University of Alabama at Birmingham vs. UCSB

Should I go to University of Alabama at Birmingham or University of California Santa Barbara? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if University of Alabama at Birmingham or UCSB is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

Add a college to compare up to four schools

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

UCSD UCI UCSC Cal Poly UC Davis UCLA UW-Seattle UA Huntsville UC Berkeley San Diego State Auburn USC
University of Alabama at Birmingham vs. University of California Santa Barbara comparison
University of Alabama at Birmingham University of California Santa Barbara College 3 College 4
University of Alabama at Birmingham University of California Santa Barbara
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

University of Alabama at Birmingham UCSB
Location Birmingham, AL Santa Barbara, CA
Setting Midsize City Midsize Suburban
Enrollment 21,160 26,068
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #430 #112
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website uab.edu ucsb.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

University of Alabama at Birmingham UCSB
Tuition (In State) $8,832 $11,834
Tuition (Out of State) $21,864 $42,611
Room & Board $13,590 $18,684
Avg Net Price $17,413 $15,283
Avg Grant Aid $11,333 $21,732
% Receiving Grant Aid 95% 50%

Admission

University of Alabama at Birmingham UCSB
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 10,919 110,871
Admitted 9,655 30,804
Acceptance Rate 88.4% 27.8%
Enrolled % 21.7% 16.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.82 3.82
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Very High Exceptional
Applicant Competition High
ACT Range 22/30 28/34
SAT Range 1130/1400 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 Jun 1, 2026 Nov 30, 2025

Academics

University of Alabama at Birmingham UCSB
Student to Faculty Ratio 18:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Health Professions (22%)
  • Business (18%)
  • Education (11%)
  • Biology (8%)
  • Psychology (6%)
  • Social Sciences (20%)
  • Business (11%)
  • Psychology (10%)
  • Biology (7%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)

Outcomes

University of Alabama at Birmingham UCSB
Graduation Rate 45% 80%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $46,400 $59,000
Making Student Loan Payments 52% 73%
Median Student Loan Debt $21,500 $16,451
Median Loan Payment $222 $170

Diversity

University of Alabama at Birmingham UCSB
% Men 15% 6%
% Women 26% 5%
Racial Diversity High Very High
HBCU No No
% White 59% 35%
% Black 25% 2%
% Hispanic 3% 26%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 8%
% International 2% 7%
% Unknown Race 1% 3%

Students

University of Alabama at Birmingham UCSB
% In-State 82% 80%
% Out-of-State 16% 9%

Campus

University of Alabama at Birmingham UCSB
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • University of California Santa Barbara is larger than than University of Alabama at Birmingham based on total student enrollment (26,068 students vs. 21,160 students)

University of Alabama at Birmingham vs. UCSB Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, University of Alabama at Birmingham or UCSB?

  • University of California Santa Barbara is 34% more expensive to attend than University of Alabama at Birmingham for in-state tuition ($11,834.00 vs. $8,832.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 94.9% higher at UCSB than University of Alabama at Birmingham ($42,611.00 vs. $21,864.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of California Santa Barbara than University of Alabama at Birmingham ($15,283 vs. $17,413)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Alabama at Birmingham are 37.5% lower than costs at University of California Santa Barbara ($13,590 vs. $18,684)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of Alabama at Birmingham than University of California Santa Barbara (95% vs. 50%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Santa Barbara students is 91.8% larger than aid received University of Alabama at Birmingham ($21,732 vs. $11,333)

University of Alabama at Birmingham vs. UCSB Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, University of Alabama at Birmingham or UCSB? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between UCSB or University of Alabama at Birmingham .

  • The average SAT score at University of California Santa Barbara (1248) is 101 points higher than at University of Alabama at Birmingham (1147)
  • Incoming UCSB students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (29) than students at University of Alabama at Birmingham (25)
  • Accepted freshman University of Alabama at Birmingham students have at the same average high school GPA (3.82) as students at UCSB (3.82)
  • University of Alabama at Birmingham has a higher acceptance rate (88.4%) than UCSB (27.8%)

University of Alabama at Birmingham vs. UCSB Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, University of Alabama at Birmingham 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 University of Alabama at Birmingham.

  • The graduation rate at UCSB is higher than University of Alabama at Birmingham (80% vs. 45%)
  • Graduates from University of California Santa Barbara earn on average $12,600 more per year than University of Alabama at Birmingham graduates after ten years. ($59,000 vs. $46,400)
  • University of California Santa Barbara students graduate with a $5,049 lower median federal student loan debt than University of Alabama at Birmingham graduates. ($16,451 vs. $21,500)
  • UCSB graduates are paying $52 less per month on federal student loans than University of Alabama at Birmingham graduates. ($170 vs. $222)
  • More UCSB graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former University of Alabama at Birmingham students, three years after graduation. (73% vs. 52%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/