UCSB vs. Hunter

Comparable Facts

Compare University of California Santa Barbara in Santa Barbara, CA with CUNY Hunter College in New York, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of California Santa Barbara is larger than Hunter based on total student enrollment (26,133 students vs. 22,538 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of California Santa Barbara is located in Santa Barbara, CA (Midsize Suburban setting); CUNY Hunter College is in New York, NY (Large City setting).
• University of California Santa Barbara is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. CUNY Hunter College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of California Santa Barbara 17:1; CUNY Hunter College 14:1.

UCSB vs. Hunter Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UCSB or Hunter? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at CUNY Hunter College than UCSB ($4,431 vs. $17,658).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at CUNY Hunter College are 41.7% lower than at University of California Santa Barbara ($11,832 vs. $20,279).
• University of California Santa Barbara is 122.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Hunter (about $9,032 more per year; $16,414.00 vs. $7,382.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 230.1% higher at UCSB than at CUNY Hunter College (about $35,282 more per year; $50,614.00 vs. $15,332.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at CUNY Hunter College than at University of California Santa Barbara (87% vs. 53%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Santa Barbara students is 153.2% larger than aid received by CUNY Hunter College students ($24,695 vs. $9,755).

UCSB vs. Hunter Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UCSB or Hunter? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Hunter and UCSB.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of California Santa Barbara (1350) is 90 points higher than at Hunter (1260).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Santa Barbara 1230/1460; CUNY Hunter College 1100/1420.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Santa Barbara 28/34.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UCSB - Test-free; Hunter - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: UCSB Nov 30, 2026.
• Accepted freshman UCSB students have a 0.12 point higher average high school GPA (3.82) than students at Hunter (3.7).
• Hunter has a higher acceptance rate (53.8%) than UCSB (33%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 13.8% at UCSB vs. 16.7% at Hunter.

UCSB vs. Hunter Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UCSB and Hunter? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• University of California Santa Barbara's six-year graduation rate (80%) is higher than CUNY Hunter College's (46%).
• Graduates from University of California Santa Barbara earn a median of about $10,200 more per year than Hunter graduates about ten years after starting college ($59,000 vs. $48,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, CUNY Hunter College graduates have a $4,903 lower median loan debt than UCSB graduates ($11,548 vs. $16,451).
• Among borrowers, Hunter graduates have an estimated $51 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UCSB graduates ($119 vs. $170).
• More UCSB graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Hunter students, three years after graduation. (73% vs. 56%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.