School Profile

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.

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 23,091, and admissions are highly selective, with an acceptance rate of 29%. The university offers 79 bachelor's degrees, has an average graduation rate of 85%, and a student-faculty ratio of 17:1. Tuition and fees for in-state students are $11,442, while tuition and fees for out-of-state students are $41,196.

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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.

29% of students were accepted during the 2021-2022 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.

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91% of full-time students stayed to continue their studies the following academic year. These students started in Fall 2020 and returned in Fall 2021.

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.

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85% 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 scores Not required or recommended

High school transcript Required

High school rank Considered (not required)

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

ACT 25th-75th Percentile Currently Unavailable

SAT 25th-75th Percentile Currently Unavailable

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

14%

Online student enrollment

17:1

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

33%

Hispanic

24%

Asian

17%

Non-U.S. Citizen

13%

Two or more races

8%

Unknown

3%

Black

2%

American Indian/Alaska Native

0%

Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

0%

Female student population

55%

Socio-economic diversity

28% 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 2021–2022 academic year.

Costs to Consider Price
Books and supplies $1,317
On-campus room and board $16,699
On-campus other expenses $5,287
Off-campus (not with family) room and board $13,803
Off-campus (not with family) other expenses $5,837
Off-campus (with family) other expenses $14,225

Total Undergraduate Cost

Total cost by category In-state Out-of-state
On-campus $34,745 $64,499
Off-campus without family $32,399 $62,153
Off-campus with family $26,984 $56,738

Financial Breakdown

Students Receiving Aid

Federal Grant Aid

46%

State Grant Aid

39%

Institution Grant Aid

42%

Pell Grant

28%

Average Aid Awarded

Federal Grant Aid $4,694
State Grant Aid $10,813
Institution Grant Aid $7,687
Pell Grant Aid $5,573

Financial Outlook

$14k

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 Indoor
  • Track Field Outdoor
  • Track Field Xcountry
  • Volleyball
  • Water Polo
  • Baseball
  • Basketball

Degrees Awarded by Program

Degrees given for the 2021-2022 academic year.

1

Area, Ethnic, Cultural, And Gender Studies

BA

MA

DOC

2

Area, Ethnic, Cultural, Gender, And Group Studies

BA

MA

DOC

3

Biological And Biomedical Sciences

BA

MA

DOC

4

Business, Management, Marketing, And Related Support Services

BA

MA

DOC

5

Communication, Journalism, And Related Programs

BA

MA

DOC

6

Computer And Information Sciences And Support Services

BA

MA

DOC

7

Education

BA

MA

DOC

8

Engineering

BA

MA

DOC

9

English Language And Literature/Letters

BA

MA

DOC

10

Foreign Languages, Literatures, And Linguistics

BA

MA

DOC

11

Health Professions And Related Clinical Sciences

BA

MA

DOC

12

History

BA

MA

DOC

13

History

BA

MA

DOC

14

Legal Professions And Studies

BA

MA

DOC

15

Liberal Arts And Sciences, General Studies And Humanities

BA

MA

DOC

16

Mathematics And Statistics

BA

MA

DOC

17

Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies

BA

MA

DOC

18

Natural Resources And Conservation

BA

MA

DOC

19

Philosophy And Religious Studies

BA

MA

DOC

20

Physical Sciences

BA

MA

DOC

21

Psychology

BA

MA

DOC

22

Social Sciences

BA

MA

DOC

23

Visual And Performing Arts

BA

MA

DOC

Resource

Financial Aid Overview

Resource

Understanding Grants & Scholarships

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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.