University of California-Santa Barbara
University of California-Santa Barbara has an acceptance rate of 33.0%, average net price of $16,109, and a national rank of #71 (Grade A), with a 83.0% six-year graduation rate, and median earnings of $56,852 six years after enrollment. Figures come from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and EDsmart's 2026 rankings.
University of California-Santa Barbara is a public university in Santa Barbara, CA. Students most often pursue Computer Science and Computer Engineering.
Academically, students benefit from a 17:1 student-faculty ratio. Peer cohorts and advising networks provide scaffolding that keeps newcomers anchored during demanding semesters.
EDsmart calculates return on investment at 81.8%, roughly 31.9 points higher than typical outcomes. It's a compelling fit for students who appreciate an encouraging campus with room to explore.
Who is University of California-Santa Barbara Best For?
A quick look at who tends to feel most at home here based on outcomes and campus context.
EDsmart Scores Summary
University of California-Santa Barbara graduates 83.0% of students within six years and does not report first-year retention. Affordability earns a B compared with similar schools.
How we calculate this →Cost & Financial Aid
Quick Answers
The costs shown are averages. Use University of California-Santa Barbara's net price calculator to get an estimate based on your family's financial situation.
Calculate Your Net Price →Total Degree Cost Summary
Annual Cost Comparison
Cost of Undergraduate Attendance
Costs based on full-time, first-time degree- or certificate-seeking undergraduates.
View cost of attendance line items
| Costs to Consider | Price |
|---|---|
| Tuition and Fees | Not reported |
| Books and Supplies | Not reported |
| On-Campus Room and Board | Not reported |
| On-Campus Other Expenses | Not reported |
| Total On-Campus Cost | $41,573 |
Tip: focus on the rows that match your living plan—commuters can swap in off-campus estimates while residential students should budget for housing, meals, and incidental fees.
Students Receiving Aid
Use these bars to gauge how many classmates rely on need-based dollars—lower Pell or loan shares may signal a wealthier student body or generous institutional grants.
EDsmart Insight: Only 0.0% of University of California-Santa Barbara students receive Pell Grants — far below the national average, underscoring equity challenges.
Net Price by Family Income
Average annual net price after financial aid, based on family income. Your actual cost may vary depending on your specific financial situation.
Understanding These Numbers: Net price varies significantly by income level. Net prices range from $9,231 to $31,863 depending on family income. Use University of California-Santa Barbara's net price calculator for a personalized estimate.
If your family earns $75K-$110K: Expect to pay around $17,136/year
If your family earns $110K+: Expect to pay around $31,863/year
See all income brackets →ROI & Career Outcomes
- 6-Year Median Earnings $56,852
- 10-Year Median Earnings $56,852
- Average Years to Graduate 4.3 years
- Average Student Debt $11,875
- Repayment Rate (3yr) 74.6%
- Employment Rate 90.5%
Graduate Earnings Distribution
Earnings range for University of California-Santa Barbara graduates 6 years after enrollment, showing the 25th percentile, median, and 75th percentile. This illustrates the variation in outcomes across different majors and career paths.
University of California-Santa Barbara vs. National Average
Comparison of key performance metrics showing how University of California-Santa Barbara's outcomes compare to the national average across earnings, graduation rates, retention, ROI, and employment. This contextualizes University of California-Santa Barbara's performance within the broader higher education landscape.
EDsmart Insight: University of California-Santa Barbara graduates earn $56,852 median six years after enrollment, +30% above the national average. Earnings vary significantly by major—research your field's outcomes.
Acceptance & Selectivity
Getting In
- SAT Evidence-Based Reading Not reported
- SAT Math Not reported
- SAT Writing Not reported
- ACT Composite Not reported
- SAT & ACTNot required
- Undergraduate Enrollment 0
- Full-Time Students 95.0%
- Part-Time Students 5.0%
- Retention Rate Not reported
- Graduation Rate 83.0%
- Student-Faculty Ratio 17:1
How to Get Into University of California-Santa Barbara
1. Meet Academic Requirements: University of California-Santa Barbara requires strong academic performance. Aim for test scores within the reported ranges and maintain a competitive GPA. Most admitted students rank in the top 10% of their high school class.
2. Build a Strong Application: Beyond test scores, focus on crafting compelling essays, securing strong letters of recommendation, and highlighting extracurricular activities that demonstrate leadership and commitment.
3. Understand Selectivity: With an acceptance rate of 33.0%, University of California-Santa Barbara is moderately selective. Consider applying early decision if available, as early applicants often have higher acceptance rates.
