Santa Cruz
If you're interested in studying the environment, then perhaps UC Santa Cruz is for you. The school's campus is located in the Santa Cruz Mountains, and its proximity to Monterey Bay makes it a perfect place for exploring natural resources and marine life. Students who wish to continue their studies can expect decent job prospects when they graduate; Forbes mentions that they have one of the highest percentages of alumni with doctoral degrees.
The most popular subjects among undergraduates include environmental studies, ecology, biology, psychology and sociology. All together approximately 18% of students major in these fields while another 12% pursue non-traditional majors such as "Transportation Studies" or "Cultural Geography."
Students who live on campus will generally choose between either dorms or apartments (or both). Most apartments are located within walking distance of campus so students do not need cars to get around town - plus there's always Uber!
Most freshmen live in the dorms on campus, which are coed and divided into two distinct buildings: Northside and Southside. Northside consists of five residential halls while Southside has six; both feature suite-style living arrangements with shared bathrooms and kitchens. There is also a third building called "Muir" which houses freshman students who are part of the Honors Program.