Santa Cruz Standard

Hispanic students were the most represented ethnicity among students at Santa Cruz County universities in the 2022-23 school year, according to the latest disclosure from the National Center for Education Statistics.

Of the 9,252 students attending institutions in the county at the time, 49.5% were Hispanic. This is a decrease of 51.9% in enrollment numbers, compared to the previous year.

White students comprised the second largest ethnic group in the county, followed by multiracial students.

Countywide, the number of undergraduates attending the two universities in the county during the 2022-23 school year fell by 65.8%. Cabrillo College reported the largest student body, with 9,149 students.

Graduation rates reveal a significant achievement gap among different ethnicities. While white students graduate at a rate of 62.1%, Black and Hispanic students graduate at a rate of around 40%.

Ethnic Group	% of Total Student Body
Hispanic	49.5%
White	39.6%
Multiracial	4.9%
Asian	3%
Black or African American	1%
Unknown	1%