The extraordinary diversity of our graduate students not only advances knowledge creation and informs policy decisions as these students go on to successful careers; it also enhances the success of our undergraduate students as they benefit from the teaching, guidance, and inspiration of a thriving and diverse graduate cohort. 

UC Santa Cruz is one of only 66 members of the prestigious Association of American Universities, an accomplishment limited to institutions at the forefront of research impact and educational excellence. This membership reflects the world-changing capacity and quality of UCSC’s faculty, research output, and graduate programs. 

Top graduate students seek out UC Santa Cruz to work alongside our world-renowned faculty. Graduate students fuel our research enterprise and multiply our research capacity by contributing diverse perspectives, new questions, and bold ambitions. UC Santa Cruz plays a critical role in encouraging underrepresented students to pursue advanced degrees. This extraordinary diversity advances knowledge creation and informs policy decisions as these students go on to successful careers. It also enhances the success of our undergraduate students as they benefit from the teaching, guidance, and inspiration of a thriving and diverse graduate cohort. 

Yet the high cost of living in Santa Cruz has become an obstacle to UCSC continuing to be an institution of choice for applicants. Many graduate students seek outside work to sustain themselves during their studies, which distracts them from their research and prolongs their time to degree completion. These demands may also crowd out time for personal well-being and professional development.

UC Santa Cruz is committed to five-year graduate support packages for doctoral students—including increasing the availability of summer funding—to allow emerging scholars to focus on their research efforts through the completion of their dissertations. We want to provide increased access to professional development and mentoring support to ensure that graduate students can explore potential careers as cutting-edge leaders in their fields, both within and outside academia. We are committed to providing additional access to mentors and campus support systems to help nurture a healthy environment for personal success and well-being.