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University of California - Santa Cruz
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University of California - Santa Cruz - Campus Housing - College ProwlerCollege Prowler3.85

Campus Housing

B+
Where does this grade come from?View all Campus Housing rankingsReview this school to add your opinion

Comparable Schools' Campus Housing Grades:

Quick Stats

On-Campus Housing Available? Yes
Campus Housing Capacity 7,920
Undergrads Living On Campus 47%
Number of Dormitories 10
Best Dorms
  • College 10
  • College 9
Worst Dorms Crown College

Student Author OverviewWhat's This?

It’s very hard to say which dorms are the best or worst for student living because they are all so different. All dorms are set up around residential colleges, of which there are 10. This means that there are a group of dorms in one area, which also usually has its own dining hall, café, and classrooms. Each college has a sort of theme based around what is taught in the college’s core classes, which all freshmen need to take. For example, Porter is the arts college and Crown is the science college. This doesn’t mean that you must be an art or science major to go to these places, but it may play a personal role in your experience. The main way to choose dorms is to try and figure out which one has the best atmosphere for you because they are all unique.

Each college comes along with a stereotype. While these generalizations may contain a grain of truth, they do not hold true for everyone in a particular dorm. Cowell may be known as the jock or preppy dorm and Kresge may be known for its eccentric hippie residents, but a new student can still find their niche wherever they stay. The major problem with housing at UCSC is that there is not enough of it. Students have two years of guaranteed housing, but on-campus housing can be quite crowded and most students choose to move off campus as soon as possible. The benefit of having the residential college system is that it is easy to build a community. It makes a big university seem a little smaller, which gives new students a huge advantage when making new friends and finding their comfort zone.

 

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UC Santa Cruz Student ReviewsWhat's This?

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Campus Housing at University of California - Santa Cruz

Crystal3411

'15

Biological and Physical Sciences

4.2
A-

Dorm Life

Living on campus is very convenient, I can make it to my class on time if i wake up 10 minutes before it starts. Our campus is beautiful so there are many beautiful spots to study.

Jan 08, 2012

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Campus Housing at University of California - Santa Cruz

mf2162941

'13

Literature

4.6
A

Transfer Community

The transfer Community at UCSC's Porter College is amazing!! I entered the school knowing no one and by the end of my first day there I felt like I had already made 25 friends. Of course the fact we all lived in a area with fellow transfers helped but overall everyone on campus is very friendly and happy to meet you.

Dec 18, 2011

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Campus Housing at University of California - Santa Cruz

gygarcia

'15

Psychology

4.6
A

Campus Housing

Living on campus is extremely convenient; facilities are accessible and within reach.

Dec 08, 2011

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Page 1 of 11

Photos of University of California - Santa Cruz's Campus Housing

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University of California - Santa Cruz - Natural SurroundingsNatural Surroundings
Photo by heelliot
Natural Surroundings The Kresge apartments are situated in a grove of redwood trees. The entire campus is full of wildlife and natural plants, which is probably where the nickname "UC Summer Camp" came from.
Link to this photo
Photo by heelliot
University of California - Santa Cruz - College 8 DormsCollege 8 Dorms
Photo by MissMaggie91
College 8 Dorms College 8
Link to this photo
Photo by MissMaggie91
University of California - Santa Cruz - Squiggle (aka the Porter Wave)Squiggle (aka the Porter Wave)
Photo by heelliot
Squiggle (aka the Porter Wave) This sculpture is a hot spot on campus and usually makes it onto campus brochures, too. It's located in the Porter Meadow very close to College 8. It is very typical to see students watching the sunset, catching some rays, or just hanging out on the Squiggle most days and nights.
Link to this photo
Photo by heelliot

Student Survey Poll ResultsWhat's This?

