Campus Merit - Entering transfers
Award
$3,000/yr in-state
$3,000/yr out-of-state
Beginning 2026-27, award amounts are $3,000 per year and renewable as long as Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) is met. For first-year freshmen, that totals $12,000 paid over 4 years. For entering transfers, that totals $6,000 paid over 2 years. For prior year recipients, the award amount is $2,000.
Eligibility: Campus Merit Scholarships are awarded in recognition of high academic achievement. Financial need is not required. Campus Merit scholarships are open to first-year and transfer students, including international, non-resident, and California residents, including those qualifying under AB540 exemption.
How to apply: ["Included in UC Admissions Application scholarship review (no separate scholarship application required)", "Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) for renewal"]
Campus Merit - First-year freshman
Award
$3,000/yr in-state
$3,000/yr out-of-state
Beginning 2026-27, award amounts are $3,000 per year and renewable as long as Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) is met. For first-year freshmen, that totals $12,000 paid over 4 years. For entering transfers, that totals $6,000 paid over 2 years. For prior year recipients, the award amount is $2,000.
Eligibility: Campus Merit Scholarships are awarded in recognition of high academic achievement. Financial need is not required. Campus Merit scholarships are open to first-year and transfer students, including international, non-resident, and California residents, including those qualifying under AB540 exemption.
How to apply: ["Included in UC Admissions Application scholarship review (no separate scholarship application required)", "Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) for renewal"]
Campus Merit - Prior year recipients
Award
$2,000/yr in-state
$2,000/yr out-of-state
Beginning 2026-27, award amounts are $3,000 per year and renewable as long as Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) is met. For first-year freshmen, that totals $12,000 paid over 4 years. For entering transfers, that totals $6,000 paid over 2 years. For prior year recipients, the award amount is $2,000.
Eligibility: Campus Merit Scholarships are awarded in recognition of high academic achievement. Financial need is not required. Campus Merit scholarships are open to first-year and transfer students, including international, non-resident, and California residents, including those qualifying under AB540 exemption.
How to apply: ["Included in UC Admissions Application scholarship review (no separate scholarship application required)", "Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) for renewal"]
Deans' Award - First-year (total)
Award
$12,000-$100,000 total out-of-state
For first-year students, awards range from $12,000 2 $100,000, paid evenly over four years ($3,000 2 $25,000 per year). For transfer students, awards range from $6,000 2 $42,000, paid evenly over 2 years ($3,000 2 $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.
Eligibility: Newly admitted Out-of-State and International first-year and transfer students are automatically considered for the Undergraduate Deans Award during the admissions cycle.
How to apply: ["Automatically considered during admissions (no separate scholarship application required)", "Accept award on MyUCSC each year to receive Deans' award"]
📋 Deans' awards must be accepted on MyUCSC each year; awards not accepted prior to the end of the first term of
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Deans' Award - Transfer (total)
Award
$6,000-$42,000 total out-of-state
For first-year students, awards range from $12,000 2 $100,000, paid evenly over four years ($3,000 2 $25,000 per year). For transfer students, awards range from $6,000 2 $42,000, paid evenly over 2 years ($3,000 2 $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.
Eligibility: Newly admitted Out-of-State and International first-year and transfer students are automatically considered for the Undergraduate Deans Award during the admissions cycle.
How to apply: ["Automatically considered during admissions (no separate scholarship application required)", "Accept award on MyUCSC each year to receive Deans' award"]
📋 Deans' awards must be accepted on MyUCSC each year; awards not accepted prior to the end of the first term of
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General campus scholarship range (annual)
Award
$250-$10,000/yr in-state
$250-$10,000/yr out-of-state
UC Santa Cruz Scholarships range from $250 to $10,000 per year. (The average award is about $1,500.)
Eligibility: Entering UCSC students are considered for scholarships based on responses to scholarship questions on the UC Application for Undergraduate Admission. Your application essay will serve as your scholarship essay. Selected students are notified throughout the academic year. All continuing students are automatically considered for scholarships based on various factors including cumulative GPA.
How to apply: ["Complete UC Admissions Application (scholarship questions and essay)", "Continuing students: considered based on cumulative GPA"]
Merit and restricted scholarship upper range
Award
$5,000/yr in-state
$5,000/yr out-of-state
UC Santa Cruz Scholarships range from $250 to $10,000 per year. (The average award is about $1,500.)
Eligibility: Entering UCSC students are considered for scholarships based on responses to scholarship questions on the UC Application for Undergraduate Admission. Your application essay will serve as your scholarship essay. Selected students are notified throughout the academic year. All continuing students are automatically considered for scholarships based on various factors including cumulative GPA.
How to apply: ["Complete UC Admissions Application (scholarship questions and essay)", "Continuing students: considered based on cumulative GPA"]
Award
$20,000 total in-state
One or more students from each college are selected to receive the award, which provides $20,000 in total support$10,000 per year for two years. Additionally, Pister Scholars receive priority enrollment.
Eligibility: To be considered, applicants must: Be admitted to UC Santa Cruz as a transfer student from one of the 13 participating community colleges.
How to apply: ["Be admitted as a transfer from one of the 13 eligible community colleges", "Submit FAFSA or California Dream Act Application by March 2", "Select the scholarship category in the Transfer Students section of the UC Admissions application"]
Regents Scholarship (annual)
Award
$5,000/yr in-state
$5,000/yr out-of-state
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 totaling $10,000 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.
Eligibility: The Regents Scholarship is awarded in recognition of outstanding academic achievement. Selection is based on a holistic review of the strength and breadth of the high school academic program, grades, and other academic criteria, including recognition of merit within the context of opportunities. Regents scholarships are open to first-year and transfer students, including international, non-resident, and California residents, including those qualifying under the AB540 exemption.
How to apply: ["Included in UC Admissions Application scholarship review (no separate scholarship application required)", "Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) for renewal"]
📋 Renewal requires meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP).
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Regents Scholarship (four-year total for freshmen)
Award
$20,000 total in-state
$20,000 total out-of-state
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 totaling $10,000 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.
Eligibility: The Regents Scholarship is awarded in recognition of outstanding academic achievement. Selection is based on a holistic review of the strength and breadth of the high school academic program, grades, and other academic criteria, including recognition of merit within the context of opportunities. Regents scholarships are open to first-year and transfer students, including international, non-resident, and California residents, including those qualifying under the AB540 exemption.
How to apply: ["Included in UC Admissions Application scholarship review (no separate scholarship application required)", "Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) for renewal"]
📋 Renewal requires meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP).
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Sabatte Family Scholarship (annual amount)
Award
$9,000-$17,000/yr in-state
This prestigious scholarship ensures high-merit students with financial need are fully funded after other grants and scholarships. 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.
Eligibility: It is open to first-year freshmen who are California residents, including those qualifying under AB540 exemption.
How to apply: ["FAFSA or California Dream Act Application (CADAA)", "Included in UC Admissions Application scholarship section (no separate scholarship application required)"]
📋 Renewable while meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP).
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Sabatte Family Scholarship (four-year total)
Award
$36,000-$68,000 total in-state
This prestigious scholarship ensures high-merit students with financial need are fully funded after other grants and scholarships. 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.
Eligibility: It is open to first-year freshmen who are California residents, including those qualifying under AB540 exemption.
How to apply: ["FAFSA or California Dream Act Application (CADAA)", "Included in UC Admissions Application scholarship section (no separate scholarship application required)"]
📋 Renewable while meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP).
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