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University of California, Santa CruzMove-In Guide

Santa Cruz, California

🏫 Public UniversityEst. 1965🔗 www.ucsc.edu

UC Santa Cruz tucks its ten residential colleges into redwood forest above Monterey Bay, and most first-years live in the halls of their affiliated college.

Enrollment

20,140

Total Students

Freshman Class

5,035

Approx.

Move-In Dates

Sep 17-19, 2026

Fall 2026

Acceptance Rate

82%

Most recent cycle

Move-In

Fall 2026 Move-In Details

New freshmen move in by appointment, booked through the Housing Portal on a first-come, first-served basis, with international freshmen arriving a day earlier. Bring a photo ID and your student ID number.

Check your assignment in the housing portal for your specific date and time - your exact move-in date is shown above in the Overview.

Move-in day logistics

Arrival window
8am-4pm on your appointment day
Parking
One vehicle per student, with a 15-minute unloading limit. Vehicles over about 19 feet long, RVs, trailers and U-Hauls are not allowed, and vehicles blocking roads, fire lanes or marked spaces can be towed.
What you'll receive
Your student ID card, keys or a temporary key card, and a quarterly bus pass sticker.
Vehicle restrictions
RVs, trailers and U-Hauls are prohibited.

Move-in day tips

  • Arrive during your assigned move-in window - arriving early may mean waiting until your time slot.
  • Bring a rolling cart or hand truck - campus carts can run out quickly during busy move-in periods.
  • Have a parking backup plan - spaces near residence halls can fill up quickly, so know where you can unload if your preferred area is full.
  • Watch the loading-zone time limit - many campuses require you to move your vehicle to longer-term parking after unloading.

Housing & Dorms

  • Cowell College

    · Coed

  • Stevenson College

    · Coed

  • Crown College

    · Coed

  • Merrill College

    · Coed

  • Porter College

    · Coed

  • Kresge College

    · Coed

  • Rachel Carson College

    · Coed

  • Oakes College

    · Coed

  • College Nine

    · Coed

  • John R. Lewis College

    · Coed

Housing Links

Each available link goes directly to University of California, Santa Cruz's own specific page, not just its general homepage.

Orientation

Slug Start (welcome program)

Orientation is recommended for all new students.

September 18 - September 26, 2026

Orientation tips

  • Register as early as your class allows - popular session dates fill up first.
  • Bring a parent/guardian if separate family programming is offered.
  • Check whether placement testing or advising sign-ups happen the same day.

Costs

Room & Board

—

Not available

Figures shown are estimates for room and board only, and can vary by hall and meal plan. Check with University of California, Santa Cruz's financial aid office for a cost breakdown specific to your situation.

Nearby Essentials

Nearby data coming soon.

Need Dorm Essentials Delivered?

More Links

Checklists

Get the Ultimate College Move-In Checklist

A free, printable packing checklist covering everything from bedding to important documents - built for any freshman, including yours at University of California, Santa Cruz.

Get the checklist

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