4. Financial Planning: Review the net price calculator and financial aid options early. Many students receive significant aid, making the actual cost lower than the sticker price.
Tip: Contact the admissions office directly for the most current application requirements, deadlines, and any special programs (like early decision or early action) that might improve your chances.
EDsmart Insight: University of California-Santa Barbara accepts 33.0% of applicants, making it moderately selective. Focus on strong academics, meaningful extracurriculars, and compelling essays to stand out.
Academic Programs
Undergraduate Program Distribution
Breakdown of the most popular majors and fields of study among University of California-Santa Barbara undergraduates. Sociology, Economics, and Research and Experimental Psychology draw the most students.
- Sociology 10.1%
- Economics 10.0%
- Research and Experimental Psychology 8.2%
- Communication and Media Studies 7.3%
- Biology, General 5.2%
- International/Globalization Studies 5.2%
See more majors
- Natural Resources Conservation and Research 5.1%
- Political Science and Government 4.2%
Highest Earning Programs
Median earnings five years after graduation for each program. These figures help illustrate ROI by field of study and degree level.
Undergraduate Programs (Bachelor's Degrees)
- 1. Computer Science $145,485
- 2. Computer Engineering $139,942
- 3. Statistics $110,783
Show additional high-earning majors
- 4. Applied Mathematics $109,292
- 5. Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering $108,865
- 6. Economics $107,948
- 7. Physics $104,149
- 8. Chemical Engineering $104,039
- 9. Mechanical Engineering $100,669
- 10. Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods $98,845
Graduate Programs (Master's, Doctoral, Professional)
- 1. Education, General (Doctoral Degree) $103,332
- 2. Natural Resources Conservation and Research (Master's Degree) $90,082
- 3. Education, General (Master's Degree) $77,489
Show additional graduate majors
- 4. Education, General (Graduate/Professional Certificate) $75,838
Program Choice Matters: Undergraduate: Computer Science grads earn $145,485—47% more than Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods ($98,845). Graduate: Education, General programs lead with $103,332 median earnings. Your program and degree level choice significantly impact career earnings.
Online Degrees & Distance Learning
College Scorecard reports fully online programs for University of California-Santa Barbara. Below are the most popular options based on the number of recent graduates, followed by a quick look at the breadth of online offerings by degree level.
Source: U.S. Department of Education – College Scorecard
Most Popular Online Degrees
- Sociology (Bachelor's Degree, 713 graduates)
- Economics (Bachelor's Degree, 703 graduates)
- Research and Experimental Psychology (Bachelor's Degree, 579 graduates)
- Communication and Media Studies (Bachelor's Degree, 517 graduates)
- Biology, General (Bachelor's Degree, 368 graduates)
What This School Offers Online, at a Glance
College Scorecard flags the following online degree and certificate programs for this institution. Expand each credential level to view the complete list of available subjects.
Online Bachelor's Degrees (53 programs)▼
- Sociology
- Economics
- Research and Experimental Psychology
- Communication and Media Studies
- Biology, General
- International/Global Studies
- Natural Resources Conservation and Research
- Political Science and Government
- Statistics
- English Language and Literature, General
- Mathematics
- History
- Anthropology
- Physics
- Film/Video and Photographic Arts
- Computer Science
- Philosophy
- Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies
- Fine and Studio Arts
- Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services
- Applied Mathematics
- Chemistry
- Geography and Cartography
- Mechanical Engineering
- Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology
- Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods
- Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology
- Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
- Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences
- Computer Engineering
- Chemical Engineering
- Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering
- Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
- Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences
- Music
- Microbiological Sciences and Immunology
- Religion/Religious Studies
- Pharmacology and Toxicology
- Area Studies
- Dance
- Zoology/Animal Biology
- East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
- Germanic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
- Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
- Slavic, Baltic and Albanian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
- Business/Managerial Economics
- Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences
- Non-Professional General Legal Studies (Undergraduate)
- Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
- Psychology, General
- Medieval and Renaissance Studies
- Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
- Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
Online Master's Degrees (44 programs)▼
- Education, General
- Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering
- Natural Resources Conservation and Research
- Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods
- Computer Science
- Physics
- Economics
- Statistics
- Anthropology
- Materials Sciences
- Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences
- Mechanical Engineering
- Music
- Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology
- Sociology
- Psychology, Other
- Fine and Studio Arts
- Political Science and Government
- Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences
- Geography and Cartography
- Mathematics
- Research and Experimental Psychology
- Philosophy
- Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services
- History
- Film/Video and Photographic Arts
- Area Studies
