Cowell College
Cowell College is one of ten residential colleges that make up some of the defining experiences for students at UC Santa Cruz: our residential college system.
Founded in 1965, Cowell was the first residential college of UCSC. It resides on what was previously the Cowell ranch, flanked by redwoods and overlooking the Pacific Ocean. It is also near Cafe Iveta, the gym, libraries, pool, track, and Bay Tree bookstore. Cowell also houses the Philosophy department and Language program, and is located near the Humanities buildings.
PARKING INFORMATION Visitors to UCSC may purchase a daily permit at the Main Entrance Kiosk (M-7) or the TAPS Sales Office (L-7). They may also utilize ParkMobile in designated hourly/daily parking spaces. The closest parking lots to this location are East Field House (103A), Stevenson College (109), and East Remote (104).
Media Gallery
UC Santa Cruz Campus Tour Chapter 4: The Residential College System
Cowell College Introduction
Housing & The Residential Colleges
Athletics
🏠 Housing & The Residential Colleges
One of the defining experiences for students at UC Santa Cruz is our residential college system. Year-after-year, our alumni identify their residential college experience and student group involvement as central to their core identities and connection to campus. The people you will live with in these communities, the shared experiences, your growth academically and personally, are all fostered by the close-knit, home-away-from-home structure our residential colleges provide.
These ten communities, each with their own academic themes, architecture, activities, location, and support resources, provide a neighborhood for your lived campus experience. By design, our residential colleges are not connected to any specific major. This provides a wonderful opportunity to interact, live, and learn alongside fellow banana slugs from different backgrounds, countries, and experiences.
🏃♀️ Athletics
Anyone that says banana slugs don't move fast haven't seen our athletics teams in action, with 15 varsity teams competing in NCAA division 3 competitions.
UC Santa Cruz offers NCAA Division III athletic teams in men's/women's basketball, cross-country, soccer, swimming/diving, tennis, track and field, volleyball, and women's golf. We currently have 270 varsity student athletes, 5 conference championships, and 3 coach of the year awards.
Campus Map