Rate campus housing on the following subjects

Facts

Room Types
  • Apartments (Kresge College)
  • Doubles
  • Quads
  • Singles
  • Suites
  • Triples
Bed Types Twin extra-long
What You Get
  • Bed
  • Bookshelf
  • Cable TV
  • Closet
  • Desk and chair
  • Dresser
  • Trashcan
Also Available Other options for non-freshman are the Village and on-campus apartments. Off campus, there is University housing at the UCSC Inn and the University Town Center (UTC).

Available for Rent

Nothing

Cleaning Service

Yes, janitors clean the halls, staircases, lounges, and bathrooms in all dorms.

DormitoriesWhat's This?

College 10
Floors: 4 in each of 3 buildings
Number of Occupants: 360
Bathrooms: Community (coed)
Coed: Yes
Residents: Mostly freshmen
Room Types: Singles, doubles, triples, apartments
Special Features: Social Justice and Community Theme; Dining hall, multipurpose hall, auditorium, laundry

College 8
Floors: 4 in each of 8 buildings
Number of Occupants: 360
Bathrooms: Community (coed)
Coed: Yes
Residents: Upperclassmen
Room Types: Singles, doubles
Special Features: Environment and Society Theme; Dining hall, College 8 Café, West Gym, study lounge, laundry, computer lab

College 9
Floors: 7 in each of 3 buildings
Number of Occupants: 360
Bathrooms: Community (coed)
Coed: Yes
Residents: Mostly freshmen
Room Types: Singles, doubles, apartments
Special Features: International and Global Perspectives Theme; Dining hall, laundry, bar, Namaste lounge

Cowell College
Floors: 4 in each of 7 buildings
Number of Occupants: 675
Bathrooms: Community (coed)
Coed: Yes
Residents: Mostly upperclassmen
Room Types: Singles, doubles, triples, quads
Special Features: The Pursuit of Truth in the Company of Friends Theme; Library, study lounges, laundry rooms, dining hall, computer lab, Cowell Coffee Shop

Crown College
Floors: 2 in each of 8 buildings
Number of Occupants: 480
Bathrooms: Community
Coed: Yes
Residents: Mostly freshmen
Room Types: Singles, doubles, triples
Special Features: Science, Technology, and Society Theme; Dining hall, laundry, computer lab, Banana Joe’s café

Kresge College
Floors: 2 in each of 11 buildings
Number of Occupants: 300
Bathrooms: Private
Coed: No
Residents: Mostly freshmen
Room Types: Apartments
Special Features: Cultural Intersections Theme; Laundry, Ping-Pong, Kresge Café, Town Hall Performance Center

Merrill College
Number of Occupants: 400
Bathrooms: Community (coed)
Coed: Yes
Residents: All classes
Room Types: Singles, doubles, apartments
Special Features: Cultural Identities and Global Consciousness Theme; Dining hall, computer lab, laundry, lounges, study center, nearby restaurant

Oakes College
Floors: 3 in each of 6 buildings
Bathrooms: Community (coed)
Coed: Yes
Residents: All classes
Room Types: Apartments, singles, and doubles
Special Features: Values and Change in a Diverse Society Theme; Laundry, computer labs, learning center

Porter College
Floors: 4–5
Number of Occupants: 400
Bathrooms: Community (coed)
Residents: All classes
Room Types: Singles, doubles, triples, and quads
Special Features: Arts in a Multicultural Society Theme; Study center, cable TV lounges, laundry, dining hall, Hungry Slug café, computer lab, darkroom

Stevenson College
Floors: 4 in each of 8 buildings
Number of Occupants: 480
Bathrooms: Community (coed)
Coed: Yes
Residents: All classes
Room Types: Singles, doubles, and triples
Special Features: Self and Society Theme; Dining hall, coffeehouse, study center, lounges, laundry, Ping-Pong

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Most Recent Student Author

College Prowler guides are in the hands of students throughout the entire process. Because you can't make student-written guides without the students, we have students at each campus who write, edit, and survey their peers for every guide that we publish. Thanks to our most recent student author at UCSC

Name: Alexandra Iorfino

Hometown: Huntington Beach, CA

Major: Politics and Psychology

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