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Music Department • Santa Cruz, California
Quick Take
UCSC's music department has a creative and interdisciplinary orientation, offering BA programs in composition, performance, and music technology with emphasis on experimental and world music traditions. The department reflects UCSC's progressive academic culture, with a strong ethnomusicology component, electronic music resources, and a redwood-forest campus setting that has long attracted unconventional and creative students.
UC Santa Cruz at a Glance
| Program | |
| School / Division | University of California Santa Cruz Music Department |
| Setting | public |
| Reliigous Affliation | none |
| Program Size | small |
| Genres / Styles | classical, world |
| Primary Instrument | cello, clarinet, electronics, flute, guitar, percussion, piano, saxophone, trumpet, viola, violin, voice |
| Areas of Study | composition, engineering/technology, music theory, performance |
| Degrees Offered | Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Music, Doctorate, Master’s |
| Musical Selectivity | moderately selective |
| NASM Accreditation | no |
| Admissions | |
| Academic Selectivity | selective |
| Average GPA | 3.7 |
| Application Deadline | 2026-11-30 00:00:00 |
| Auditions | |
| Audition | is not required |
| Audition Competitiveness | less competitive |
| Audition Window | ? |
| Prescreening | is not required |
| Location | |
| City / State | Santa Cruz, California |
Always confirm deadlines and requirements directly with the UC Santa Cruz website
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Program Overview
The music program at UC Santa Cruz is small in size and a .
Music Genre/Style Strengths
UC Santa Cruz supports the following musical genres/styles: classical, world. At some schools, students can explore multiple styles while developing strong technical and artistic foundations within their primary genre.
Visit the UC Santa Cruz website for more specific information on the music genres/styles it supports.
Primary Instruments
Students at UC Santa Cruz can pursue study across a range of instruments, including cello, clarinet, electronics, flute, guitar, percussion, piano, saxophone, trumpet, viola, violin, voice. Students study privately with faculty on their primary instrument while participating in ensembles and collaborative performances.
Visit the UC Santa Cruz website for more specific information about their support for studies on specific instruments.
Music Studies Offered at UC Santa Cruz
Students at UC Santa Cruz can pursue degrees focused on composition, engineering/technology, music theory, performance. Music degree programs typically combine private instruction, ensemble participation, music theory coursework, and performance opportunities designed to prepare students for careers in music.
Visit the UC Santa Cruz website for more specific information on the programs of study it offers.
Acceptance
Musical acceptance at UC Santa Cruz is moderately selective. Academically, it is selective, with accepted students having an average GPA of 3.7. (Unlike academic programs, music admissions typically emphasize performance and artistic potential.) The application deadline for UC Santa Cruz is 2026-11-30 00:00:00 of each year.
Visit the UC Santa Cruz website to confirm acceptance information and deadlines.
Auditions
An audition is not required at UC Santa Cruz, and the school's auditions are considered to be less competitive. The audition window is ? of each year. A pre-screening video or portfolio is not required.
Visit the UC Santa Cruz website for more specific information on auditions.
Location and Music Scene
UCSC is nestled in a redwood forest above Monterey Bay, a campus with an almost otherworldly setting that has long attracted experimental artists and an unconventional, interdisciplinary creative culture.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is UC Santa Cruz hard to get into?
Admission to UC Santa Cruz is considered moderately selective for music and selective academically. At most schools, the audition carries significant weight. Admitted students need to demonstrate performance ability and artistic potential in addition to meeting academic requirements.
Do I need a prescreening video to audition at UC Santa Cruz?
A prescreening video or portfolio submission at UC Santa Cruz.
Prescreening requirements vary significantly from school to school, and sometimes by instrument or area of study, so it's worth checking directly with the admissions office to confirm what's expected for your specific application.
What instruments can I study at UC Santa Cruz?
supports study across a wide range of instruments, including cello, clarinet, electronics, flute, guitar, percussion, piano, saxophone, trumpet, viola, violin, voice. Students typically study privately with a faculty member on their primary instrument while also participating in ensembles and collaborative performance opportunities.
Instrument availability and faculty depth can vary. If you play something less common, it's worth reaching out to the department directly to confirm faculty availability before you apply.
What GPA do I need for UC Santa Cruz?
Admitted students at UC Santa Cruz have an average GPA of 3.7. Keep in mind that this is an average. Some admitted students come in above it, some below, depending on the strength of the overall application and, especially, the audition.
Music programs tend to weigh audition performance heavily, which means a particularly strong musical candidate may be admitted even if their GPA is below the typical range. The reverse is also true. Academic strength alone won't compensate for a weak audition.
What is the application deadline for UC Santa Cruz?
The application deadline for UC Santa Cruz is 2026-11-30 00:00:00, with live auditions typically held ?. These dates can shift year to year, so it's important to verify directly with the admissions office well in advance.
Music school deadlines often arrive earlier than general college application deadlines, and audition slots can fill up quickly, especially at competitive programs. Getting your application in early is rarely a bad idea.
Information on this page is updated periodically. Always confirm details directly with the school's admissions office.
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