Being a college student on a budget is no easy feat, but there are plenty of resources available to help alleviate the expenses — many of which are already paid for by your student fees. Check out our guide to resources and discounts to get the most bang for your buck in Santa Cruz.
Eats and Essentials
Cowell Coffee Shop: Need to grab a quick bite or drink on campus? At the Cowell Coffee Shop, students have free access to coffee and a varying menu that includes seasonal fruits and veggies.
Redwood Free Market: Take a trip to Rachel Carson College and check out the Redwood Free Market. Here, students can find fresh produce, non-perishable groceries, and CalFresh application assistance — all free of charge!
UCSC Farm: Get your fruits and veggies at the Organic Produce Pop-Ups, hosted by the UC Santa Cruz (UCSC) Farm. Here, students can find fresh produce and flowers at a low cost during the academic year. For more information on other campus food pantries, as well as dates, times, and locations please visit basicneeds.ucsc.edu.
CalFresh/SNAP: CalFresh is a food benefit program that helps eligible individuals fulfill their nutritional needs. Those who are eligible receive an Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card, which students can use at participating grocery stores and farmers markets. Wonder if you qualify? Visit basicneeds.ucsc.edu to see the full list of qualifications.
Software Programs
Adobe Suite: As a UCSC student, you have free access to Adobe’s entire suite of software through Creative Cloud. This includes Acrobat Pro, Lightroom, InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop, Premiere, and more.
Microsoft 365: More of a PC person? Students, faculty, and staff can install Microsoft 365 software on up to 5 computers, 5 phones and 5 tablets — for free!
Tunes, Tapes, & Tidbits
Equipment Rental: Have an idea for a short film? Need to illustrate a project? At the David Kirk Digital Scholarship Commons, located on the ground floor of McHenry Library, students can check out audio equipment, cameras, and even drawing tablets.
Discounted Spotify: It’s hard to romanticize your life with ads interrupting your tunes. As a student at UCSC, you have access to a discounted student rate ($5.99/month) on Spotify. Want to plan a movie night or find an interesting documentary? The University Library website has hundreds of titles available for free through various platforms, including Swank-licensed streaming, UCSC Kanopy, UCSC-Owned Streaming Content, and Academic Video Online (AVON). Students also have access to streaming services like Max (HBO) with Xfinity On-Campus — just select “connect to your provider” when signing up.
Arts & Culture
First Fridays SC: Join the Santa Cruz community in amplifying local art and artists through First Fridays! Tours happen on the first Friday of every month and consist of various events throughout the night. It is free of charge and a great way to immerse yourself in the local art scene. To learn more, visit their website at firstfridaysantacruz.com.
Museums for All: Museums for All offers students with active CalFresh (EBT) cards a chance to visit participating museums for free or a reduced fee. The full list, including the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History, is available at museums4all.org.
UCSC Campus Resources
SHOP: If you’re going to party, be sure to “party like a slug.” UCSC Student Health Outreach and Promotion (SHOP) provides education and items such as free condoms, STD test kits, drug test kits, and more. To learn more, visit their website shop.ucsc.edu.
UCSC Resource Centers: In need of some support, or simply looking for community? UCSC Resource Centers are available on campus free of charge, with varying subsections to best assist students. The full list is available at resourcecenters.ucsc.edu but includes: Chicanx Latinx Resource Center (El Centro), African American Resource and Cultural Center (AARCC), American Indian Resource Center (AIRC), Asian American/Pacific Islander Resource Center (AA/PIRC)
