Campus photo

Photo: Pacific Southwest Region USFWS from Sacramento, US / Wikimedia Commons / Public domain

University of California-Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, CA

PublicSuburb: MidsizeYellow Ribbon (undergraduate)Test Blind

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33%

Acceptance Rate

23,113

Undergraduates

$51k

Out-of-state tuition

83%

6-yr grad rate

$75k

Median Earnings (10 yrs)

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Data as of September 2026

Can I Get In?

33%

Very Selective

Acceptance Rate (2024-25)

Test Blind

33% of applicants admitted

SAT RangeNot reported

ACT RangeNot reported

Avg Admitted GPA (CDS 2024-25)4.30

$80 application fee

23,113 degree-seeking undergraduates (2024-25)

Public · Suburb: Midsize

Application deadline: Nov 30, 2026

Your MatchBasic and up

33% acceptance rate. Compare your scores against admitted students — is this a Match, Reach, or Safety for you?

What University of California-Santa Barbara rates very important: Academic GPA, Application essay (its 2025-26 Common Data Set). This is how the college weighs all applicants, not part of your chance above. · Source

Can I Afford It?

Out-of-state tuition (2024-25)

$50,614

Average Net Price, In-State (2023-24)

$16,109

This college's average after grants for in-state students, all family incomes. Not your price.

$13,993Median Debt

Median earnings 10 yrs after entry$74,915/yr

Debt-to-earnings ratio19%

Your Net Price EstimateBasic and up

See what University of California-Santa Barbara is likely to cost at your family's income, after grants.

Why Go Here?

6-yr grad rate83%

First-year retention93%

$75k

Median Earnings

10 yrs after entry

17:1

Student-Faculty Ratio

23.1k

Undergraduates

Large

Public · Suburb: Midsize

Your Scores HereBasic and up

Is this school right for you? See how your SAT, ACT and GPA compare with admitted students.

How Does It Stack Up?

#128

Deal Score in CA

of 492 rated colleges

Deal Score82

Excellent value

42% First-Gen Students

28% Pell Grant Recipients

Your Admission ChanceBasic and up

See your admission chance at University of California-Santa Barbara, based on your scores and GPA.

Get Basic →

42Days

Next Application Deadline

Application deadline: Nov 30, 2026

From the school’s admissions page, checked Sep 23, 2026. The year is projected for this cycle; confirm it with the school. Source

At a Glance

University of California-Santa Barbara is a public college in Santa Barbara, CA. It enrolls 23,113 degree-seeking undergraduates (2024-25).

Deal Score

/ 100

Excellent value

Based on cost, earnings, & outcomes

Academics & Admissions

Student-Faculty Ratio

17:1

SAT Middle 50% / Avg GPA

Not reported

SAT

4.30

GPA (CDS 2024-25)

Test Blind

Application Deadline

Application deadline: Nov 30, 2026

via UC Application

Cost & Financial Aid

Out-of-state tuition (2024-25)$50,614

Avg net price (in-state students), % of cost of attendance (2023-24)39%

Room & Board (2024-25)$20,279

Median Debt at Graduation$13,993

Highest-Earning Programs

Computer Science$108k/yr

Computer Engineering$91k/yr

Mechanical Engineering$81k/yr

Chemical Engineering$80k/yr

Economics$66k/yr

Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods$66k/yr

How to Apply

Application deadlineNov 30, 2026

From the school’s admissions page; years projected for fall 2027 entry. Source

Apply via

UC Application

$80 fee

Admissions Page Financial Aid Net Price Calculator

Explore Careers

Discover careers related to University of California-Santa Barbara's top programs

Computer Science$108k/yr Computer Engineering$91k/yr Mechanical Engineering$81k/yr Chemical Engineering$80k/yr

The Vibe

Not enough data

Rigor

Career

Value

Suburb: Midsize

Setting

Out of 10. Rigor from the SAT middle-50% midpoint (400 = 0, 1600 = 10); Career from median earnings 10 years after entry ($10k per point); Value is the Deal Score ÷ 10. Setting is the federal locale.