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University of California-Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, CA · Public · Midsize suburb · Carnegie R1/R2 · UCSB · UCSB UC Santa Barbara

Public institution in Santa Barbara, CA · 23,205 undergraduates · 28% acceptance rate · $74,915 median earnings 10 years after entry.

Stats

College Scorecard figures, each with where this school sits nationally among institutions that report the same measure. A dash means the school does not report it.

Cost

Average net price
$13,825579th cheapest of 1,985 reporting
In-state tuition & fees
$14,965951st cheapest of 2,042 reporting
Out-of-state tuition & fees
$45,7421,758th cheapest of 2,042 reporting
Cost of attendance
$36,7761,138th cheapest of 1,985 reporting
Median graduate debt
$13,993267th lowest of 1,880 reporting

Outcomes

Median earnings, 10 years after entry
$74,915206th highest of 1,969 reporting
Median earnings, 6 years after entry
$56,852306th highest of 1,964 reporting
Graduation rate (4-year)
85.3%133rd highest of 2,031 reporting
Full-time retention
91.9%199th highest of 1,853 reporting

Admissions

Acceptance rate
27.8%102nd most selective of 1,608 reporting
Average SAT
—
Median ACT
—

Campus

Undergraduates
23,20588th largest of 2,162 reporting
Student-faculty ratio
17.0:11,598th smallest of 2,159 reporting
Pell Grant share
28.0%1,319th highest of 2,140 reporting

Nearest large-hub airport: 89 mi (LAX)

On 3 of our 111 lists

Every published ranking this school appears on, with its rank there.

Applying

Common App member
No
Application fee
—
Personal essay
—
Writing supplement
—

Supplemental prompts (2025-26)

  • You will have 8 questions to choose from. You must respond to only 4 of the 8 questions. Each response is limited to a maximum of 350 words.
  • Describe an example of your leadership experience in which you have positively influenced others, helped resolve disputes or contributed to group efforts over time.
  • Every person has a creative side, and it can be expressed in many ways: problem solving, original and innovative thinking, and artistically, to name a few. Describe how you express your creative side.
  • What would you say is your greatest talent or skill? How have you developed and demonstrated that talent over time?
  • Describe how you have taken advantage of a significant educational opportunity or worked to overcome an educational barrier you have faced.
  • Describe the most significant challenge you have faced and the steps you have taken to overcome this challenge. How has this challenge affected your academic achievement?
  • Think about an academic subject that inspires you. Describe how you have furthered this interest inside and/or outside of the classroom.
  • What have you done to make your school or your community a better place?
  • Beyond what has already been shared in your application, what do you believe makes you a strong candidate for admissions to the University of California?

Source: UC Personal Insight Questions (official)

Deadlines and essay flags come from the Common App Requirements Grid, joined by school name. Always confirm against the school’s own admissions page before applying.

Best-paying fields of study

Median earnings one and two years after graduating, by field. Showing 12 of 53 reported programs.

FieldLevel1 yr2 yr
Computer Sciencebachelors$91,744$81,554
Computer EngineeringEngineeringbachelors$82,123$76,773
Electrical, Electronics and Communications EngineeringEngineeringbachelors$73,949$72,134
Mechanical EngineeringEngineeringbachelors$66,262$60,452
Chemical EngineeringEngineeringbachelors$61,516$59,485
PhysicsPhysical Sciencesbachelors$59,648$52,107
EconomicsSocial Sciencesbachelors$59,447$60,790
Management Sciences and Quantitative MethodsBusinessbachelors$55,964$52,107
StatisticsMathematics & Statisticsbachelors$49,996$47,650
Applied MathematicsMathematics & Statisticsbachelors$46,087$59,536
MathematicsMathematics & Statisticsbachelors$46,087$44,835
Communication and Media StudiesCommunicationsbachelors$45,305$41,889

Campus facts

Athletics — 12 sports

NCAA Division I without football · NCAA Division I

Athletic scholarships allowed · Athletic aid $6,574,572 (M $3,214,113 · W $3,360,459)

Self-reported EADA participants (2024-2025). Athletic aid is institution-level, not per sport.

Notable alumni

Illustrative alumni only — not exhaustive and not a quality ranking. Affiliation claims cite Wikipedia/Wikidata; confirm on primary bios before relying on them.