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Santa Cruz, CA · Physics & astronomy

Physics & astronomy at University of California, Santa Cruz

University of California, Santa Cruz graduates about 76 physics & astronomy majors a year, 2% of its graduating class. That puts it 94th of 525 schools we score for physics & astronomy, a strong program at 73 out of 100. Research spending in the field runs about $22 million a year, a rough guide to how many labs and projects undergraduates can join.

73/100Strong#94 of 525 for physics & astronomy →
Graduates a year762% of the class
Median pay 4 years out$36,000
Research in the field$22Ma year, NSF
Admit rate66%whole school

Around University of California, Santa Cruz

An open plaza at Science Hill, located between Thimann Labs (left) and Thimann L
UCSC Science Hill 2017-05-05Photo: Ponderosapine210 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Just one of many. In fact you can even see a second one in the bottom right. ^_^
Leaking roof in Science Library, UCSCPhoto: Mike Fernwood from Santa Cruz, California, United States · CC BY-SA 2.0 · source
The Science Hill Bridge is a steel truss footbridge over a ravine that connects
UCSC Science Hill BridgePhoto: Ponderosapine210 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
The Main Stage of UCSC's Theatre Arts Center.
UCSC Main StagePhoto: Ponderosapine210 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source

Where physics & astronomy happens

Buildings on campus that fit the field: Earth & Marine Sciences, Science & Engineering Library, Physical Sciences Building, Biomedical Sciences, Natural Sciences 2 Annex, Social Sciences 1, Social Sciences 2, Natural Sciences 2.

Named buildings on the campus map: Academic 127 · Student housing 91 · Dorm 46 · Arts 15 · Library 6 · Dining 5.

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Nearby in the physics & astronomy ranking

  1. University of Wyoming 75
  2. Indiana University–Bloomington 74
  3. University of Tennessee–Knoxville 74
  4. University of San Diego 74
  5. Rochester Institute of Technology 73
  6. Clemson University 73
  7. North Carolina State University 73
  8. University at Buffalo–SUNY 73

Other strong majors at University of California, Santa Cruz

How the score works

The score is out of 100 and compares University of California, Santa Cruz with every school we score in physics & astronomy. It weighs the school's overall strength; how many students graduate in the major and what share of the class they are; research spending in the field (NSF); early pay against the same major nationally; how many courses the catalog lists; and test scores. 80+ is a standout program, 65+ strong, 45+ solid. Sources: US Department of Education (College Scorecard, IPEDS), NSF HERD, each school's current course catalog, OpenStreetMap and Wikimedia Commons.

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