University of California at Santa Barbara

School Overview: Acceptance Rate, Tuition, and More

Santa Barbara, CA

$11,442

Avg in-state tuition

$41,196

Avg out-of-state tuition

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About University of California at Santa Barbara

School Type: Public

Status: Non-profit

Accreditation: Regional

Religious Affiliation: N/A While the student experience is largely unaffected at most schools with religious affiliations, some schools place more of an emphasis on religion. Learn how religious affiliations may impact students' experience.

A public university located in Santa Barbara, California, UC Santa Barbara has an annual enrollment of over 26,000 students. The research university accepts 30% of applicants and graduates 83% of its enrollees. UC Santa Barbara students can choose from over 200 majors, including more than 55 graduate programs. Learners have access to about 500 student organizations, and UC Santa Barbara researchers are connected with 10 national institutes and centers.

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Rankings

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

Admissions Breakdown

Acceptance Rate Insight

This school has a competitive acceptance rate.

This school is a little more selective about its students. Competitive acceptance schools welcome 15-50% of all applicants.

37% of students were accepted during the 2020-2021 school year. Sometimes schools with midrange acceptance rates have higher standards of entry but are still accessible to many students who apply.

Retention Rate Insight

Students remain enrolled in this school at a higher rate than other schools.

This typically means students are happy with their school selection and wish to continue their education there.

Learn more about how we determine school awards

91% of full-time students stayed to continue their studies the following academic year. These students started in Fall 2019 and returned in Fall 2020.

Graduation Rate Insight

Students graduate from this school at a higher rate than other schools.

This is typically an indication of a school's quality and means most students finish their degree in a timely manner.

Learn more about how we determine school awards

84% of students graduated out of all full-time, first-time students who began their studies in Fall 2014. 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 scores Required

High school transcript Required

High school rank Not required or recommended

Letter of recommendation Not required or recommended

High school GPA Required

Open admission No

Completion of college prep program Required

Test of English as a foreign language (TOEFL) Required

Transfer Credit Policy

Dual enrollment Yes

Credit for qualified life experience* Implied no

Advance placement (AP) credits Yes

*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

Students who attend this school typically have higher standardized test scores than students at other schools.

While test scores can be an important aspect of college applications, schools determine admission based on several factors, and these test scores are only a suggested range.

Learn more about how we determine school awards

ACT 25th-75th Percentile 28-34

SAT 25th-75th Percentile 1230-1460

Learning Environment

Student Body Stats

This school has a student body of more than 15,000 students.

Learn more about how we determine school awards

26k

Students enrolled

100%

Online student enrollment

18:1

Student to faculty ratio

Ways Students Can Learn

On-campus Check Bold
International Online classes are available for students around the world. Check Bold

Demographics

White

32%

Hispanic

23%

Asian

18%

Non-U.S. Citizen

15%

Two or more races

8%

Unknown

3%

Black

2%

American Indian/Alaska Native

0%

Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

0%

Female student population

54%

Socio-economic diversity

29% of students received an income-based Federal Pell Grant intended for low-income students.

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Student Charges

Tuition and Required Fees

Student Level In-state Out-of-state
Undergraduate $11,442 $41,196
Graduate $11,442 $26,544

Cost of Undergraduate Attendance

Costs based on full-time, first-time degree or certificate-seeking undergraduates for the 2020–2021 academic year.

Costs to Consider Price
Books and supplies $1,259
On-campus room and board $15,903
On-campus other expenses $5,381
Off-campus (not with family) room and board $13,188
Off-campus (not with family) other expenses $5,916
Off-campus (with family) other expenses $13,986

Total Undergraduate Cost

Total cost by category In-state Out-of-state
On-campus $33,985 $63,739
Off-campus without family $31,805 $61,559
Off-campus with family $26,687 $56,441

Financial Breakdown

Students Receiving Aid

Federal Grant Aid

48%

State Grant Aid

38%

Institution Grant Aid

46%

Pell Grant

29%

Average Aid Awarded

Federal Grant Aid $4,447
State Grant Aid $11,229
Institution Grant Aid $9,056
Pell Grant Aid $4,926

Financial Outlook

$15k

Average student debt after graduation

$43k

Average salary 6 years after starting school

Varsity Athletic Teams

NCAA Division I without football

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

Participation

Men Women
  • Basketball
  • Golf
  • Soccer
  • Softball
  • Swimming
  • Tennis
  • Track Field Outdoor
  • Volleyball
  • Water Polo
  • Baseball
  • Basketball

Degrees Awarded by Program

Degrees given for the 2020-2021 academic year.

1

Area, Ethnic, Cultural, And Gender Studies

BA

MA

DOC

2

Biological And Biomedical Sciences

BA

MA

DOC

3

Business, Management, Marketing, And Related Support Services

BA

MA

DOC

4

Communication, Journalism, And Related Programs

BA

MA

DOC

5

Computer And Information Sciences And Support Services

BA

MA

DOC

6

Education

BA

MA

DOC

7

Engineering

BA

MA

DOC

8

English Language And Literature/Letters

BA

MA

DOC

9

Foreign Languages, Literatures, And Linguistics

BA

MA

DOC

10

Health Professions And Related Clinical Sciences

BA

MA

DOC

11

History

BA

MA

DOC

12

Liberal Arts And Sciences, General Studies And Humanities

BA

MA

DOC

13

Mathematics And Statistics

BA

MA

DOC

14

Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies

BA

MA

DOC

15

Natural Resources And Conservation

BA

MA

DOC

16

Philosophy And Religious Studies

BA

MA

DOC

17

Physical Sciences

BA

MA

DOC

18

Psychology

BA

MA

DOC

19

Social Sciences

BA

MA

DOC

20

Visual And Performing Arts

BA

MA

DOC

Resource

Financial Aid Overview

Resource

Understanding Grants & Scholarships

Explore Rankings

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Data collected from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), [2020-2021]. 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.