Scholarships at UC Santa Cruz

UCSC Merit Scholarships

All entering undergraduates admitted each fall are automatically considered for UCSC merit scholarships in March based on the UC Application for Undergraduate Admissions & Scholarships.  Selection is based on holistic review of UC Application and achievements within the context of opportunities.

Sabatte Family Scholarship

The Sabatte Family Scholarship is the highest honor scholarship made possible through an extraordinary bequest from UCSC alumnus Richard “Rick” Sabatte (Kresge ’75, psychology).  This prestigious scholarship ensures high-merit students with financial need are fully funded after other grants and scholarships.  It is open to first-year freshmen who are California residents, including those qualifying under AB540 exemption.

It is considered a ‘full ride’ scholarship so that students’ financial aid packages are comprised solely of gift aid to cover the cost of attendance during the academic year.  Award amounts vary annually and range from $9,000 to $17,000. Over the four years, the total value range is $36,000 to $68,000.  Amounts are based on individual student financial need level stemming from their financial aid applications (FAFSA or CADAA) and other resources received. The scholarship is renewable as long as Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) is met, and funds a total of four years or 12 quarters, not including summer.  

In addition to a monetary award, scholars receive priority enrollment and are eligible for a housing guarantee, provided all housing requirements and deadlines are met. Learn more about the housing guarantee. 

Read the Sabatte News Announcement and watch the Announcement from Chancellor.

Regents Scholarships

The Regents Scholarship is awarded in recognition of outstanding academic achievement.  Financial need is not required.  Selection is based on holistic review of strength and breadth of high school academic program, grades and other academic criteria including recognizing merit within the context of opportunities.  Regents scholarships are open to first-year freshman and transfer students including international, non-residents, and California residents including those qualifying under AB540 exemption.

Award amounts are $5,000 per year and renewable as long as Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) is met.  For first-year freshmen, that totals $20,000 paid over 4 years. For entering transfers, that totals $10,000 paid over 2 years. In addition to a monetary award, scholars receive priority enrollment and are eligible for a housing guarantee, provided all housing requirements and deadlines are met. Learn more about the housing guarantee.

Campus Merit Scholarships

Campus Merit Scholarships are just below Regents and are also awarded in recognition of high academic achievement. Financial need is not required.  Campus Merit scholarships are open to first-year freshman and transfer students including international, non-residents, and California residents including those qualifying under AB540 exemption.

Award amounts are $2,000 per year and renewable as long as Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) is met. For first-year freshmen, that totals $8,000 paid over 4 years. For entering transfers, that totals $4,000 paid over 2 years. 

Students who are select to receive Campus Merit Scholarships will receive awards from the following funds made possible by the generosity of donor gifts in support of undergraduate scholarships:

Pearl B. Bell Scholarship

This scholarship is in memory of Pearl B. Bell who resided in San Francisco.

Kenneth and Florence Caldwell Scholarship

This scholarship was established from the estate of Florence Caldwell.

Didden-Ilksen Scholarship

This scholarship is in memory of Margarete Didden-Ilksen who resided in Carmel to support undergraduate students.

William R. Hewlett Scholarship

This scholarship is from the founder of the Hewlett-Packard Corporation and his wife and supports undergraduates with financial need.

Frederick A. and Theresa Hihn Scholarship

This scholarship was set up by Ruth Benner in memory of her grandparents Frederick and Theresa Hihn to assist undergraduates with financial need. Since the death of Ruth Benner in 1988, her son-in-law, Richard T. Lorenz, Jr., has continued making contributions.

John and Dulcine Chapin Scholarship Scholarship

This scholarship was established by John and Dulcine Chapin to assist students with financial need.

Ethelinda M. James Scholarship

This scholarship is in memory of Ethelinda M. James.

Barbara Franger Scholarship

This scholarship was setup in 1999 in memory of Barbara Franger.

Ruth Emma Johnson Scholarship

This scholarship was set up in 1969 in memory of Ruth Emma Johnson who was a resident of Santa Cruz County. Funds support scholarships based upon scholastic ability and need, in any field of study.

Katherine M. and Raymond R. Sage Scholarship

This scholarship was established in memory of Katherine M. and Raymond R. Sage to support undergraduate students.

William H. Snyder Scholarship

This scholarship was established in memory of the long-time principal of Hollywood High School and founder of Los Angeles City College.

Carol and William Symons Endowed Scholarship

This scholarship was established by Carol and Wiliam Symons to support undergraduate transfer students with need.

Patsy Taylor Memorial Scholarship

This scholarship was established in 1982 by Chancellor Emeritus Angus Taylor in memory of his wife Patsy. Funds support undergraduates in need of financial aid who exhibit outstanding academic achievement.

Undergraduate Endowed Scholarship

This scholarship was setup by various donors to assist students with need.

National Merit Endowment

These scholarships were set up by various donors. Supports scholarships to be awarded to well-rounded, entering freshman students and be limited to four years.

University Scholarship

These scholarships were set up by various donors.

University Memorial Scholarship

This scholarship was set up in 1950 by various donors.

Dorothy Wilson Scholarship

This scholarship was set up in 1975 in memory of Dorothy Wilson, a resident of Santa Cruz County to support undergraduate students.

Adolph and Mary Miller Scholarship

Adolph Miller and Mary Sprague Miller gifted the Regents property in Boulder Creek to use as a conference facility/recreation center.  In 1994, the Regents sold the property that was divided to create 4 new scholarship endowments: One at Berkeley and 3 at UCSC. Two of the UCSC scholarships fund grad fellowships in Environmental Studies (Sproul and Newton) and the bulk of the property sale created this Adolph C. Miller & Mary Sprague Miller Scholarship endowment to support undergraduate students.Sabatte News Announcement

Non-California Resident Scholarships

Undergraduate Deans’ Awards

Newly admitted Out-of-State and International first-year and transfer students are automatically considered for the Undergraduate Deans’ Award during the admissions cycle.  For first-year students, awards range from $12,000 – $100,000, paid evenly over four years ($3,000 – $25,000 per year).  For transfer students, awards range from  $6,000 – $42,000, paid evenly over 2 years ($3,000 – $21,000 per year). The award is intended to offset the non-resident tuition and will be discontinued if the student becomes a California resident. 

Our holistic review of candidates considers academic preparation as demonstrated through the information provided on the UC application, including courses completed and in progress. The award is in recognition of students’ academic and cultural contributions to our community of scholars.  Awards may be combined with our highly distinctive Regents or Campus Merit Scholarships for outstanding academic achievement.  Email notifications are typically sent out mid-March annually.

Deans’ must be accepted on the MyUCSC student portal each year. Awards not accepted prior to the end of the first term of attendance each year may be rescinded.