UC Santa Cruz offer of admission, all undergraduate students become affiliated with one of our 10 colleges. Once affiliated with a college, all students are sent information about the housing options available, and instructions for completing the online housing application/contract process. The housing options available to you will differ depending on whether you are a freshman or a transfer student—though all students have access to campus dining facilities. Housing application periods open in mid-May for new freshmen and mid-June for new transfers entering in the fall.
College Residences
The colleges differ in academic focus, environment, location, architecture, and programs offered. However, all 10 colleges are dynamic, engaging learning communities that offer opportunities for students to help build and shape their experiences.
Freshmen are generally assigned to live in residence halls at their college, except at Kresge College, which has all apartments. Residence hall floors are typically shared by 15 to 50 students and have common bathrooms. Students can request to live in a mixed-gender (students of any gender live on the same floor or apartment, though bedrooms are single-gender) or single-gender (students of a single gender live on the same floor or apartment) area. Room assignments allowing transgender and gender-nonconforming students and their allies to live together in the same room regardless of gender or legal gender are also available by request. Apartments, typically shared by four to seven students, have common living/dining rooms, kitchens, and bathrooms, and a combination of shared and private bedrooms. Each community provides accessible housing for students with disabilities. Incoming transfer students reside at the Transfer Community, or the University Town Center, regardless of college affiliation.
A variety of theme-housing options are available for those who are interested. Based on academic pursuits, hobbies, individual backgrounds, and lifestyle preferences, these options serve to complement a student’s experience in residence.
Each college’s residential program is a team effort. Live-in student and professional staff members provide orientation and support services, organize activities and events, provide referral information about academic or personal concerns, and assist with roommate problems.
All students living in campus residence halls (including the transfer community) have a meal plan included in their housing contract. Meal plans are optional for apartment residents. Students with meal plans may use their student ID cards to access any of the dining halls on campus. Meal plans include Flexi Dollars (a dollar-for-dollar exchange for “food dollars” that can be used at college coffee shops, campus restaurants, and all dining halls). Additional Flexi Dollars may be added to any meal plan. More information on the colleges, including videos, can be found here and at the Housing website.
Redwood Grove
Located on the west side of campus, the Redwood Grove apartments are an extension of the transfer community at Porter College, and provide an apartment living environment for a limited number of incoming transfer students. Each apartment has private and shared bedrooms, a living room, kitchen, dining room, and bathroom. Information is available at Redwood Grove and by email at redwoodgrove@ucsc.edu.
The Village
Located in the Lower Quarry, The Village is a unique community for continuing students. Each of the 17 houses features nine single bedrooms, three bathrooms, and a kitchenette. A meal plan is optional. A manager’s apartment, office, laundry facility, community kitchen, and community lounge are located on site. Information is available at The Village and by email at village@ucsc.edu.
University Town Center
The University Town Center, located at the corner of Pacific and Cathcart in downtown Santa Cruz, houses continuing and transfer students in two- and three-person studio apartments. A meal plan is optional. Information is available at UTC and by email at utc@ucsc.edu.
Family Student Housing
Family Student Housing has apartments for students and their families. Students must reside with at least one eligible family member on a permanent, full-time basis. Eligible family members include children, a spouse or adult partner, a parent, or a sibling. The apartments are unfurnished, and each has two bedrooms, a bathroom, a small study, a combined living/dining area, and a kitchen. Several apartments are accessible to people with mobility impairments. Also, see information on child care and youth programs, below. Information is available at Family Student Housing, and by email at fsh@ucsc.edu.
Camper Park
A 42-space Camper Park is located on the north side of campus and includes university-owned single-occupant recreational vehicles that are rented to students. The park includes a community building with rest rooms, showers and laundry facilities, and a lounge/study room. Information is available at Camper Park and by email at camperpark@ucsc.edu.
Graduate Student Housing
Conveniently located adjacent to "Science Hill," home to many of UCSC's main academic facilities, each apartment offers four single bedrooms, a living room, kitchen, dining room, and bathroom. Ground floor apartments have decks, while upper apartments have private balconies. Information is available at grad housing and by email at gradhsg@ucsc.edu.
Campus Housing Office
The Housing Office is responsible for the application and contract records for all single students living in campus residence halls and apartments, The Village, University Town Center, and Graduate Student Housing. Advisers are available on a drop-in basis to assist students with any questions regarding housing contract policies and procedures, housing and dining charges, payment plan options, meal plans, and more.
Location: 104 Hahn Student Services Building (8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday). Information is available at housing and by email at housing@ucsc.edu.
Community Rentals Office
Students interested in finding their own accommodations in the off-campus community are encouraged to use the resources available through the UCSC Community Rentals Office. Community Rentals maintains online rental listings to assist students in locating rental housing and serves as an information and advising resource.
Location: 104 Hahn Student Services (8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday). Information is available at community rentals and by email at communityrentals@ucsc.edu.