UCSB vs. UConn

Deciding between University of California Santa Barbara and University of Connecticut? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

University of California Santa Barbara
University of Connecticut

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UCSB Santa Barbara, CA
  • UConn Storrs, CT
  • Setting
  • UCSB Midsize Suburban
  • UConn Town Fringe
  • Total enrollment
  • UCSB 26,133
  • UConn 28,306
  • Type
  • UCSB Public 4 Year
  • UConn Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UCSB #112
  • UConn #106
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UCSB -
  • UConn -
  • Status
  • UCSB Non-profit
  • UConn Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UCSB
  • UConn

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UCSB $16,414
  • UConn $21,044
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UCSB $50,614
  • UConn $43,712
  • Room & Board
  • UCSB $20,279
  • UConn $14,380
  • Average Net Price
  • UCSB $17,658
  • UConn $25,310
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UCSB $24,695
  • UConn $16,503
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UCSB 53%
  • UConn 81%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UCSB 110,259
  • UConn 55,479
  • Admitted
  • UCSB 36,347
  • UConn 29,065
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UCSB 33%
  • UConn 52.4%
  • Enrolled
  • UCSB 13.8%
  • UConn 15.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UCSB 1350
  • UConn 1330
  • Typical ACT score
  • UCSB 31
  • UConn 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • UCSB 3.82
  • UConn 3.74
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UCSB A-
  • UConn A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • UCSB Exceptional
  • UConn Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • UCSB High
  • UConn Low
  • ACT Range
  • UCSB 28/34
  • UConn 28/33
  • SAT Range
  • UCSB 1230/1460
  • UConn 1210/1440
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UCSB Test-free
  • UConn Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UCSB Nov 30, 2026
  • UConn Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UCSB 17:1
  • UConn 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UCSB
    • Social Sciences (20%)
    • Business (11%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Biology (7%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • UConn
    • Social Sciences (15%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Engineering (8%)
    • Psychology (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UCSB 80%
  • UConn 83%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UCSB $59,000
  • UConn $62,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UCSB 73%
  • UConn 78%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UCSB $16,451
  • UConn $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UCSB $170
  • UConn $222

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UCSB 43%
  • UConn 45%
  • % Women
  • UCSB 57%
  • UConn 55%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UCSB Very High
  • UConn Medium
  • HBCU
  • UCSB No
  • UConn No
  • % White
  • UCSB 35%
  • UConn 61%
  • % Asian
  • UCSB 19%
  • UConn 10%
  • % Black
  • UCSB 2%
  • UConn 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • UCSB 26%
  • UConn 9%
  • % Native American
  • UCSB 0%
  • UConn 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UCSB 0%
  • UConn 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UCSB 8%
  • UConn 3%
  • % International
  • UCSB 7%
  • UConn 5%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UCSB 3%
  • UConn 7%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UCSB 82%
  • UConn 53%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UCSB 9%
  • UConn 42%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • UCSB Yes
  • UConn Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • UCSB No
  • UConn No
  • Meal Plan
  • UCSB Yes
  • UConn Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • UCSB No
  • UConn No
  • Daycare Facility
  • UCSB Yes
  • UConn Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare University of California Santa Barbara in Santa Barbara, CA with University of Connecticut in Storrs, CT on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Connecticut is larger than UCSB based on total student enrollment (28,306 students vs. 26,133 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of California Santa Barbara is located in Santa Barbara, CA (Midsize Suburban setting); University of Connecticut is in Storrs, CT (Town Fringe setting).
  • University of California Santa Barbara is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Connecticut is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of California Santa Barbara 17:1; University of Connecticut 17:1.

UCSB vs. UConn Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UCSB or UConn? 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 University of California Santa Barbara than UConn ($17,658 vs. $25,310).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Connecticut are 29.1% lower than at University of California Santa Barbara ($14,380 vs. $20,279).
  • University of Connecticut is 28.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than UCSB (about $4,630 more per year; $21,044.00 vs. $16,414.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 15.8% higher at UCSB than at University of Connecticut (about $6,902 more per year; $50,614.00 vs. $43,712.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Connecticut than at University of California Santa Barbara (81% vs. 53%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Santa Barbara students is 49.6% larger than aid received by University of Connecticut students ($24,695 vs. $16,503).

UCSB vs. UConn Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UCSB or UConn? 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 UConn and UCSB.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of California Santa Barbara (1350) is 20 points higher than at UConn (1330).
  • Incoming UCSB students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 30 at UConn).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Santa Barbara 1230/1460; University of Connecticut 1210/1440.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Santa Barbara 28/34; University of Connecticut 28/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UCSB - Test-free; UConn - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UCSB Nov 30, 2026; UConn Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman UCSB students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.82) than students at UConn (3.74).
  • UConn has a higher acceptance rate (52.4%) than UCSB (33%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 13.8% at UCSB vs. 15.4% at UConn.

UCSB vs. UConn Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UCSB and UConn? 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 Connecticut's six-year graduation rate (83%) is higher than University of California Santa Barbara's (80%).
  • Graduates from University of Connecticut earn a median of about $3,000 more per year than UCSB graduates about ten years after starting college ($62,000 vs. $59,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Santa Barbara graduates have a $5,049 lower median loan debt than UConn graduates ($16,451 vs. $21,500).
  • Among borrowers, UCSB graduates have an estimated $52 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UConn graduates ($170 vs. $222).
  • More UConn graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UCSB students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 73%)

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.