Freshman year at University of California, Santa Cruz — which dorms are open, what to look for, and how to pick well.
10 dorms are open to first-years plus other class years. Sorted by student rating.
| Dorm | Overall ★ | Style | Bath | Reviews | Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| College Nine | — | Corridor | Communal | 0 | |
| Cowell College | — | Corridor | Communal | 0 | |
| Crown College | — | Corridor | Communal | 0 | |
| John R. Lewis College | — | Corridor | Communal | 0 | |
| Kresge College | — | Corridor | Communal | 0 | |
| Merrill College | — | Corridor | Communal | 0 | |
| Oakes College | — | Corridor | Communal | 0 | |
| Porter College | — | Corridor | Communal | 0 | |
| Rachel Carson College | — | Corridor | Communal | 0 | |
| Stevenson College | — | Corridor | Communal | 0 |
University of California, Santa Cruz freshmen are housed across the dorms listed below. Some schools centralize first-years on a specific quad or campus zone; others mix freshmen into all halls. The dorms section on this page reflects current inventory open to first-years — sort by review count to see where current students are reviewing the most.
Corridor-style halls (a long hallway with rooms opening off it, shared bathrooms) tend to drive more cross-room socializing — often the best fit for first-years who don't know anyone yet. Suite-style is quieter and more private but you may end up only knowing your suitemates.
It varies by building. Use the "❄️ Has AC" amenity filter linked at the bottom of this page to see only AC-equipped dorms at University of California, Santa Cruz.
Most colleges discourage singles for first-years (the social benefit of a roommate matters more in year one than in year four). Some schools allow medical singles or honors-program singles. Check your college's housing portal for current first-year single availability.
Browse University of California, Santa Cruz dorms filtered by amenity: