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PublicSuburban

University of California-Santa Barbara

UCSB UC Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, California 93106

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Campus Vibe

Large campusSuburban

Strong graduate outcomes — major research university

University of California-Santa Barbara is a public institution in Santa Barbara with particular strength in biology and psychology.

A large campus of 23.2K undergraduates with a 17:1 student-faculty ratio. The suburban location offers a balance of campus life and nearby amenities.

85% of students graduate within four years, and graduates earn a median of $74,915 a decade after enrollment. Net price after aid averages $13,825.

Established
1891
Motto
Fiat lux
Mascot
Olé the Gaucho
Type
Public land-grant research university
Conference
Big West Conference

Campus Visits

15 upcoming visits · Next: Fri, Apr 10 · Campus Tour
28%Acceptance
SAT Avg
23,205Students
17:1Student:Faculty
85%Grad Rate
$74,915Earnings 10yr
$13,825Net Price

News & Alerts

program2026-03-15

University of California-Santa Barbara Launches New Data Science Minor

tuition2026-02-28

Tuition Increase Announced for 2026-27

Admissions

Acceptance Rate27.8%

Admissions Intel

Acceptance Rate

27.8%

Trend

Yield Rate

35.0%

Cost & Financial Aid

Sticker Price

Tuition (in-state)$14,965
Tuition (out-of-state)$45,742
Room & Board$18,684
Books & Supplies$1,482
Total Cost of Attendance$36,776
Average Net Price$13,825
Median Debt at Graduation$13,993
Monthly Payment (10yr)$148

Net Price by Family Income

$0–30K$7,745
$30–48K$8,910
$48–75K$11,398
$75–110K$16,839
$110K+$30,085

Financial Intel

Avg Net Price

$13,825

Tuition Trend

Graduate w/ Zero Debt

8000.0%

Avg Tuition Increase

3.2%/yr

Median Debt at Grad

$11,875

Campus Safety

Total Incidents (2024)

165

Peer Average

240

3-Year Trend

Emergency System

24/7 campus police department, blue-light phone network, emergency mass notification system

Programs (144)

Student Life

Student Body

Undergrads
23,205
Gender Split
57% / 43%
Women / Men
First Generation
42%
Pell Grant Recipients
28%

Race & Ethnicity

White 32%
Black 2%
Hispanic 26%
Asian 19%
Two+ 9%
Int'l 10%

Outcomes

4-Year Graduation Rate85.3%
Freshman Retention91.9%

Median Earnings After Graduation

6 Years$56,852
8 Years$68,092
10 Years$74,915

10-Year Earnings by Gender

Women
$56,300
Men
$70,600

Rankings

U.S. News
#40
Wall Street Journal
#29
Washington Monthly
#80

More About This School

Varsity Sports

Rankings

History & Fun Facts

Source: Wikipedia

Location & Lifestyle

Cost of Living

146Very High

Estimated from CA state average + suburban adjustment

Climate (School Year)

Snowfall: 5"Sunny days: 250Rainy days: 75

Nearest Cities

Los Angelespop. 3.9M
95 mi(165 min)
San Diegopop. 1.4M
194 mi(336 min)
San Franciscopop. 870K
273 mi(473 min)

Getting There

Visit Planning

Deadline Calendar

University of California-Santa Barbara Application Checklist

Decision Notifications