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University of California - Santa Cruz (UC Santa Cruz)

1156 High St, Santa Cruz, CA 95064

Overview

  • OPEID/FAFSA College Code: 00132100
  • Chancellor: George Blumenthal
  • Type: Public, 4-Year or Above
  • Calendar System: Quarter
  • Highest Degree: Doctoral - Research
  • Local Area: Small City
  • Student Enrollment: 17,187
  • College Alias: UC Santa Cruz, UCSC
  • College Mascot: Banana Slugs

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About
The University of California - Santa Cruz, located in Santa Cruz, California, was founded in 1965, though plans for the school date as early as 1930. The school is a member of the University of California System, one of the largest college systems in the United States. The campus was placed in Santa Cruz over competing San Jose due to the locations beauty, but the remote nature of the location required the construction of residential housing by the school. The school was designed to offer a small liberal arts college feel with the resources of a full research institution.

Campus
The northern part of the campus has remained undeveloped and forested, allowing for hiking trails and is used as a residential area for recreational vehicles. The school is bordered by the Santa Cruz Mountains, Harvey West Park, and the Pogonip Open Space Preserve. The campus is connected by footbridges allowing for quick travel and his home to student built shrines made from detritus from the woods. Several natural points of interest exist throughout the campus, including the Porter Caves. The school's proximity to nature and open minded atmosphere provide a unique atmosphere for learning.

Academics
University of California - Santa Cruz offers a large number of majors, allowing students to choose the program of study that best suits their future academic and professional goals. Students will take courses related to their major as well as general education requirements, some may choose to take elective courses outside of their area of study or pursue a minor degree which provide additional educational opportunities outside their major. Graduate programs are also available, having separate requirements for admission including an undergraduate degree.

Programs offered include:


Admissions and Financial Aid
Students interested in enrollment at UC Santa Cruz may qualify for admission by meeting one of three requirements. The first is earning a GPA of 3.0 (3.4 for out of state applicants), the second is being in the top 9% of one's graduating class, and the third is having earned extremely high standardized test scores. Students must submit a completed application for admission, along with essay, transcripts and test scores which will be reviewed by the admissions committee. Once a decision is rendered, the student will be notified and provided the necessary for beginning their college experience. Graduate students must have an undergraduate degree and most programs require a high GRE score to be considered for admission. California residents are given enrollment priority.

Financial aid is available in the form of loans, grants, scholarships and work study programs. Students in need of financial assistance must obtain a federal PIN and submit a completed Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), the resulting student aid report (SAR) from which will be used to determine financial need, program eligibility and monetary awards. Financial aid must be reapplied for at the start of each academic year, and may be asked to provide additional financial documentation to verify the accuracy of the SAR prior to the disbursement of funds.

Athletics
The UCSC Banana Slugs participate in intercollegiate athletics through the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III. Intercollegiate athletics provide students with the opportunity to participate in healthy competition with rival schools on a controlled environment, learning skills and habits that are useful in one's person, academic and professional life. These include teamwork, discipline, and good health habits. Students will also experience the camaraderie associated with experiencing the shared successes and failures with their teammates. Students are encouraged to participate in tryouts, which take place throughout the year for varying sports. Dates, times and forms may be obtained through the athletic department.

Athletic programs offered:

  • Basketball
  • Cross Country
  • Golf
  • Swimming
  • Soccer
  • Tennis
  • Track
  • Volleyball
*Not all of the programs above may be offered
 

Student Services Offered

  • Remedial Services
  • Academic or Career Counseling Services
  • Employment Services
  • Placement Assistance For Graduates
  • On-Campus Day Care Available

Special Learning Opportunities

  • Study Abroad
  • Teaching K-12 Certification Offered

    • - Can Complete Preparation With Specialization

    - State Approved for Certification

Website:

www.ucsc.edu

Mission Statement

Click Here to Read the Mission Statement

Campus Map

Click Here to Launch the Campus Map of University of California - Santa Cruz

Governing System

  • University of California

Accreditation

  • Western Association of Schools and Colleges, Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities

Facilities and Programs Offered

  • Library Available

College Carnegie Classifications

  • Basic Classification
    • - Research Universities (Very High Research Activity)
  • Undergraduate Classification
    • - Arts & Sciences Focus, High Graduate Coexistence
  • Graduate Classification
    • - Comprehensive Doctoral (No Medical/Veterinary)
  • Undergraduate Profile Classification
    • - Full-Time Four-Year, More Selective, Higher Transfer-In
  • Enrollment Classification
    • - Very High Undergraduate
  • Size Classification
    • - Large Four-Year, Primarily Residential

Degrees & Programs

Awarded Student Degrees and Programs

The following is not a comprehensive or current list of degrees or programs offered. The table below details the number of degrees or certificates that were awarded in the 2010-11 school year to graduates broken down by degree or major type. Please contact University of California - Santa Cruz directly to learn more about what is currently being offered.

