University of California Santa Barbara
- 8/10 Overall Rating
- 4 Year
- Santa Barbara, CA
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4.7 3 reviews
Overview
Total enrollment
26,133- Location Santa Barbara, California
- Website ucsb.edu
- Type Public 4 Year
- Setting Midsize Suburban
Best Colleges Rank
#112- Size Large
- Status Non-profit
- Housing Yes
- Level of Study Undergrad/Graduate
The University of California Santa Barbara (UCSB) occupies a 1,000-acre campus on a coastal peninsula in Santa Barbara County, located 100 miles northwest of Los Angeles. The campus, distinguished by its Spanish-Mediterranean architecture and beachfront location, includes student housing communities and research facilities stretching along two miles of Pacific coastline. Founded as a small teachers' college in 1891, UCSB joined the University of California system in 1944 and has developed into a selective research institution, particularly known for its programs in physics, engineering, environmental science, and marine biology. The university maintains multiple research centers and institutes, including the Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics and the National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis, while offering undergraduate students a residential college experience where most first-year students live in campus housing. UCSB competes in NCAA Division I athletics as the Gauchos, participating in the Big West Conference.
Ratings
UCSB is rated within the top 22% of four-year colleges nationally and earns a CollegeSimply grade of 8 out of 10.
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Overall Rating8 out of 10
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Academics10 out of 10
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Resources7 out of 10
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Outcomes9 out of 10
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Value10 out of 10
Rankings
Rankings for University of California Santa Barbara within the 2027 CollegeSimply Best Colleges Lists.
Admissions
Admission Standards
Acceptance Rate
- Applications Due Nov 30, 2026
- Enrollment Rate 13.8%
- Application Fee $80
Applicant Competition High
Annual Cost to Attend
California Resident Tuition
$16,414Out of State Resident Tuition
$50,614Breakdown
- Tuition $16,414
- Books and Supplies $1,381
- Other Fees $3,268
- Room and Board $20,279
- Budget for Other Expenses $6,833
- Total One Year Cost $48,175
- Tuition $50,614
- Books and Supplies $1,381
- Other Fees $3,268
- Room and Board $20,279
- Budget for Other Expenses $6,833
- Total One Year Cost $82,375
Student Outcomes
Average Salary After 10 Years
Bachelor's Degree Graduation Rate
Popular Areas of Study
Popular majors at University of California Santa Barbara are Social Sciences, Business, and Psychology. 20% of students major in Social Sciences, 11% in Business, and 10% in Psychology.
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Social Sciences 20%
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Business 11%
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Psychology 10%
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Biology 7%
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Visual and Performing Arts 7%
More Colleges to Consider
Students considering University of California Santa Barbara are frequently interested in these similar colleges.
Data source: NCES / IPEDS https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=110705.
GPA calculator: University of California Santa Barbara GPA calculator.
Last updated: August 2026