- Religion/Religious Studies
- Communication and Media Studies
- Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
- Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology
- Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
- International/Global Studies
- Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies
- English Language and Literature, General
- Chemistry
- Radio, Television, and Digital Communication
- Psychology, General
- Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
- Germanic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
- Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
- Chemical Engineering
- Applied Mathematics
- Neurobiology and Neurosciences
Online Doctoral Degrees (44 programs)▼
- Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering
- Computer Science
- Physics
- Materials Sciences
- Chemistry
- Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology
- Psychology, Other
- Geography and Cartography
- History
- Statistics
- Chemical Engineering
- Education, General
- Economics
- Sociology
- Research and Experimental Psychology
- Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences
- Radio, Television, and Digital Communication
- Natural Resources Conservation and Research
- Music
- Mechanical Engineering
- Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services
- English Language and Literature, General
- Mathematics
- Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, Other
- Anthropology
- Film/Video and Photographic Arts
- Religion/Religious Studies
- Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences
- Fine and Studio Arts
- Communication and Media Studies
- Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology
- Political Science and Government
- Philosophy
- East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
- Neurobiology and Neurosciences
- International/Global Studies
- Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies
- Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
- Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
- Psychology, General
- Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
- Germanic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
- Educational Administration and Supervision
- Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
Online Graduate/Professional Certificates (3 programs)▼
- Education, General
- Psychology, Other
- Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
Student Demographics
Student Population
- Total Undergraduate Enrollment 0
- Full-Time Students 95.0%
- Part-Time Students 5.0%
- Male Students 0.0%
- Female Students 0.0%
- Caucasian 31.8%
- Asian 17.9%
- Hispanic 27.2%
- Black 2.0%
- Pell Grant Recipients 0.0%
Racial & Ethnic Diversity
Undergraduate student body composition by racial and ethnic background. This reflects University of California-Santa Barbara's commitment to diversity and inclusion in admissions.
Gender Distribution
Gender breakdown of University of California-Santa Barbara's undergraduate population. The university maintains a roughly balanced gender distribution across its student body.
Graduation Rate Equity Analysis
How well does University of California-Santa Barbara support students from different economic backgrounds?
What this means: Lower-income students (Pell Grant recipients) graduate at nearly the same rate as higher-income students, indicating strong institutional support for all economic backgrounds.
Compare graduation rates by race/ethnicity
Graduation Rates by Race/Ethnicity
Six-year graduation rates for different demographic groups at University of California-Santa Barbara, compared to national averages. This shows whether the institution supports all students equitably.
EDsmart Insight: University of California-Santa Barbara has a diverse student body, with 31.8% identifying as White.
Graduation Rate Equity Analysis
How well does University of California-Santa Barbara support students from different economic backgrounds?
What this means: Lower-income students (Pell Grant recipients) graduate at nearly the same rate as higher-income students, indicating strong institutional support for all economic backgrounds.
Compare graduation rates by race/ethnicity
Graduation Rates by Race/Ethnicity
Six-year graduation rates for different demographic groups at University of California-Santa Barbara, compared to national averages. This shows whether the institution supports all students equitably.
Our Take
Ranking #71 nationally, University of California-Santa Barbara combines competitive admissions with 81.8% ROI, positioning itself among America's stronger universities. The institution balances academic rigor with $56,852 in median post-graduation earnings.
Students complete degrees at 83.0% six-year rates, with 93.0% retention reflecting solid satisfaction. The $16,109 annual net price falls in the moderate range, though 1197 institutions deliver comparable outcomes at lower costs.
Competitive Selective University: University of California-Santa Barbara's Market Position
A grade | #71 of 6119 | 95.9/100 on EDsmart's national index (0–100 vs. all ranked schools; not a raw point total)
Competitive Positioning: University of California-Santa Barbara occupies the competitive selective tier—not elite enough for automatic career advantages, but strong enough to provide quality education and reasonable outcomes. The 81.8% ROI reflects this middle ground: better than most, but not top-tier.
Value for Money: $16,109 annually produces $56,852 median earnings—a reasonable but not exceptional return. Students choosing University of California-Santa Barbara should evaluate whether the institution's specific programs, location, or campus culture justify costs versus higher-ROI alternatives.
Who Succeeds Here: Self-directed students who maximize campus resources (research, internships, networking) achieve outcomes rivaling higher-ranked schools. Students seeking specific programs or geographic locations find strong value. Those needing extensive hand-holding may struggle in larger university environments.
