University of California-Santa Barbara is a public 4-year college in Santa Barbara, California with 23,113 undergraduates. It admits 33% of applicants, costs an average of $16,807 a year after grants and graduates 84% of its students.
Figures from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, released October 15, 2026. What each number covers.
University of California-Santa Barbara acceptance rate and admissions
University of California-Santa Barbara admitted 33% of applicants for fall 2024, about 1 in 3. The median acceptance rate at 4-year colleges is 77%.
Test scores: Neither required nor recommended (as reported for fall 2024 admission). That means you can apply without SAT or ACT scores. Check the admissions office for the current policy.
University of California-Santa Barbara tuition, cost and net price
| Tuition and fees, in-state (2025-26) | $16,989 |
|---|---|
| Tuition and fees, out-of-state (2025-26) | $54,591 |
| On-campus housing and food (2025-26) | $21,975 |
| Total cost of attendance (2024-25) | $44,833 |
| Average net price after grants (2024-25) | $16,807 |
Students who get federal aid pay an average of $16,807 a year after grants and scholarships, $28,026 less than the full cost of attendance. This figure covers in-state students.
What families pay, by income
Average yearly cost after grants for aided first-time students paying in-state tuition, by family income (2024-25):
Your own price depends on your family's full situation. Run University of California-Santa Barbara's net price calculator for a personal estimate, or make a "what it costs us" card.
University of California-Santa Barbara graduation rate, earnings and debt
- 84% of first-time, full-time students finished within six years (students who started in 2019).
- Former students earned a median of $82,568 a year, 10 years after they started (students who received federal aid and were working).
- Students who completed left with a median of $11,776 in federal student loans.
Earnings compared
Debt compared
Median debt is 14% of median earnings 10 years after entry. Many advisers suggest keeping total student debt below one year of expected pay. See the monthly payment.
University of California-Santa Barbara majors and what graduates earn
University of California-Santa Barbara awarded bachelor's degrees in 51 fields recently. The best-paid graduates four years out came from computer science ($149,190).
All 51 majors at University of California-Santa Barbara
| Major | Graduates (2023-24) | Earnings 1 yr after | Earnings 4 yrs after | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer science | 174 | $121,223 | $149,190 | $10,000 |
| Computer engineering | 81 | $101,093 | $144,703 | $10,000 |
| Electrical engineering | 58 | $87,938 | $117,215 | $12,436 |
| Chemical engineering | 44 | $82,313 | $113,317 | $13,833 |
| Applied mathematics | 178 | $62,507 | $109,360 | $11,567 |
| Mechanical engineering | 87 | $80,791 | $104,336 | $12,583 |
| Pharmacology and Toxicology | 57 | $42,364 | $98,462 | $11,000 |
| Economics | 702 | $70,608 | $98,178 | $11,528 |
| Business analytics and operations research | 38 | $78,375 | $96,078 | n/a |
| Statistics | 375 | $67,908 | $90,778 | $13,800 |
| Biochemistry and molecular biology | 79 | $61,491 | $90,694 | $5,765 |
| Microbiological Sciences and Immunology | 31 | $51,399 | $90,061 | $14,607 |
| Mathematics | 109 | $54,285 | $85,391 | $13,000 |
| Physics | 138 | $64,520 | $85,219 | $12,804 |
| Chemistry | 75 | $56,258 | $74,713 | $14,499 |
| Communication | 649 | $51,428 | $72,976 | $11,108 |
| Philosophy | 93 | $38,395 | $71,796 | $11,349 |
| Political science | 319 | $43,555 | $70,384 | $11,927 |
| Romance languages | 56 | $34,041 | $68,496 | $12,291 |
| Geography | 60 | $45,501 | $67,521 | $11,000 |
| Geology and earth sciences | 48 | $41,816 | $66,788 | $16,500 |
| Research and experimental psychology | 666 | $39,116 | $66,171 | $10,373 |
| International/Globalization Studies | 137 | $46,238 | $66,127 | $12,399 |
| Biology | 381 | $38,556 | $64,520 | $11,516 |
| Environmental science | 352 | $42,711 | $63,628 | $11,500 |
| Linguistics | 102 | $31,482 | $61,580 | $10,166 |
| Sociology | 650 | $40,249 | $60,013 | $10,000 |
| History | 171 | $35,364 | $59,342 | $11,833 |
| English | 127 | $35,102 | $59,334 | $11,601 |
| Area Studies | 16 | $35,749 | $59,042 | n/a |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies | 60 | $39,589 | $59,004 | $11,010 |
| Anthropology | 117 | $37,165 | $56,238 | $10,388 |
| Zoology/Animal Biology | 28 | $30,872 | $53,727 | $11,000 |
| Ecology and evolutionary biology | 85 | $38,535 | $50,694 | $12,000 |
| Film and photography | 212 | $35,065 | $49,893 | $11,125 |
| Fine and studio arts | 115 | $33,711 | $46,428 | $10,239 |
| Dance | 24 | n/a | $44,858 | n/a |
| Theater | 31 | $30,366 | $44,106 | $12,734 |
| Religious studies | 24 | $46,342 | $43,377 | n/a |
| Music | 23 | n/a | $33,825 | $9,816 |
| Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences | 57 | $48,186 | n/a | n/a |
| Germanic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | 10 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | 8 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | 7 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Physiology | 7 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Business/Managerial Economics | 2 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Legal studies | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Interdisciplinary studies, other | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Slavic, Baltic and Albanian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Liberal arts and general studies | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Medieval and Renaissance Studies | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
Four-year earnings: graduates of 2017-18 and 2018-19, measured in 2022 and 2023, in 2024 dollars. Fields with few graduates have no published earnings.
Graduate programs at University of California-Santa Barbara
82 graduate programs awarded degrees recently. Largest first.
Show 82 graduate programs
Students and location
- 23,113 degree-seeking undergraduates (fall 2024)
- 58% women, 42% men
- 17 students for every faculty member
- Setting: midsize suburb
- Accredited by Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission
Frequently asked questions
What is the acceptance rate at University of California-Santa Barbara?
University of California-Santa Barbara admitted 33% of applicants for fall 2024, according to the U.S. Department of Education.
How much does University of California-Santa Barbara cost?
Tuition and fees for 2025-26 are $16,989 for in-state students and $54,591 for out-of-state students. After grants and scholarships, aided students paid an average net price of $16,807 a year in 2024-25.
Is University of California-Santa Barbara test-optional?
For fall 2024 admission, University of California-Santa Barbara reported that test scores were: neither required nor recommended. Policies change, so confirm with the admissions office.
What is the graduation rate at University of California-Santa Barbara?
84% of first-time, full-time students finished within six years.
How much do University of California-Santa Barbara graduates make?
Former students who received federal aid earned a median of $82,568 a year 10 years after they started, in 2024 dollars.
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More: all colleges in California · University of California-Santa Barbara on the College Scorecard
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard, data release of October 15, 2026. What each figure means and the year it covers.