Our Location

Safe and friendly, with a moderate climate, Santa Cruz is a small, picturesque city whose residents warmly welcome visitors from all over the world. Santa Cruz is very proud of its miles of beautiful, clean, sandy Pacific Ocean beaches—perfect for surfing, volleyball and sunbathing.

Nearby, coastal mountains and redwood forests provide an additional wealth of opportunities for sports and recreation. The world-famous Pebble Beach golf course is 40 minutes away, as are a number of other breathtaking courses. A wine-tasting trip to Napa Valley is a wonderful way to spend a day, as is a shopping trip to the bustling city of San Francisco. And if you arrive during the winter, you won’t want to miss out on the skiing in Lake Tahoe, only four hours away.

The ELI campus is located in downtown Santa Cruz, just blocks from the beach. Centered around Pacific Avenue, with its numerous restaurants and outdoor cafés, downtown Santa Cruz is a cosmopolitan town featuring a lively, vibrant atmosphere. Unique shops and boutiques offer an exciting shopping experience, while galleries, theaters and cinemas give everyone the opportunity to appreciate the thriving local arts scene.

But the beauty of Santa Cruz is only part of its attraction. UCSC Extension is also the only University of California facility in the heart of Silicon Valley. The world’s most innovative tech companies, such as Google, Yahoo!, HP, Adobe and Cisco Systems, are a short drive away. ELI has established strong relationships with many of these companies, ensuring that our students have access to outstanding business opportunities.

Simply put, the physical beauty, small-town friendliness and big-city business opportunities of Santa Cruz are hard to beat. We think you’ll find your stay in Santa Cruz to be one of your most treasured lifelong memories.

ELI students can use the UCSC swimming pool, tennis courts, fitness center, basketball, volleyball and racquetball courts, computer labs, and much more. The main campus is a 15-minute bus ride from the University Town Center, which houses ELI and the dorms.