2025 Compare Cities Education:
Chicago, IL vs Santa Cruz, CA

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Highlights
- Santa Cruz spends 25.3% less per student than Chicago.
- The Student Teacher Ratio is 56.3% higher in Santa Cruz than in Chicago. (lower means fewer students in each classroom).
- Santa Cruz had 10.9% more residents who had graduated High School compared to Chicago
 Chicago, ILSanta Cruz, CAUnited States
 Expend. per Student  Unlock$16,364$15,905
 Educ. Expend. per Student$18,508  Unlock$13,142
 Instr. Expend. per Student  Unlock$7,688$7,999
 Pupil/Teacher Ratio13.97  Unlock16.23
 Students per Librarian  Unlock62714573
 Students per Counselor481  Unlock530
 Grade School Educ.  Unlock2.3%4.8%
 Some High School Educ.6.8%  Unlock6.3%
 High School Educ.  Unlock95.7%88.9%
 Some College Educ.17.0%  Unlock20.0%
 2 yr College Grad.  Unlock8.1%8.7%
 4 yr College Grad.41.7%  Unlock33.7%
 Masters Grad.  Unlock18.0%9.3%
 Professional Degree3.6%  Unlock2.2%
 Doctorate Degree  Unlock5.5%1.5%
Reviews for Chicago    270 Reviews

I've lived in Chicago city and later moved to suburbs when family size increased. Absolutely love this city. This is the cleanest and most beautiful among the major  More

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Chicago is probably the best value in a major city that you can find and my personal favorite city. It will become increasingly important as climate change makes the  More

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I've live on north side and south side, UIC medical center. Don't move here go to the north side. No good amenities, if you get bored with one there is no other choices.  More

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Reviews for Santa Cruz    44 Reviews

I lived in the Santa Cruz area for 20 years. UCSC alum. Our kids were born there. There are wonderful things about Santa Cruz, but also many serious problems that we  More

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Over 5 years ago

I have been here for four generations! My kids are the fifth. I guess that should tell you how wonderful it is here, at least for us. It's so cool to have world class  More

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I was born over the hill in San Jose area, and as a kid I loved coming over to the boardwalk. Santa Cruz has always been and always will be a town of diversity,  More

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