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Five Branches University

Santa Cruz, California 95062

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Campus Vibe

SuburbanPrivate

Private suburban college in Santa Cruz

Five Branches University is a private suburban institution in Santa Cruz, California. The school is accessible to a wide range of students.

Established
1984
Type
Private university

Campus Visits

44 upcoming visits · Next: Mon, Jun 1 · Campus Tour
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Plan Your Visit

—Acceptance
—SAT Avg
—Students
—Student:Faculty
—Grad Rate
—Earnings 10yr

News & Alerts

program2026-03-15

Five Branches University Launches New Data Science Minor

Starting Fall 2026, students can pursue an interdisciplinary data science minor combining CS, statistics, and domain courses.

tuition2026-02-28

Tuition Increase Announced for 2026-27

The board of trustees approved a 3.2% tuition increase for the upcoming academic year, in line with peer institutions.

Admissions Intel

Yield Rate

35.0%

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Cost & Financial Aid

Sticker Price

Tuition—

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Net price reflects most recent cohort of federally-aided undergraduates.

Debt & Aid Detail

Net Price Trend

Tuition Trend

Graduate w/ Zero Debt

35.0%

Avg Tuition Increase

3.2%/yr

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Campus Safety

Total Incidents (2024)

14

Peer Average

13

3-Year Trend

Emergency System

Campus police, emergency alert system, blue-light phones

Incident Breakdown (2024)

3

Burglary

1

Aggravated Assault

0

Robbery

1

Motor Vehicle Theft

2

Sex Offenses

0

Arson

4

Drug Arrests

3

Liquor Arrests

Source: U.S. Department of Education Campus Safety & Security data (Clery Act, 2024 reporting year).

Programs (3)

Student Life

Student Satisfaction

Retention Rate

85%

Mixed
  • •85% first-year retention rate
  • •Active student organizations
  • •Engaged campus community

Mental Health Services

Counselor Ratio

1:350

24/7 Crisis Line

Yes

Free Sessions

12 per year

Avg Wait

5 days

Walk-in hours available weekdays

Disability Services

Dedicated OfficeOffice of Disability Services
Extended test timeNote-taking assistanceHousing accommodationsAccessible transportation

ADA-compliant campus with ongoing accessibility improvements

Dining

Rating

★★★★☆

Score

4/5

Meal Plan

$6,200/yr

VegetarianVeganGluten-freeHalalKosher

Multiple dining halls with farm-to-table options

Student Body

Undergrads
—

Rankings

U.S. News
#45
↑2
vs 2024
Forbes
#52
↓1
vs 2024
Niche
#38
↑3
vs 2024

More About This School

History & Fun Facts

  • •History Five Branches University was founded in Santa Cruz on February 4, 1984.
  • •In 2005, Five Branches University opened their second campus in San Jose in Tisch Tower at the end of the famous Santana Row.
  • •In the spring of 2016, the Santa Jose Campus moved to its current location on Lundy Ave.

Source: Wikipedia

Location & Lifestyle

Cost of Living

112Above Average

Housing and food costs are higher than national average

Climate (School Year)

68°
Sep
55°
Oct
42°
Nov
30°
Dec
25°
Jan
28°
Feb
38°
Mar
50°
Apr
62°
May
Snowfall: 48"Sunny days: 200Rainy days: 120

Nearest Cities

Bostonpop. 675,647
90 miles(95 min)
Hartfordpop. 121,054
60 miles(70 min)

Transit Scores

BikeableCampus shuttle: Free campus shuttle runs 7am-midnight
72
Walk Score
45
Transit Score
68
Bike Score

Local Economy

Unemployment Rate3.2%
Top Employers
UniversityRegional Medical CenterTech corridor firms
Key Industries
EducationHealthcareTechnology

Getting There

Nearest Airports

SJC San Jose28 mi
SFO San Francisco50 mi
SMF Sacramento122 mi

Distance to Cities

Boston, MA2694 mi · ~77h 50m drive
New York, NY2564 mi · ~74h 4m drive
Hartford, CT2619 mi · ~75h 40m drive
Providence, RI2683 mi · ~77h 31m drive
Albany, NY2555 mi · ~73h 49m drive
Syracuse, NY2432 mi · ~70h 15m drive
Rochester, NY2358 mi · ~68h 7m drive
Buffalo, NY2295 mi · ~66h 18m drive
Philadelphia, PA2513 mi · ~72h 36m drive
Pittsburgh, PA2256 mi · ~65h 10m drive
Harrisburg, PA2420 mi · ~69h 55m drive
Newark, NJ2555 mi · ~73h 49m drive
Washington, DC2429 mi · ~70h 10m drive
Baltimore, MD2446 mi · ~70h 40m drive
Atlanta, GA2117 mi · ~61h 9m drive
Charlotte, NC2283 mi · ~65h 57m drive
Raleigh, NC2393 mi · ~69h 8m drive
Miami, FL2562 mi · ~74h 1m drive
Orlando, FL2412 mi · ~69h 41m drive
Tampa, FL2370 mi · ~68h 28m drive
Nashville, TN1944 mi · ~56h 10m drive
New Orleans, LA1893 mi · ~54h 41m drive
Richmond, VA2428 mi · ~70h 9m drive
Chicago, IL1853 mi · ~53h 32m drive
Detroit, MI2087 mi · ~60h 17m drive
Minneapolis, MN1588 mi · ~45h 53m drive
St. Louis, MO1731 mi · ~50h drive
Kansas City, MO1494 mi · ~43h 10m drive
Indianapolis, IN1938 mi · ~55h 59m drive
Columbus, OH2103 mi · ~60h 45m drive
Cleveland, OH2160 mi · ~62h 24m drive
Milwaukee, WI1839 mi · ~53h 8m drive
Dallas, TX1453 mi · ~41h 59m drive
Houston, TX1609 mi · ~46h 29m drive
Austin, TX1466 mi · ~42h 21m drive
San Antonio, TX1451 mi · ~41h 55m drive
Los Angeles, CA292 mi · ~8h 26m drive
San Francisco, CA61 mi · ~1h 46m drive
San Diego, CA402 mi · ~11h 37m drive
Seattle, WA735 mi · ~21h 14m drive
Portland, OR592 mi · ~17h 6m drive
Denver, CO940 mi · ~27h 9m drive
Phoenix, AZ610 mi · ~17h 37m drive
Salt Lake City, UT603 mi · ~17h 25m drive
Honolulu, HI2400 mi · ~69h 20m drive
Southern (mild winters, hot summers)

Visit Planning

Suggested Itinerary

9:00 AMArrive & park
Visitor parking lot
Free parking with visitor pass
9:30 AMCheck in at Admissions
Admissions Office
10:00 AMInformation session
Welcome Center
45 minutes
11:00 AMCampus tour
Starts at Welcome Center
75 minutes, student-led
12:30 PMLunch
Main Dining Hall
Visitor meal passes available
1:30 PMDepartment visit
Academic buildings
Schedule with department directly
2:30 PMExplore campus independently
Library, student center, residence halls

Airport Transit

San Jose (SJC)28 miles
Rental car
42 min$40-60/day
Shuttle/rideshare
56 min$34-56
San Francisco (SFO)50 miles
Rental car
75 min$40-60/day
Shuttle/rideshare
100 min$60-100

Deadline Calendar

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Five Branches University Application Checklist

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Decision Notifications

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Five Branches University — v2 Preview — TourStack