University of California at Santa Barbara

School Overview: Acceptance Rate, Tuition, and More

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About University of California at Santa Barbara

School Type: Public

Religious Affiliation: Not applicable

Status: Non-profit

Military Friendly: No

Accreditation: regional

The University of California at Santa Barbara is a large public university located on a suburban campus in Santa Barbara, California. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 23,232, and admissions are highly selective, with an acceptance rate of 28%. The university offers 79 bachelor's degrees, has an average graduation rate of 86%, and a student-faculty ratio of 17:1. Tuition and fees for in-state students are $13,752, while tuition and fees for out-of-state students are $46,326.

Santa Barbara, CA

$13,752

Avg in-state
tuition

$46,326

Avg out-of-state
tuition

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Rankings

Learn more about how this school compares to other schools with rankings by BestColleges.

Admissions Breakdown

92%

Retention Rate Insight

92% of full-time students stayed to continue their studies the following academic year. These students started in Fall 2020 and returned in Fall 2021.

86%

Graduation Rate Insight

86% of students graduated out of all full-time, first-time students who began their studies in Fall 2015. Keep in mind many students who enroll are not typically first-time students, as most are adult learners. Therefore, the number of first-time students is traditionally low.

Application Considerations

Test scoresNot considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)

High school transcriptRequired

High school rankNot considered for admission, even if submitted

Letter of recommendationNot considered for admission, even if submitted

High school GPARequired to be considered for admission

Open admissionNo

Completion of college prep programRequired

Test of English as a foreign language (TOEFL)Required to be considered for admission

Transfer Credit Policy

Dual enrollmentYes

Credit for qualified life experience*Implied no

Advance placement (AP) creditsYes

*This can include previous jobs, trainings, licenses/credentials, or seminars. You may need to complete an exam or provide a portfolio to earn credit.

SAT & ACT

ACT 25th-75th Percentile28-34

SAT 25th-75th Percentile1230-1460

Learning Environment

Student Body Stats

27k

Students enrolled

11%

Online student enrollment

17:1

Student to faculty ratio

Ways Students Can Learn

OnlineCheck Bold
On-campusCheck Bold
InternationalCheck Bold

Demographics

White

28%

Unknown

2%

Black

2%

Hispanic

24%

Two or more races

7%

Non-U.S. Citizen

9%

Asian

18%

American Indian/Alaska Native

0%

Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

0%

Socio-economic diversity

26% of students received an income-based Federal Pell Grant intended for low-income students.

26%

Explore Similar Schools

Online Programs

Offers Online Programs

No

Online Programs

0

Total Online Enrollment

2,757

Student Location Breakout

Percent of Programs Online

100% On-campus

0% Online

Types of Online Programs Offered

CertificatesX BoldNot offered

AssociateX BoldNot offered

Bachelor'sX BoldNot offered

Graduate CertificateX BoldNot offered

Master'sX BoldNot offered

DoctorateX BoldNot offered

Student Charges

Tuition and Required Fees

Student LevelIn-stateOut-of-state
Undergraduate$59,784$59,784
Graduate$54,672$54,672

Cost of Undergraduate Attendance

Costs based on full-time, first-time degree or certificate-seeking undergraduates for the 2021–2022 academic year.

Costs to ConsiderPrice
Books and supplies$1,200
On-campus room and board$17,758
On-campus other expenses$2,600
Off-campus (not with family) room and boardCurrently unavailable
Off-campus (not with family) other expensesCurrently unavailable
Off-campus (with family) other expensesCurrently unavailable

Total Undergraduate Cost

Total cost by categoryIn-stateOut-of-state
On-campus$81,342$81,342
Off-campus without family$60,984$60,984
Off-campus with family$60,984$60,984

Financial Breakdown

Students Receiving Aid

Federal Grant Aid

48%

State Grant Aid

35%

Institution Grant Aid

44%

Pell Grant

26%

Average Aid Awarded

Federal Grant Aid$5,232
State Grant Aid$11,053
Institution Grant Aid$10,165
Pell Grant Aid$5,515

Financial Outlook

$14k

Average student debtafter graduation

$43k

Average salary 6 years after starting school

Varsity Athletic Teams

NCAA Division I-FCS

2.1%

of the overall student body is a member of an athletic team.

Participation

MenWomen
  • Baseball
  • Basketball
  • Golf
  • Soccer
  • Swimming
  • Tennis
  • Track Field Outdoor
  • Track Field Xcountry
  • Volleyball
  • Water Polo
  • Softball
  • Track Field Indoor

Degrees Awarded by Program

Degrees given for the 2021-2022 academic year.

#ProgramsBAMADoc
1Area, Ethnic, Cultural, Gender, And Group Studies.
2Biological And Biomedical Sciences.
3Business, Management, Marketing, And Related Support Services.
4Communication, Journalism, And Related Programs.
5Computer And Information Sciences And Support Services.
6Education.
7Engineering.
8English Language And Literature/Letters.
9Foreign Languages, Literatures, And Linguistics.
10History.
11Legal Professions And Studies.
12Mathematics And Statistics.
13Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies.
14Natural Resources And Conservation.
15Philosophy And Religious Studies.
16Physical Sciences.
17Psychology.
18Social Sciences.
19Visual And Performing Arts.

Data collected from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), [2021-2022]. In the absence of IPED data, information was collected directly from the school and is accurate as of the date of collection. Contact the school directly for the most current and complete information.