Agriculture Operations

 CertificateBachelorMasterDoctorMore Actions
Plant Sciences-9--
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Biological and Biomedical Sciences

 CertificateBachelorMasterDoctorMore Actions
Bioinformatics-3174
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Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Other-63--
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Biology-96--
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Cell and Molecular Biology-18515
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Ecology-43--
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Ecology, Evolution, Systematics and Population Biology, Other--65
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Environmental Toxicology--22
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Marine Biology and Biological Oceanography-65--
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Molecular Biochemistry-38--
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Neuroscience-35--
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Business and Marketing Studies

 CertificateBachelorMasterDoctorMore Actions
Business Economics-346--
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Communications and Journalism

 CertificateBachelorMasterDoctorMore Actions
Communication and Media Studies, Other10---
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Computer and Information Sciences

 CertificateBachelorMasterDoctorMore Actions
Computer-34227
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Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services, Other-24--
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Computer Information Technology Services Administration and Management, Other-1--
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Web and Digital Design-39--
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Education

 CertificateBachelorMasterDoctorMore Actions
Education--1035
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Physics Teacher Education-1--
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Engineering

 CertificateBachelorMasterDoctorMore Actions
Biomedical and Medical Engineering-20--
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Computer Engineering-26137
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Electrical Engineering-19913
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English Language and Literature

 CertificateBachelorMasterDoctorMore Actions
English Language and Literature, Letters, Other-226107
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Ethnic Cultural and Gender Studies

 CertificateBachelorMasterDoctorMore Actions
German Studies-3--
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Italian Studies-6--
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United States Studies-57--
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Womens Studies-39--
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Chicano Studies-51--
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Foreign Languages and Literature

 CertificateBachelorMasterDoctorMore Actions
Foreign Languages and Literatures-39--
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Linguistics-4041
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Classical Languages, Literatures and Linguistics-5--
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History

 CertificateBachelorMasterDoctorMore Actions
History-18152
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Interdisciplinary Studies

 CertificateBachelorMasterDoctorMore Actions
Interdisciplinary Studies, Other-14-5
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Legal Professions and Studies

 CertificateBachelorMasterDoctorMore Actions
Legal Studies-56--
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Mathematics and Statistics

 CertificateBachelorMasterDoctorMore Actions
Applied Mathematics--54
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Mathematics-5264
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Natural Resources and Conservation

 CertificateBachelorMasterDoctorMore Actions
Environmental Science-33--
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Environmental Studies-20187
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Philosophy and Religious Studies

 CertificateBachelorMasterDoctorMore Actions
Philosophy-6213
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Physical Sciences

 CertificateBachelorMasterDoctorMore Actions
Astronomy--58
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Astrophysics-11--
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Chemistry-37211
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Geology and Earth Science-4848
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Oceanography, Chemical and Physical--13
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Physics-25159
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Psychology

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Psychology-40487
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Public Administration and Social Services

 CertificateBachelorMasterDoctorMore Actions
Community Organization and Advocacy-103--
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Social Sciences

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Anthropology-16518
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Economics-89--
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Economics, Other-2822-
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International Economics--196
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Political Science-12512
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Social Sciences, Other--6-
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Sociology-19653
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Visual and Performing Arts

 CertificateBachelorMasterDoctorMore Actions
Art History-54--
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Drama945--
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Film, Video and Photographic Arts, Other-123--
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Fine Studio Arts--8-
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Music-172-
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Music Theory and Composition---2
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Art Studies-119--
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Reviews

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Overall Rating: 5.0
  • Reviewed on: January 26, 2011 Flag Review
  • Rating:
  • UCSC is a unique, quirky university, though less so than it used to be. Gone are the days when you could get a stellar education here without ever receiving a single letter grade. But narrative evaluations from every teacher still accompany those grades, giving more personalized feedback on your strengths and weaknesses than you'll get from a lot of places. The hippie influence still flavors UCSC despite attempts to bring it more into the main stream. The programs are, in general, very strong, and several of the departments are world leaders in their fields.

