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UCSD Tennessee Ole Miss UCI UCSC Cal Poly Auburn LSU UC Davis UCLA UW-Seattle UC Berkeley| The University of Alabama | University of California Santa Barbara | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Alabama | UCSB | ||
| Location | Tuscaloosa, AL | Santa Barbara, CA | ||
| Setting | Small City | Midsize Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 39,622 | 26,068 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #403 | #112 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | ua.edu | ucsb.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Alabama | UCSB | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $11,100 | $11,834 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $32,400 | $42,611 | ||
| Room & Board | $14,840 | $18,684 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $21,761 | $15,283 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $16,394 | $21,732 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 72% | 50% |
Admission |
Alabama | UCSB | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 58,418 | 110,871 | ||
| Admitted | 44,295 | 30,804 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 75.8% | 27.8% | ||
| Enrolled % | 18.7% | 16.4% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.76 | 3.82 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Exceptional | ||
| Applicant Competition | High | |||
| ACT Range | 24/31 | 28/34 | ||
| SAT Range | 1170/1400 | 1230/1460 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) | ||
| Application Deadline | May 1, 2026 | Nov 30, 2025 |
Academics |
Alabama | UCSB | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 19:1 | 17:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Alabama | UCSB | ||
| Graduation Rate | 66% | 80% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $49,900 | $59,000 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 59% | 73% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $23,750 | $16,451 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $245 | $170 |
Diversity |
Alabama | UCSB | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 6% | 6% | ||
| % Women | 10% | 5% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Very High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 78% | 35% | ||
| % Black | 11% | 2% | ||
| % Hispanic | 4% | 26% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 8% | ||
| % International | 2% | 7% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 0% | 3% |
Students |
Alabama | UCSB | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 36% | 80% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 63% | 9% | ||
Campus |
Alabama | UCSB | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- The University of Alabama is larger than than UCSB based on total student enrollment (39,622 students vs. 26,068 students)
Alabama vs. UCSB Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Alabama or UCSB?
- University of California Santa Barbara is 6.6% more expensive to attend than Alabama for in-state tuition ($11,834.00 vs. $11,100.00)
- Out of state tuition is 31.5% higher at UCSB than The University of Alabama ($42,611.00 vs. $32,400.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of California Santa Barbara than Alabama ($15,283 vs. $21,761)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at The University of Alabama are 25.9% lower than costs at University of California Santa Barbara ($14,840 vs. $18,684)
- More students receive financial grant aid at The University of Alabama than University of California Santa Barbara (72% vs. 50%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Santa Barbara students is 32.6% larger than aid received The University of Alabama ($21,732 vs. $16,394)
Alabama vs. UCSB Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Alabama or UCSB? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between UCSB or Alabama .
- The average SAT score at University of California Santa Barbara (1248) is 67 points higher than at Alabama (1181)
- Incoming UCSB students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (29) than students at Alabama (27)
- Accepted freshman UCSB students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.82) than students at Alabama (3.76)
- Alabama has a higher acceptance rate (75.8%) than UCSB (27.8%)
Alabama vs. UCSB Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Alabama or UCSB? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between UCSB and Alabama.
- The graduation rate at UCSB is higher than The University of Alabama (80% vs. 66%)
- Graduates from University of California Santa Barbara earn on average $9,100 more per year than Alabama graduates after ten years. ($59,000 vs. $49,900)
- University of California Santa Barbara students graduate with a $7,299 lower median federal student loan debt than Alabama graduates. ($16,451 vs. $23,750)
- UCSB graduates are paying $75 less per month on federal student loans than Alabama graduates. ($170 vs. $245)
- More UCSB graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Alabama students, three years after graduation. (73% vs. 59%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/