University of California-Santa Barbara
- Graduation Rate
- 84% A
- Most students who enroll finish their degree here
- Earnings (10yr)
- $74,915 A
- Top 5% nationally — exceptional earning power
- Net Price
- $16,109 C
- Close to the national average
- Acceptance Rate
- 33% A
- Admits roughly 33% — highly selective
Bottom line: A B+ overall grade — strong outcomes across the board. 33.7× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $33.7 over 20 years.
Every $1 spent returns $33.7 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $2,104,877.
What The Data Says
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A B+ overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
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Graduates earn 84% more than the national college median.
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A 84% graduation rate — 47% above the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $33.7 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why University of California-Santa Barbara Matters
University of California-Santa Barbara is a public research university in Santa Barbara, CA and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a top-tier research enterprise and a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduates whose earnings land in the top 5% of all U.S. colleges.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public Research University
- Carnegie Class
- R1 · Very High Research
- Enrollment
- 23,113
- Setting
- Suburban
- Designations
- HSI
- Primary Strengths
- Social Sciences, Psychology, Mathematics & Statistics, Biology & Biomedical
Why students choose University of California-Santa Barbara
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Selective — admits about 33% of applicants. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $16,109 a year after grants and scholarships — 6% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $74,915 ten years after enrolling — 84% above the typical college, against $13,993 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Strong cross-class social capital — an economic-connectedness score of 1.80 (Opportunity Insights).
See mobility →Overview
Over 23,000 students call the University of California-Santa Barbara home. The vibrant campus in Santa Barbara, CA, combines strong academics with a stunning coastal location. With a 33% acceptance rate, this public university is selective, attracting a diverse student body.
Ten years after graduation, alumni earn an average of $74,915 annually. The graduation rate stands at 84%, indicating strong student support and engagement. While 28% of students receive Pell Grants, demonstrating commitment to access for low-income students, the mobility rate data is not available. This means prospective students should consider their own financial circumstances when evaluating potential outcomes.
The net price of attendance is $16,109, and the median debt for graduates is $13,993. Students who thrive here often pursue degrees in Social Sciences, Biology and Biomedical Sciences, Psychology, Mathematics and Statistics, or Communications. Those with a clear academic focus and a desire for a vibrant campus life are likely to succeed at UCSB.
Rankings
- #15 Best Communications Colleges in California
- #22 Best Bachelor's Programs in California
- #22 Best Master's Programs in California
- #22 Best Engineering Colleges in California
- #25 Best Biology Colleges in California
- #29 Best Computer Science Colleges in California
- #29 Best Data Science Colleges in California
- #31 Best HSI Bachelor's Programs
Can I Get In?
How selective University of California-Santa Barbara is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into University of California-Santa Barbara? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Santa Barbara, California, University of California-Santa Barbara reviews applications selectively. The acceptance rate runs near 33%. The graduation rate is roughly 84%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 33%
- Retention Rate
- 93%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 90%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $20,677
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 17:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.78
- First-Gen Students
- 42%
- Applicants
- 110,995
- Admitted
- 28,688
Inside the Admissions Office
School-reported Common Data Set · 2025-26
The acceptance rate tells you how hard University of California-Santa Barbara is to get into. Its Common Data Set tells you what happens once you are admitted: how many students say yes, how many arrived without test scores, and whether applying early tilts the odds. 12% of admitted students go on to enroll here, making it a school most admitted students ultimately pass on.
- Yield Rate
- 12%
- of admits enroll
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend University of California-Santa Barbara? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at University of California-Santa Barbara is $50,614, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $16,109. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $9,231 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $13,993 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $16,414
- Out-of-State
- $50,614
- Avg Net Price
- $16,109
- Median Debt
- $13,993
- Pell Grant Rate
- 28%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 18%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $9,231
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $9,992
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $12,588
- Family Income $110K+
- $31,863
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at University of California-Santa Barbara — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is University of California-Santa Barbara Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of University of California-Santa Barbara earn a median of $74,915, well above the national average for bachelor's degree holders.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $56,852
- 8 Years
- $68,092
- 10 Years
- $74,915
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.19x
- Earning > $25K
- 70%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (3,265)
- 69%
- 100% (3,265)
- 69%
- 100% (3,265)
- 69%
- 100% (3,265)
- 69%
How University Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
College ROI Calculator
Is University of California-Santa Barbara Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, University of California-Santa Barbara delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $16,109/year ($64,436 total). Graduates earn $74,915 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $2,169,313 in total earnings — a net gain of $2,104,877 (33.7× your investment). The median debt is $13,993, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 84% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $64,436
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $2,169,313
- Net Return
- $2,104,877
- ROI Multiple
- 33.7×
- Cost Per Year
- $16,109
- Median Debt
- $13,993
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 84%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
Top Programs
The fields University of California-Santa Barbara awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Social Sciences 27% $72,230 early-career
- Psychology 12% $36,714 early-career
- Mathematics & Statistics 10% $70,740 early-career
- Biology & Biomedical 10% $46,778 early-career
- Communications 9% $49,772 early-career
- Visual & Performing Arts 5% $34,534 early-career
- Engineering 4% $91,221 early-career
- Physical Sciences 4% $61,913 early-career
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for University of California-Santa Barbara's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- C+Marketing Manager$156,580 · 8% growthAdaptable 64
- B-AI/ML Engineer$156,000 · 23% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Computer Vision Engineer$145,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CPhysicist$142,850 · 5% growthAdaptable 66
- CAstronomer$142,850 · 4% growthAdaptable 66
- CAdvertising Manager$138,730 · 6% growthAdaptable 64
- CPharmacist$136,030 · 3% growthResilient 82
- CPetroleum Engineer$135,690 · 2% growthResilient 72
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into University of California-Santa Barbara? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Santa Barbara, California, University of California-Santa Barbara reviews applications selectively. The acceptance rate runs near 33%. The graduation rate is roughly 84%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend University of California-Santa Barbara? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at University of California-Santa Barbara is $50,614, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $16,109. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $9,231 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $13,993 in federal student loans.
Is University of California-Santa Barbara Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of University of California-Santa Barbara earn a median of $74,915, well above the national average for bachelor's degree holders.
How Connected Is University of California-Santa Barbara? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at University of California-Santa Barbara. Its economic connectedness score is 1.80, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 10% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Does University of California-Santa Barbara offer Early Decision?
No. University of California-Santa Barbara does not report a binding Early Decision plan (2025-26 Common Data Set).
What percentage of admitted students enroll at University of California-Santa Barbara?
About 12% of admitted students choose to enroll at University of California-Santa Barbara — its yield rate (2025-26 Common Data Set). Yield reflects how often a school wins when applicants weigh competing offers.
Compare University of California-Santa Barbara
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to University of California-Santa Barbara.
- California Polytechnic State University-San Luis ObispoSan Luis Obispo, CA · Close peer86% grad $90,768 earn 31% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar grad rate · similar size
- Clemson UniversityClemson, SC · Close peer87% grad $71,513 earn 38% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- University of California-IrvineIrvine, CA · Close peer86% grad $80,735 earn 29% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- North Carolina State University at RaleighRaleigh, NC · Close peer85% grad $68,758 earn 42% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- University of Washington-Seattle CampusSeattle, WA · Close peer84% grad $78,466 earn 39% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- University of California-DavisDavis, CA · Close peer85% grad $80,838 earn 42% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is University of California-Santa Barbara? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at University of California-Santa Barbara. Its economic connectedness score is 1.80, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 10% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note