    The setting of the campus can't be beat, nestled in the redwoods and sloping down to the great meadow. Deer cross your path on your way to class.

    If you want a program that's a little off-beat or flexible yet still academically strong, this might be the college for you.

    I have to warn you, the housing situation is a constant struggle, and can be very expensive. And since the college is up the hill, commuting from the nearest inexpensive areas can be time consuming, particularly by public transit (which is good and traditionally free to students, but a bit roundabout from outlying areas).

    But if that doesn't scare you off, and neither does the weirdness of the Banana Slug as a mascot, I have to say this was an absolutely wonderful place to go to school, to grow as a person and as a scholar, to live.

    Keep Santa Cruz weird!! Fiat Slug!

Admissions

Disclaimer

The admissions information is provided for informational purposes only and does not represent current or future admissions policy.

Admissions Quick Facts

Admissions Summary

Prospective students should view the admission and application details below to get a better idea of the candidates UC Santa Cruz accepts. Some of the details provided may include admissions application requirements and recommendations, a range of SAT/ACT scores of accepted students, as well as any college credits that may be accepted. This information can be used to get a better idea of your chances of getting into UC Santa Cruz.

Also, make sure to visit the admissions office webpage (http://admissions.ucsc.edu), where you can learn more about any additional application requirements and deadlines.

The UC Santa Cruz admissions office phone number is (831) 459-4008. This is the last updated number we have on file, please contact us if incorrect.

You can also apply online here: http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu

Admissions Links

Application Fees

  • Undergraduate Application Fee: $60.00 Fall 2010
  • Graduate Application Fee: $70.00 Fall 2010

College Credits Accepted

  • Dual Credit
  • AP Credit

Considerations for Admission

  • High School or Secondary School GPA
    • - Required
  • High School or Secondary School Rank
    • - Recommended
  • High School or Secondary School Record
    • - Required
  • College Preparatory Program Completion
    • - Recommended
  • Admission Test Scores (SAT ®, ACT ®, ...)
    • - Required
  • TOEFL
    • - Required

Undergraduate Admissions Fall 2010

 MaleFemaleTotal
Number of Applicants12,37715,26827,645
Number Granted Admission (%)7,646 (62%)9,997 (65%)17,643 (64%)
Number Admitted Who Enrolled (%)1,493 (20%)1,797 (18%)3,290 (19%)

Enrolled Students Submitting Test Scores Fall 2010

 NumberPercent (%)
SAT ® Exam3,15395%
ACT ® Exam1,40242%

SAT Scores for Accepted Students Fall 2010

 25th Percentile75th Percentile
SAT ® Critical Reading490630
SAT ® Math510640
SAT ® Writing500620

ACT Scores for Accepted Students Fall 2010

 25th Percentile75th Percentile
ACT ® Composite2127
ACT ® English2027
ACT ® Math2128

Enrollment Data

Overall Student Enrollment

  • Total Student Enrollment: 17,187

    • - Undergraduate: 15,668

    - Graduate: 1,519

Student Gender

  • Total Student Gender

    • - Male: 7,958

    - Female: 8,817

    - Ratio of Men to Women: 0.9 : 1

  • Undergraduate Gender

    • - Male: 7,155

    - Female: 8,104

    - Ratio of Men to Women: 0.9 : 1

  • Graduate Gender

    • - Male: 803

    - Female: 713

    - Ratio of Men to Women: 1.1 : 1

Student Attendance

  • Total Student Attendance

    • - Full-Time: 16,254

    - Part-Time: 521

  • Undergraduate Attendance

    • - Full-Time: 14,812

    - Part-Time: 447

  • Graduate Attendance

    • - Full-Time: 1,442

    - Part-Time: 74

Student Race Breakdown

 NumberPercent
Non-Resident Alien2782%
American Indian1170.7%
Black4052%
Asian3,43420%
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander400.2%
Hispanic3,31919%
White7,75945%
Unknown1,4839%

Student Age Breakdown

 NumberPercent
Age Under 183422%
Ages 18-196,53239%
Ages 20-216,06936%
Ages 22-242,05512%
Ages 25-291,0616%
Ages 30-344102%
Ages 35-391560.9%
Ages 40-49940.6%
Ages 50-65530.3%
Age Over 6530.02%

Graduation Rates

Disclaimer

The data listed below is for informational purposes only. Although graduation, transfer, and retention rates should be included in determining the performance of a school, it is only one of many factors to consider and may not provide a clear representation of the school's performance. These figures are based on a cohort or subset of students.

