University of California-Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, California
- Public
- Suburb
- 23,113 undergrads
- Admit rate
- 33%Source: College Scorecard
- Average net price
- $16,807per year, after grantsSource: College Scorecard
- Graduation rate
- 83%within 6 yearsSource: College Scorecard
- Median earnings
- $82,56810 years after startingSource: College Scorecard
What's special
In UCSB's College of Creative Studies, students choose one of nine majors when they apply, from art and biology to math, physics, and writing and literature.
Students who live in residence halls for two years are guaranteed university apartment housing for their junior and senior years.
Source: Housing, Dining & Auxiliary Enterprises - UC Santa Barbara
The Promise Scholar program awards $125,000 in grants and scholarships to first-year students over four years and $60,000 to transfer students over two years.
Getting in
- Admit rate
- 33%About 3 in 10 applicants get in.Source: College Scorecard
- Test policy
- Test-blindScores are not considered, even if you send them.Source: College Scorecard
- SAT (middle 50%)
- Not reportedSource: College Scorecard
- ACT (middle 50%)
- Not reportedSource: College Scorecard
Where you'd stand
We don't have test score or GPA figures for University of California-Santa Barbara's first-year students yet, so there's nothing to compare your numbers with. The admit rate above is the best guide we have.
What it really costs
Most families pay less than the sticker price. Net price is what's left after grants and scholarships.
- Average net price
- $16,807full-time first-years who got grant aidSource: College Scorecard
- Total cost of attendance
- $44,833sticker price incl. housing, per yearSource: College Scorecard
- Tuition, in-state
- $16,989Source: College Scorecard
- Tuition, out-of-state
- $54,591Source: College Scorecard
After you enroll
- Graduation rate
- 83%first-time, full-time students finishing within 6 yearsSource: College Scorecard
- Came back for year two
- 93%full-time first-year studentsSource: College Scorecard
- Median earnings
- $82,56810 years after starting, for students who got federal aidSource: College Scorecard
- Median debt at graduation
- $11,776federal loans, students who finishedSource: College Scorecard
Students
- Undergraduates
- 23,113Source: College Scorecard
- Receive Pell grants
- 32%a sign of economic diversitySource: College Scorecard
- First-generation students
- 42%parents didn't go beyond high schoolSource: College Scorecard
Similar schools
Similar, and easier to get into
- University of California-Riverside Riverside, CA — admits 76%
- University of California-Santa Cruz Santa Cruz, CA — admits 66%
- California State Polytechnic University-Pomona Pomona, CA — admits 75%
- San Jose State University San Jose, CA — admits 85%
Also worth a look
- California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo, CA — admits 31%
- University of California-Irvine Irvine, CA — admits 29%
- University of California-San Diego La Jolla, CA — admits 27%
- University of California-Davis Davis, CA — admits 42%
- San Diego State University San Diego, CA — admits 36%
- North Carolina State University at Raleigh Raleigh, NC — admits 42%
Where these numbers come from
Every number on this page comes from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard page for University of California-Santa Barbara, which draws on what the school reports to the federal government and on federal student aid and tax records. We last pulled the data on November 4, 2026. Different measures cover different years; here's how each one works.
Spot something wrong? Report a data error.