Side-by-side
University of California-Santa Cruz vs University of Nevada-Reno
The numbers that actually decide it — net price after aid, how hard each is to get into, and how many students finish — compared straight across. Net price beats sticker price every time.
Similar selectivity (74% vs 66%) but out-of-state cost runs $28k — meaningfully less than $50k.
| University of California-Santa Cruz | University of Nevada-Reno | |
|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 66% | 74% |
| Net price (in-state) what the average family actually pays after aid | $16,005 | $9,578 |
| Net price (out-of-state) | $50,205 | $27,720 |
| Sticker tuition (in-state) | $16,005 | $9,578 |
| Sticker tuition (out-of-state) | $50,205 | $27,720 |
| Graduation rate | 75% | 62% |
| Total enrollment | 17,940 | 15,599 |
Net price = sticker price minus the average grant aid for that school (IPEDS / Dept. of Education data). Real numbers vary by family income and student stats — verify each school's own Net Price Calculator before committing. Canonical: /compare/university-of-california-santa-cruz-vs-university-of-nevada-reno.