Graduation and Retention Rates Quick Facts

Retention Rates

The retention rate figures represent the percentage of first time students (full-time or part-time) that complete the first year and return the following year.

  • Full-Time Students: 91%
  • Part-Time Students: 70%

Overall Graduation Rates

 (%) of Entering Class
All Students73%

Graduation Rates By Gender

 (%) of Entering Class
Male69%
Female77%

Graduation Rates By Race

 (%) of Entering Class
Non-Resident Alien56%
American Indian69%
Black65%
Asian71%
Hispanic72%
White75%
Unknown74%

Graduation Rates By Number of Years to Graduate

 (%) of Entering Class
4 Years or Less50%
5 Years70%
6 Years73%

Tuition & Fees

Disclaimer:

The figures listed below are for informational purposes only and do not represent current or future tuition, fees, and expenses.

Tuition and Fees Quick Facts

Alternative Tuition Plans Offered

  • Tuition Payment Plan

    - Allows tuition to be paid in installments over an agreed upon period of time.

To get a personalized estimate for the cost of attending University of California - Santa Cruz, visit their online calculator by clicking the following link: http://www2.ucsc.edu

Estimated Cost of Attendance or "Net Price" for Full-Time Beginning Students

The "Net Price" figures apply to undergraduate students beginning full-time enrollment who have paid the in-state/district tuition and were awarded grants or scholarships.

 2010-112009-102008-09
Average Net Price$14,238$13,745$14,120
$0 - $30,000$9,431$8,880$9,376
$30,000 - $48,000$10,454$11,025$11,925
$48,001 - $75,000$15,020$15,392$16,769
$75,001 - $110,000$23,049$22,615$23,137
More Than $110,000$29,053$26,924$25,436

Undergraduate Student Tuition, Fees, and Expenses

2011-122010-112009-10
In-District Tuition and Fees$13,416$11,505$9,447
In-State Tuition and Fees$13,416$11,505$9,447
Out of State Tuition and Fees$36,294$34,384$32,164
Books and Supplies$1,400$1,405$1,393

Undergraduate Housing Expenses

2011-122010-112009-10
On Campus
Room and Board$14,727$14,171$13,642
Other Expenses$3,472$3,715$3,584
Off Campus
Room and Board$10,142$10,435$10,176
Other Expenses$4,252$4,570$4,433
Off Campus with Family
Other Expenses$9,273$4,570$9,282

Undergraduate Total Expenses

2011-122010-112009-10
On Campus
In-District$33,015$30,796$28,066
In-State$33,015$30,796$28,066
Out of State$55,893$53,675$50,783
Off Campus
In-District$29,210$27,915$25,449
In-State$29,210$27,915$25,449
Out of State$52,088$50,794$48,166
Off Campus with Family
In-District$24,089$22,413$20,122
In-State$24,089$22,413$20,122
Out of State$46,967$45,292$42,839

Financial Aid

Disclaimer

The figures listed below are for informational purposes only and does not represent current or future financial aid details. Financial aid is available for those who qualify.

Financial Aid Quick Facts

Financial Aid Office Phone Number

The UC Santa Cruz financial aid office phone number is (831) 459-2963. This is the most up to date contact information we have, please contact us if incorrect.

Financial Aid Office Webpage

UC Santa Cruz Financial Aid Office

Financial Aid Breakdown 2010-11

 # Receiving Aid% Receiving AidAverage Amount
Any Financial Aid2,39973%-
Any Grant or Scholarship Aid2,09764%$16,552
All Federal Grants1,38742%$5,378
Pell Grants1,36642%$4,476
Other Federal Grants1,35241%$995
State/Local Grants & Scholarships1,31740%$6,530
Institutional Grants & Scholarships2,02462%$9,215
All Student Loans1,85957%$5,506
Federal Student Loans1,85356%$5,280
Other Student Loans271%$16,711

Federal Loans - Student Repayment Default Rates

This table shows the number and percentage of students who received federal student loans but had problems paying them back. A high default rate may represent a lack of quality instruction or a poor hiring climate for graduates of a school.

 200920082007
Default Rate (%)2.5%1.4%1.3%
Number in Default624335
Number in Repayment2,4293,0062,517

Housing & Meals

Campus Housing Information - Room & Board

  • Combined Estimated Cost For Room and Board:

    • $14,727

  • Are On-Campus Board or Meal Plans Provided?:

    • - Yes, however the number of meals may vary per week.

