Welcome to UC Santa Cruz
Welcome to UC Santa Cruz!
The student experience at UCSC is unique, fusing high academic standards with a passion for transformative engagement in the world. UCSC is ranked as a top public university for students seeking to make an impact. The student experience is shaped by exceptional faculty whose work is at the forefront of their fields and who are invested in helping students grow their own intellectual interests. As a result, UCSC is routinely ranked among the top universities in the world for research excellence and impact. Our students have opportunities to collaborate with top scholars and scientists in the creation of new knowledge.
But what defines UCSC is not just academic excellence or our spectacularly beautiful campus. It is our diverse community. The motto of UCSC’s first residential college is “the pursuit of truth in the company of friends.” Since 1965, UCSC has been the site of innovation and experimentation about what a university community could and should be. Today, our residential college system provides flexible support and opportunities aimed at recognizing the student as a whole person and prioritizing their success. Only through community can we realize the responsibilities we have to one another, and the ways the pursuit of knowledge can improve the lives of our many communities — local, national, and global.
I encourage you to take advantage of all of the opportunities that UCSC has to offer. There is so much to learn about — from the depths of the ocean to the farthest stars and everything in between.
I welcome you to UC Santa Cruz, which is not just a place, but a community of learning that spans the world.
Sincerely,
Cynthia Larive
Chancellor