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 23,091, 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.

Santa Barbara, CA

$11,442

Avg in-state
tuition

$41,196

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

29%

Acceptance Rate Insight

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.

91%

Retention Rate Insight

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.

85%

Graduation Rate Insight

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 scoresNot required or recommended

High school transcriptRequired

High school rankConsidered (not required)

Letter of recommendationNot required or recommended

High school GPARequired

Open admissionNo

Completion of college prep programRequired

Test of English as a foreign language (TOEFL)Required

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 Percentile-

SAT 25th-75th Percentile-

Learning Environment

Student Body Stats

27k

Students enrolled

14%

Online student enrollment

17:1

Student to faculty ratio

Ways Students Can Learn

OnlineCheck Bold
On-campusCheck Bold
InternationalCheck Bold

Demographics

White

33%

Unknown

3%

Black

2%

Hispanic

24%

Two or more races

8%

Non-U.S. Citizen

13%

Asian

17%

American Indian/Alaska Native

0%

Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

0%

Socio-economic diversity

28% of students received an income-based Federal Pell Grant intended for low-income students.

28%

Online Programs

Offers Online Programs

No

Online Programs

0

Total Online Enrollment

3,665

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

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 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, And Gender Studies.
2Area, Ethnic, Cultural, Gender, And Group Studies.
3Biological And Biomedical Sciences.
4Business, Management, Marketing, And Related Support Services.
5Communication, Journalism, And Related Programs.
6Computer And Information Sciences And Support Services.
7Education.
8Engineering.
9English Language And Literature/Letters.
10Foreign Languages, Literatures, And Linguistics.
11Health Professions And Related Clinical Sciences.
12History
13History.
14Legal Professions And Studies.
15Liberal Arts And Sciences, General Studies And Humanities.
16Mathematics And Statistics.
17Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies.
18Natural Resources And Conservation.
19Philosophy And Religious Studies.
20Physical Sciences.
21Psychology.
22Social Sciences.
23Visual 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.