University of California-Santa Barbara is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Santa Barbara, California. It enrolls 23,113 students (a very large student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorWestern Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission
Academic CalendarQuarter
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Excellent
88/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes91
Value89
Affordability53
Selectivity92
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 33%, University of California-Santa Barbara is a selective institution.
Acceptance Rate
33%
Selective
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Test PolicyTest OptionalApplicants choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether University of California-Santa Barbara is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Stable ↓
1.8 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending University of California-Santa Barbara isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $16,109 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$16,109
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
28%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
18%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$16,414
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$50,614
Room & Board (on-campus)
$20,279
Room & Board (off-campus)
$17,047
Books & Supplies
$1,381
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$6,833
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$7,460
Total Cost of Attendance
$41,573
Application fee: $80 (one-time, due at submission)
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$9,231
$30,001 – $48,000
$9,992
$48,001 – $75,000
$12,588
$75,001 – $110,000
$17,136
Over $110,000
$31,863
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$4,16610%percentile
$7,50025%percentile
$13,993Medianpercentile
$23,50075%percentile
$28,67790%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $11,698
↓ $2,295
No Pell $12,000
↓ $1,993
Dependent students $11,700
↓ $2,293
Independent students $12,500
↓ $1,493
Female students $11,832
↓ $2,161
Male students $11,974
↓ $2,019
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $7,500, less than completers ($13,993), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
65% of full-time students who enrolled at University of California-Santa Barbara graduate within six years, and 92% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
65%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
92%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
High first-year retention. Students who arrive tend to stay.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered University of California-Santa Barbara earn a median of $74,915 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$74,915
Earning > $25K
86%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$56,300
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$70,600
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$56,800
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$60,400
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$68,200
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $14,300, about 20% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
10.0 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Excellent. 85% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
University of California-Santa Barbara is home to 23,113 students, a sprawling student community. Some distinctive traits: 42% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
23,113
Part-Time
2%
First-Generation
42%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 31.8%7,338
Hispanic 27.2%6,289
Asian 17.9%4,140
Other 9.7%2,237
International 8.8%2,025
Black 2.0%455
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at University of California-Santa Barbara. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Midsize SuburbSanta Barbara, California
Housing
Mostly residential11,432 beds on campus
Adult Learners
2%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Quarterscheduling structure
Designation
Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI)
What You Can Study
University of California-Santa Barbara offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
132 distinct programs across
19 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at University of California-Santa Barbara is 17:1, on the higher side.
Student : Faculty
17:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$17,563
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$377M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$178,195
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
1,104 instructional faculty across 5 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
519
47%
$237,008
Associate Professors
186
17%
$144,662
Assistant Professors
183
17%
$123,568
Lecturers
213
19%
$114,640
No Rank
3
0%
$84,121
Pros & Cons of University of California-Santa Barbara
A quick at-a-glance summary of how University of California-Santa Barbara tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
Best for:
Based on the data, University of California-Santa Barbara is a fit for
students prioritizing post-graduation earnings.
Frequently Asked Questions about University of California-Santa Barbara
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about University of California-Santa Barbara.
Is University of California-Santa Barbara hard to get into?
University of California-Santa Barbara is selective but not extremely competitive. Its acceptance rate is 33%. Strong academic credentials and a thoughtful application materially improve your odds.
What is the acceptance rate at University of California-Santa Barbara?
University of California-Santa Barbara has an acceptance rate of 33%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does University of California-Santa Barbara cost?
The average net price after aid at University of California-Santa Barbara is $16,109 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is University of California-Santa Barbara worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $74,915 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $16,109 per year. That's roughly 4.7x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is University of California-Santa Barbara known for?
University of California-Santa Barbara is best known for its programs in Economics, Sociology, Experimental Psychology. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do University of California-Santa Barbara graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering University of California-Santa Barbara are $74,915, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is University of California-Santa Barbara accredited?
Yes. University of California-Santa Barbara is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission.
How many students attend University of California-Santa Barbara?
University of California-Santa Barbara enrolls 23,113 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at University of California-Santa Barbara?
University of California-Santa Barbara graduates 65% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is University of California-Santa Barbara a public or private college?
University of California-Santa Barbara is a Public institution.
Where is University of California-Santa Barbara located?
University of California-Santa Barbara is located in Santa Barbara, California.
What programs does University of California-Santa Barbara offer?
University of California-Santa Barbara offers 132 distinct programs. The most popular include Economics, Sociology, Experimental Psychology.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at University of California-Santa Barbara?
The student-to-faculty ratio at University of California-Santa Barbara is 17:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
Related Colleges in California
Other colleges in California share the same applicant pool, regional economy, and academic landscape. Comparing nearby options puts admissions, costs, and outcomes in context, useful when weighing your fit against local alternatives.
Free, data-backed guides to help you decide, built on the same federal data as this profile.
H
How to Build Your College List Pillar
The full process of narrowing from 3,839 US colleges to a shortlist of ~10. Cost, location, size, selectivity, and fit factors that actually predict whether you'll thrive.
What actually makes a college work for first-generation students, the support and aid signals that predict success, and how to find the schools that deliver them using federal data.
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Original data analyses built on the same federal data as this profile. Rankings, outliers, and patterns, no opinions.
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Rankings That Feature University of California-Santa Barbara
University of California-Santa Barbara appears in these rankings, built from the same federal data and the UCD Score.
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93 UCD Score
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