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University of California-Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, California · Public · 4-year · Suburb

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At a glance

Average net price
$16,109What students typically pay per year after grants and scholarships.
Acceptance rate
33%
Graduation rate
84%Share of students who finish within 150% of the normal time.
Undergraduates
23,113
In-state tuition
$16,414Published price before aid.
Out-of-state tuition
$50,614
SAT midpoint
Not reported
Median earnings, 10 yrs
$74,915Median earnings of former students ten years after they first enrolled.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Data year: 2022-23 academic year. Updated September 2026. Figures are averages across all students and will differ from what any individual pays.

How it compares to similar colleges

Each rating covers one measure against public 4-year colleges nationally. Five stars means the top fifth on that measure. There is no overall score, because which of these matters is your call.

Affordability

$16,109

Better than 37% of public 4-year colleges (565 compared).

Completion

84%

Better than 94% of public 4-year colleges (566 compared).

Earnings

$74,915

Better than 92% of public 4-year colleges (590 compared).

Debt at graduation

$13,993

Better than 92% of public 4-year colleges (588 compared).

What these ratings are based on
Affordability
Based on average net price: what students receiving federal aid actually paid, after grants and scholarships. Your own cost depends on your family's finances.
Completion
Based on the share of first-time, full-time students who graduate within 150% of normal time. It excludes transfer and part-time students, which understates colleges serving many of them.
Earnings
Based on median earnings ten years after students first enrolled. It reflects the subjects a college teaches and the region it sits in as much as its teaching.
Debt at graduation
Based on median federal loan debt among students who completed. Private and parent loans are not included, so real totals are often higher.
Why there is no rating for selectivity
A lower acceptance rate is selectivity, not quality. Awarding stars for it would be us inventing a value judgement and hiding it behind a number.

What it actually costs

Published cost

$41,573

The sticker price: tuition, fees, housing, food and books for one academic year, before any aid.

Average net price

$16,109

What students receiving federal aid actually paid on average, after grants and scholarships. This is the more useful number, though your own figure depends on your family’s finances.

What would this cost me?
Use this college’s official net price calculator

Outcomes

Graduation, retention, debt and earnings for University of California-Santa Barbara
Graduation rateWithin 150% of normal time84%
Retention rateFirst-year students who return93%
Median debt at graduationFederal loans only, students who completed$13,993
Median earnings, 10 years after entryFormer students, working and not enrolled$74,915

What graduates of each major earn

Median earnings one year after finishing, for people who took that subject here. This is the figure a college-wide median hides: the spread between subjects at one college is usually far wider than the spread between colleges.

Bachelor’s programs at University of California-Santa Barbara by graduate earnings
MajorEarnings, 1 yrDegrees awarded
Computer Science$107,776162
Computer Engineering$91,38758
Mechanical Engineering$81,10882
Chemical Engineering$79,73741
Economics$66,334696
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods$66,09947
Applied Mathematics$59,638184
Statistics$55,110355
Physics$53,597183
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology$49,10074
Chemistry$47,197114
Communication and Media Studies$46,598620
Mathematics$46,447123
Microbiological Sciences and Immunology$42,63449
Pharmacology and Toxicology$39,42162
Political Science and Government$39,404322
Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences$38,33349
Zoology/Animal Biology$37,63326
Geography and Cartography$37,39881
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics$35,63560
Research and Experimental Psychology$34,431650
Sociology$34,372692
Natural Resources Conservation and Research$33,759338
International/Globalization Studies$33,553143
Biology, General$33,486391
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies$32,34195
Anthropology$31,420121
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences$30,75954
History$29,749159
Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology$29,25883
Film/Video and Photographic Arts$28,608174
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services$27,629125
Philosophy$25,303108
English Language and Literature, General$24,099184
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft$20,50333
Religion/Religious Studies$19,91120
Fine and Studio ArtsNot reported122
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications EngineeringNot reported58
MusicNot reported34
Area StudiesNot reported27
DanceNot reported19
East Asian Languages, Literatures, and LinguisticsNot reported12
Germanic Languages, Literatures, and LinguisticsNot reported8
Physiology, Pathology and Related SciencesNot reported7
Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and LinguisticsNot reported5
Medieval and Renaissance StudiesNot reported1
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, OtherNot reported1
Slavic, Baltic and Albanian Languages, Literatures, and LinguisticsNot reported1
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and HumanitiesNot reported1
Psychology, GeneralNot reportedNot reported
Non-Professional Legal StudiesNot reportedNot reported
Communication Disorders Sciences and ServicesNot reportedNot reported
Business/Managerial EconomicsNot reportedNot reported

All 53 bachelor’s programs this college reported.

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