- Ralph Abraham, mathematician
- Bettina Aptheker, feminist and author
- Cam Archer, filmmaker and photographer
- John Battendieri, businessman, founder Santa Cruz Organics[1]
- Rob Brezsny, astrologer, poet, writer, and musician
- Susie Bright, sexuality expert
- Norman O. Brown, classicist and critic
- Cornelius Bumpus, saxophonist for bands Doobie Brothers and Steely Dan
- Rory Calhoun, actor
- James H. Clark, entrepreneur and computer scientist
- David Cope, composer
- Angela Davis, professor, socialist, and anti-prison activist
- Trent Dilfer, National Football League player, ESPN Sportscaster
- Sasha Dobson, musician
- Nate Doss, professional disc golfer
- Frank Drake, astrophysicist
- James Durbin, American Idol finalist
- Sandra M. Faber, astrophysicist
- Alison Galloway, forensic anthropologist
- Bathsheba Grossman, sculptor
- Donna Haraway, professor, biologist, and philosopher
- David Haussler, computer scientist and professor
- Steven Hassan, mental health expert and cult exit counselor
- Robert A. Heinlein, author
- Glenallen Hill, Major League Baseball player
- John Hoyt, actor
- David A. Huffman, computer scientist and professor
- Johnny Johnson, National Football League player
- Kevin Karplus, bioinformatician and professor
- Edmund Kemper, serial killer
- Jonathan Franzen, American novelist and essayist
|
- Jim Kent, bioinformatician
- Frans Lanting, wildlife photographer
- Tom Lehrer, musician and satirist
- Noah Levine, author and buddhist teacher
- Ernie Lombardi, Major League Baseball player
- Matt Mahurin, film director and photographer
- Morton Marcus, poet, teacher, and film critic
- James Alan McPherson, essayist
- Marisa Miller, Sports Illustrated and Victoria's Secret model
- Sarah Lane Moran, television personality* Herbert Mullin, serial killer
- Raven Tershy, won gold at the 2011 X games, Amateur Skateboarder
- Jack O'Neill, credited with developing the first surfing wet suits [2]
- ZaSu Pitts, actor
- Stephen Quadros, MMA play-by-play broadcaster, musician
- Chris Rene, X-Factor USA 3rd Placer, musician, singer/songwriter
- Adrienne Rich, feminist and writer
- Adam Scott, actor
- Chris Sharma, rock climber
- Derek Sherinian, keyboardist for Alice Cooper, the band KISS, and the band Dream Theater
- Grant Show, actor
- Nikki Silva, Peabody Award-winning radio producer
- Skip Spence, musician, singer/songwriter
- Ben Stein, lawyer, professor, writer, and actor
- Robert Sward, poet
- Ted Taylor, nuclear physicist and disarmament advocate
- Lex van den Berghe, Survivor contestant
- Scott Weiland, vocalist for bands Stone Temple Pilots and Velvet Revolver
- Lorette Wood, first female city councilwoman and first female Mayor of Santa Cruz
- James D. Houston, novelist
- Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston, novelist
- Peter S. Beagle, novelist
- Luke Rockhold, Strike Force MMA fighter
- George Winston, musician
|