University of California-Santa Barbara

Frequently asked questions

About University of California-Santa Barbara

Built from CampusPin profile data. Always verify final admissions, cost, financial aid, and program details with the institution before applying. See our data methodology and data dictionary.

Where is University of California-Santa Barbara located?

University of California-Santa Barbara is located in Santa Barbara, CA, in the United States.

What type of institution is University of California-Santa Barbara?

University of California-Santa Barbara is a public university based in CA. CampusPin classifies institutions as either four-year universities or two-year community colleges, with control labeled public or private.

What is the acceptance rate at University of California-Santa Barbara?

The most recently reported acceptance rate at University of California-Santa Barbara is approximately 33% (IPEDS, applicants for fall 2024). Acceptance rate signals selectivity but does not predict any individual applicant's outcome and is not a measure of school quality. CampusPin reports the federally-published value; verify the current cycle with the institution.

What is the tuition at University of California-Santa Barbara?

University of California-Santa Barbara's published in-state tuition is approximately $16,414 per year (IPEDS, charges for academic year 2024-25). This is the published price before financial aid; the net price most students actually pay is typically lower. Verify the current academic-year tuition with the institution before applying.

How many students attend University of California-Santa Barbara?

University of California-Santa Barbara reports total enrollment of approximately 26,133 students (undergraduate plus graduate) (IPEDS, fall 2024 enrollment). Total enrollment is a useful sizing signal, see the institutional profile for additional breakdowns when available.

How much does University of California-Santa Barbara actually cost after financial aid?

The average net price at University of California-Santa Barbara is approximately $16,109 per year. Net price is the total cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships that never have to be repaid, so it is what students actually paid rather than the published sticker price. What families pay varies with income: students from families earning under $30,000 paid about $9,231 on average, and those from families earning $110,000 or more about $31,863. These are averages for students who received federal aid in a prior cohort, not a quote for any individual family. Run the institution's own Net Price Calculator for a figure specific to you.

What is the graduation rate at University of California-Santa Barbara?

University of California-Santa Barbara reports a graduation rate of approximately 83% (IPEDS, Graduation Rates 2024 collection: 4-year cohort 2018, 2-year cohort 2021). This measures the share of a prior entering cohort who completed their degree within the federal tracking window. It reflects who enrolls as much as what the institution does, so it is not on its own a measure of teaching quality, and it is not comparable across institutions serving very different students.

How much student debt do graduates of University of California-Santa Barbara have?

Students who borrowed at University of California-Santa Barbara left with a median of approximately $13,993 in federal loans, and about 18% of students took federal loans at all. Both numbers matter: a median describes only the students who borrowed, so it reads very differently at a school where most students borrow than at one where few do. Federal loans only, so private and parent borrowing are not included.

How much do graduates of University of California-Santa Barbara earn?

Median earnings approximately ten years after entry are $74,915 for students who received federal financial aid at University of California-Santa Barbara. This reflects the mix of programs the institution offers and the students who enroll, not the effect of attending, and it covers aid recipients rather than all graduates.

How should I verify final details about University of California-Santa Barbara?

CampusPin compiles institutional data from public datasets like IPEDS and the College Scorecard, plus institutional websites and editorial review. Before applying, paying a deposit, or making a final decision, confirm admissions requirements, current tuition, financial aid, deadlines, and program details directly with University of California-Santa Barbara.

How much do Sociology graduates from University of California-Santa Barbara earn?

University of California-Santa Barbara's bachelor's graduates in Sociology earned a median $60,013 four years after graduating, 14% above the $52,657 national median for the same program (2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23, College Scorecard). One year after graduating, a later class (2018-20 graduates, measured 2020-21) earned a median $34,372; the two figures describe different graduates, not one class's growth. Graduates who borrowed took out a median $13,500 in federal loans at this college (about $143 a month on a 10-year plan).

How much do Economics graduates from University of California-Santa Barbara earn?

University of California-Santa Barbara's bachelor's graduates in Economics earned a median $98,178 four years after graduating, 19% above the $82,686 national median for the same program (2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23, College Scorecard). One year after graduating, a later class (2018-20 graduates, measured 2020-21) earned a median $66,334; the two figures describe different graduates, not one class's growth. Graduates who borrowed took out a median $13,440 in federal loans at this college (about $142 a month on a 10-year plan).

Which programs at University of California-Santa Barbara have the highest graduate earnings?

Among the 35 programs at University of California-Santa Barbara with a federal earnings figure from at least 30 graduates, the highest medians four years after graduating were Computer Science, bachelor's ($149,190); Computer Engineering, bachelor's ($144,703); and Electrical Engineering, bachelor's ($117,215) (2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23, College Scorecard). That order is one federal measure, not a ranking of program quality: earnings reflect the field and where graduates go to work as well as the program.

Does University of California-Santa Barbara get a "lower earnings" warning on the FAFSA?

No. In the Department of Education's March 2026 data, which the FAFSA uses now, University of California-Santa Barbara's graduates' median earnings four years after completing were $74,162, above the $36,565 median for high school graduates aged 25 to 34 in California, so first-year students who list it do not see the lower-earnings notice. The figure describes the whole institution, not any one program.