Rachel Carson College
Perched on a sunny, terraced hillside with views of Monterey Bay, Rachel Carson College blends natural beauty with a deep commitment to environmental and social justice. The college is home to a beautifully renovated dining hall, community gardens, and adjacent to outdoor tennis courts and the West Field house athletic facilities. Housing options include eight residence halls arranged around grassy courtyards, and apartments for continuing students.
Rachel Carson’s required first-year core course: Environment & Society
Rachel Carson residence halls
Rachel Carson’s residence hall buildings offer a mix of room types and community spaces designed to support both academic and social life. Each quad includes a shared lobby—a favorite gathering spot for study breaks, movie nights, and informal hangouts. Freshmen are generally assigned to live in their college’s residence halls.
Eligibility: Open to new and continuing students
- Eight residence halls arranged in four open quads
- Home to approximately 500 students
- Room types: triples, quads, doubles, singles (reserved for upper-division students), and six-person double suites with shared living space and bathroom (no kitchen)
- Floors may be single-gender or mixed-gender
- Bathrooms are all-gender and designed for privacy
- Meal plan included in the housing contract (required for residence hall students)
Residence hall floor plans
Floor plans are for general room layout and configuration. They are not exact in scale. Furniture arrangements vary by room and residence.
Triple
Quad
Double Suite
Single
Rachel Carson apartments
Rachel Carson College’s apartments offer a more independent living option for continuing students, with views of Monterey Bay and easy access to nearby recreational facilities. Each furnished apartment includes private bedrooms, a full kitchen, living room, and bathroom. No meal plan is required.
Eligibility: Open to continuing students only
- Houses approximately 300 students in two-, three-, and four-bedroom apartments
- Full kitchen with refrigerator and stove, bathroom, and shared living room in every apartment
- Bedrooms in apartments are single-gender, but apartments may be single-gender or mixed-gender
- Meal plan not required (not included in housing contract), though voluntary meal plans are available
Apartment floor plans
Floor plans are for general room layout and configuration. They are not exact in scale. Furniture arrangements vary by room and residence.
Triple-triple
Six-person apartments are divided into two rooms, three people per room. Available in Buildings 01, 02, and 06.
Triple-single-single
This five-person apartment is divided into three rooms; three people in one room, and one in each of the other two rooms. Available in Buildings 01, 02, and 05.
Double-single-single-single
This five-person apartment is divided into four rooms; two people in one room, and one in each of the other three rooms. Available in Buildings 03, 04, and 06.
Double-triple*
The least common apartment configuration at Rachel Carson College. This five-person apartment is divided into two rooms; three people in one room, and two people in the other room. There are a limited number of this apartment configuration available.
*Note: This apartment type is located on the first floor of a residence hall building.
Apartment virtual tours
Virtual tours are for general room layout and configuration. Furniture arrangements vary by room and residence.
View our virtual tours on Youtube:
Apartment rates
Community living options
When you complete your housing application, you will be asked to rank your preferred room types, as well as indicate interest in specific community living options. At Rachel Carson, these include floor or apartment gender options, a continuing student community, two interest-based themes, and one Campuswide Theme Housing community for new transfer students.
Floor and apartment gender options
Location: Residence halls and apartments
Eligibility: Available to both new and continuing students
- LGBTQIA+ Housing: Open to all students, including students of all identities within the LGBTQIA+ community and allies. This option fosters an open and supportive living environment. Available only in mixed-gender areas.
- Mixed-Gender Housing: Students of any gender live on the same floor or in the same apartment. Bedrooms are single-gender, while bathrooms may be designated mixed-gender with private toilet and shower stalls.
- Single Gender Housing: Students of a single gender live together, with bathrooms primarily used by individuals who identify with that gender. Availability is based on demand, and may not be offered in all room types or theme options.
Continuing Student Community
Location: Rachel Carson residence halls
Eligibility: Continuing Rachel Carson applicants
These residence hall spaces are occupied by returning students only.
Rachel Carson Eco House
Location: Rachel Carson residence halls
Eligibility: New and continuing Rachel Carson applicants
The Rachel Carson Eco House residence hall provides a living opportunity for students dedicated to a sustainable present for a blossoming future. Students will engage in programming opportunities that emphasize topics of environmental justice, sustainability and advocacy. Individuals interested in learning more about personal identities and their intersection with climate issues should apply for this themed community.
Women in Science, Engineering & Math (WISE)
Location: Rachel Carson residence halls
Eligibility: New and continuing Rachel Carson applicants
The WISE community fosters an inclusive science, engineering, and math community for all students interested in historical, present-day, and future contributions of women in these fields. WISE offers themed programming, guest speakers, and peer support.
ABC STARRS Themed Housing
Location: Rachel Carson apartments.
Eligibility: Open to new transfer students of any college affiliation; supplementary application questions required.
ABC is one of UCSC’s Campuswide Theme Housing options, with communities located at several colleges—including this one at Rachel Carson. Directly connected to the Office of African, Black, Caribbean (ABC) Student Success and the African American Resource & Cultural Center, and designed for all students whose interests span historical, present-day, and future experiences of predominantly African, Black, and Caribbean peoples, these communities intentionally create space for all students to feel connected, safer, and supported in a community centered on the experiences of African, Black, Caribbean peoples.
Learn more about ABC Themed Housing
Students interested in ABC Themed Housing must select it on the housing application and complete a few supplemental questions.
Nearby dining options
Amenities and nearby resources
In addition to the amenities common to all of UCSC’s colleges—like laundry facilities and a secure mailroom—Rachel Carson is home to a variety of unique features that help define its community.
Dining options
UCSC Dining has lots of locations across campus—these are closest to Rachel Carson:
- Rachel Carson/Oakes Dining Hall
- Oakes Café
More food options close to Rachel Carson:
- Redwood Free Market, a non-transactional Basic Needs food pantry
Community spaces and resources
- Computer lab and study center
- ResNet computer support and services
- Student Commons
- Community garden
- West Field House (basketball, volleyball, indoor soccer, and more)
- Outdoor basketball and tennis courts
- Host of annual Earth Week celebrations
Community spaces
Campuswide Theme Housing
Campuswide Theme Housing options are open to students of any college affiliation and are centered around shared interests, academics, community engagement, and support.
Location: Various locations across campus.
Eligibility: Open to students of any college affiliation; a few supplementary questions are required in the housing application.
Mail and contact info
Student mailing address
If you’re a Rachel Carson College resident, use the address below as your campus mailing address. Be sure to include your box number!
Student’s Name
UCSC, Rachel Carson College, #XXX
356 Rachel Carson Road
Santa Cruz, CA 95064-1117
You’ll receive your mailbox number at move-in. Early deliveries cannot be accepted at the residential facilities
Need to ship items before you arrive?
Learn about Collegeboxes and pre-arrival shipping.
Housing verification letter
After move-in, you can obtain a Housing Verification letter in the Housing Portal if you need to demonstrate that you currently live in UCSC university housing in order to open a bank account, obtain a driver’s license or identification card, or for any other need.
Finding Rachel Carson on campus
Rachel Carson is located on the west side of campus, adjacent to Oakes College. Use the map above to explore the area or get directions.
Who to contact
Oakes/Rachel Carson College housing office
Questions about room and roommate assignments, or day-to-day residential life:
Phone: (831) 459-3335
Email: oakesrcchousing@ucsc.edu
Location: Oakes/Rachel Carson Housing Office
UCSC Student Housing Services
Questions about housing application/contract records and room-and-board billing:
Email: housing@ucsc.edu