Final Assessment: University of California-Santa Barbara's #71 ranking and A grade reflect solid performance across metrics. With 1197 schools offering better ROI, value-focused students should compare carefully. However, for students who fit the institution's culture and programs, outcomes justify investment.
Key Takeaways
- 83.0% six-year graduation rate sits 20.5 points above the national 62.5% benchmark.
- 93.0% first-year retention is 16.2 points above the national norm of 76.8%.
- 81.8% return on investment is 31.9 points above the national 49.9% benchmark.
- Median earnings of $56,852 run about 30% higher than national outcomes six years after enrollment.
- Average net price of $16,109 is roughly $1,318 lower than the national median of $17,426.
Helpfulness for Students
- 17:1 student-faculty ratio keeps mentorship close and courses discussion-sized.
- 93.0% first-year retention shows students stay engaged after the first year.
- 90.5% employment rate within three years sits 22.3 points above national outcomes.
- Budget carefully for clinical travel, off-campus housing, and practicum fees to avoid surprise costs.
- Compare aid offers from nearby public universities to weigh the premium for smaller classes.
- Compare aid offers from nearby public universities to weigh the premium for smaller classes.
EDsmart Expert Analysis
University of California-Santa Barbara, a public university in Santa Barbara, CA, secures a A grade in our latest review. It holds a #71 national ranking Category results include Completion (A), Support (B+), Career Outcomes (A-), and Affordability (B).
Grades are assigned relative to EDsmart's national bachelor's cohort using standardized outcomes (2026 methodology); they reflect how a school compares to peers, not a fixed percentage of a raw point total.
The six-year graduation rate hovers around 83.0%. The reported ROI is 81.8%, a figure families can weigh against cost and aid details above.
Why it matters: this snapshot shows how likely you are to stay on track academically and whether the outcomes justify the price tag. Letter grades summarize cohort-relative performance—not a single exam-style score.
EDsmart Financial Snapshot
Families pay about $16,109 on average after aid, compared with a published cost near $41,573.
Institutional and federal aid lower costs by roughly $25,464 per year.
Graduates leave with a median of $11,875 in federal loans, which lines up with national norms.
Pell Grant participation data is not reported.
Why it matters: lining up sticker price, aid, and typical debt helps you stress-test the budget before you commit.
EDsmart Career Snapshot
Graduates report median earnings of about $56,852 six years after entry. This is roughly 30% above typical U.S. college outcomes.
Roughly 90.5% of graduates are employed three years out.
The ROI comes in near 81.8%, which you can cross-check against your financial plan.
Why it matters: pairing median earnings with employment rates gives you a sense of payback time after graduation.
EDsmart Admissions Snapshot
33.0% of applicants receive offers, so preparation and fit matter.
The admissions team encourages students to highlight academic strengths through transcripts, essays, and recommendations.
Prospective students can apply early for priority review and lean on the University of California-Santa Barbara admissions site for deadlines, visit options, and counselor contacts.
Why it matters: knowing the admit rate and application expectations lets you map out testing, essays, and deadlines with less stress.
Your Decision Toolkit
Similar Schools
Institutions with similar academic profiles, selectivity, and outcomes
Nearby Schools
Other campuses you might consider
Other California campuses you might consider
Frequently Asked Questions
What is University of California-Santa Barbara's acceptance rate?
University of California-Santa Barbara's acceptance rate is 33.0%, based on U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard admissions data.
How much does University of California-Santa Barbara cost?
At University of California-Santa Barbara, the average net price after aid is $16,109. Use the net price calculator on this page for a personalized estimate.
What is University of California-Santa Barbara's ranking?
University of California-Santa Barbara ranks #71 nationally in EDsmart's 2026 college rankings with an overall grade of A, based on completion, affordability, support, and career outcomes.
What is University of California-Santa Barbara's graduation rate?
At University of California-Santa Barbara, the six-year graduation rate is 83.0%.
What are University of California-Santa Barbara's job outcomes?
Graduates of University of California-Santa Barbara report median earnings of $56,852 six years after enrollment, according to College Scorecard federal outcome data. Outcomes vary by major.
Contact Information
- Address Santa Barbara, CA 93106
- Website www.ucsb.edu
- Net Price Calculator Calculate Your Cost
- Financial AidView Financial Aid Information
- AccreditationWestern Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission (WASCSR)
- Endowment$377.0M