  • Is Living On-Campus Required?:

    • - No

On-Campus Dorms - Details

  • Total Dormatory Capacity: 7,942

Crime & Safety

Arrests Made Per Year

This table reports the number of arrests made per year that took place both on and off campus. These figures were reported by the institutions themselves and have not been subject to independent review.

 2010-112009-102008-09
Off Campus Surrounding Area
Drug Related1--
Liquor Related8--
On Campus
Weapons Related445
Drug Related279
Liquor Related222
Nearby Public Area
Drug Related-11
Liquor Related-12
Residence Hall
Drug Related-1-

Criminal Offenses Per Year

This table reports the number of criminal charges per year that took place both on and off campus. These figures were reported by the institutions themselves and have not been subject to independent review.

 2010-112009-102008-09
Off Campus Surrounding Area
Robbery1--
Burglary6-1
On Campus
Forcible Rape544
Robbery2--
Aggravated Assault312
Burglary344566
Vehicle Theft432
Arson112
Nearby Public Area
Robbery1--
Aggravated Assault132
Vehicle Theft-1-
Residence Hall
Forcible Rape134
Aggravated Assault2--
Burglary252538
Arson--1

Sports & Teams

Athletic Associations

  • Member of National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)

NCAA or NAIA Conferences

  • College Basketball Conference: Division Iii Independents
  • College Track & Field Conference: Division Iii Independents

Sports and Players Breakdown

 TotalMen's TeamsWomen's Teams
All Athletes245109136
Unduplicated Athletes245109136
Basketball321616
Golf5-5
Soccer572631
Swimming and Diving673235
Tennis281612
Track and Field, X-Country21-21
Volleyball351916

Coaches Salary Breakdown

 TotalMen's TeamsWomen's Teams
Head Coaches-$14,017$10,191
Assistant Coaches-$3,088$4,000

Number of Coaches Per Team

 TotalMen's TeamsWomen's Teams
All Coaches351520
Basketball523
Head Coaches211
Assistant Coaches312
Golf2-2
Head Coaches1-1
Assistant Coaches1-1
Soccer844
Head Coaches211
Assistant Coaches633
Swimming and Diving633
Head Coaches211
Assistant Coaches422
Tennis321
Head Coaches211
Assistant Coaches11-
Track and Field, X-Country2-2
Head Coaches1-1
Assistant Coaches1-1
Volleyball945
Head Coaches211
Assistant Coaches734

Faculty & Instructors

Employee Type Breakdown

 TotalFull-TimePart-Time
Total Employees3,6692,897772
Faculty Status785562223
Tenured Faculty4284226
Graduate Assistants1,219-1,219
Instruction, Research and/or Public Service1,213859354
Primarily Instruction29458236
Primarily Research363260103
Primarily Public Service2323-
Executive, Administrative and/or Managerial16715413
Other Professionals1,2291,048181
Technical and/or Paraprofessional1,060836224
Clerical And Secretarial394288106
Skilled Crafts79763
Service and/or Maintenance48039189

Full-Time Faculty Average Salary Breakdown

 TotalMaleFemale
9/10 Month Contract
All Faculty$103,684 (540)$110,520 (334)$92,599 (206)
Professor$125,307 (283)$131,377 (191)$112,703 (92)
Associate Professor$85,135 (122)$88,090 (66)$81,653 (56)
Assistant Professor$75,579 (92)$77,154 (56)$73,131 (36)
Lecturer$74,432 (42)$80,290 (21)$68,573 (21)
11/12 Month Contract
All Faculty$107,364 (36)$119,706 (22)$87,968 (14)
Professor$175,788 (17)$166,477 (13)$206,050 (4)
Associate Professor$93,750 (2)$92,800 (1)$94,700 (1)
Assistant Professor$90,350 (2)$99,400 (1)$81,300 (1)
Equated 9 Month Contract
All Faculty$102,694 (576)$109,743 (356)$91,287 (220)
Professor$126,356 (300)$131,685 (204)$115,032 (96)
Associate Professor$85,000 (124)$87,909 (67)$81,580 (57)
Assistant Professor$75,544 (94)$77,227 (57)$72,952 (37)
Lecturer$74,432 (42)$80,290 (21)$68,573 (21)
Source: IPEDS Survey 2008-2011: Data obtained from the US Dept. of Education's Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). Data may vary depending on school and academic year.
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