UCSB vs. UMass

Deciding between University of California Santa Barbara and University of Massachusetts Amherst? 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 Massachusetts Amherst

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UCSB Santa Barbara, CA
  • UMass Amherst, MA
  • Setting
  • UCSB Midsize Suburban
  • UMass Town Fringe
  • Total enrollment
  • UCSB 26,133
  • UMass 31,726
  • Type
  • UCSB Public 4 Year
  • UMass Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UCSB #112
  • UMass #169
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UCSB -
  • UMass -
  • Status
  • UCSB Non-profit
  • UMass Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UCSB
  • UMass

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UCSB $16,414
  • UMass $17,772
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UCSB $50,614
  • UMass $40,449
  • Room & Board
  • UCSB $20,279
  • UMass $16,710
  • Average Net Price
  • UCSB $17,658
  • UMass $22,948
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UCSB $24,695
  • UMass $13,110
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UCSB 53%
  • UMass 81%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UCSB 110,259
  • UMass 50,261
  • Admitted
  • UCSB 36,347
  • UMass 30,020
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UCSB 33%
  • UMass 59.7%
  • Enrolled
  • UCSB 13.8%
  • UMass 17.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UCSB 1350
  • UMass 1410
  • Typical ACT score
  • UCSB 31
  • UMass 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • UCSB 3.82
  • UMass 3.99
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UCSB A-
  • UMass A
  • Admissions Standards
  • UCSB Exceptional
  • UMass Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • UCSB High
  • UMass Low
  • ACT Range
  • UCSB 28/34
  • UMass 30/33
  • SAT Range
  • UCSB 1230/1460
  • UMass 1310/1500
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UCSB Test-free
  • UMass Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UCSB Nov 30, 2026
  • UMass Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UCSB 17:1
  • UMass 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UCSB
    • Social Sciences (20%)
    • Business (11%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Biology (7%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • UMass
    • Business (15%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Communication (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UCSB 80%
  • UMass 67%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UCSB $59,000
  • UMass $55,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UCSB 73%
  • UMass 76%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UCSB $16,451
  • UMass $24,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UCSB $170
  • UMass $248

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UCSB 43%
  • UMass 48%
  • % Women
  • UCSB 57%
  • UMass 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UCSB Very High
  • UMass Medium
  • HBCU
  • UCSB No
  • UMass No
  • % White
  • UCSB 35%
  • UMass 67%
  • % Asian
  • UCSB 19%
  • UMass 9%
  • % Black
  • UCSB 2%
  • UMass 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • UCSB 26%
  • UMass 5%
  • % Native American
  • UCSB 0%
  • UMass 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UCSB 0%
  • UMass 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UCSB 8%
  • UMass 3%
  • % International
  • UCSB 7%
  • UMass 4%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UCSB 3%
  • UMass 8%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UCSB 82%
  • UMass 69%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UCSB 9%
  • UMass 22%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

University of Massachusetts Amherst is larger than UCSB based on total student enrollment (31,726 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 Massachusetts Amherst is in Amherst, MA (Town Fringe setting).
  • University of California Santa Barbara is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Massachusetts Amherst is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of California Santa Barbara 17:1; University of Massachusetts Amherst 17:1.

UCSB vs. UMass Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UCSB or UMass? 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 UMass ($17,658 vs. $22,948).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Massachusetts Amherst are 17.6% lower than at University of California Santa Barbara ($16,710 vs. $20,279).
  • University of Massachusetts Amherst is 8.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than UCSB (about $1,358 more per year; $17,772.00 vs. $16,414.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 25.1% higher at UCSB than at University of Massachusetts Amherst (about $10,165 more per year; $50,614.00 vs. $40,449.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Massachusetts Amherst 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 88.4% larger than aid received by University of Massachusetts Amherst students ($24,695 vs. $13,110).

UCSB vs. UMass Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Massachusetts Amherst (1410) is 60 points higher than at UCSB (1350).
  • Incoming UCSB students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 31) as students at UMass (31).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Santa Barbara 1230/1460; University of Massachusetts Amherst 1310/1500.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Santa Barbara 28/34; University of Massachusetts Amherst 30/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UCSB - Test-free; UMass - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UCSB Nov 30, 2026; UMass Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman UMass students have a 0.17 point higher average high school GPA (3.99) than students at UCSB (3.82).
  • UMass has a higher acceptance rate (59.7%) than UCSB (33%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 13.8% at UCSB vs. 17.9% at UMass.

UCSB vs. UMass Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UCSB and UMass? 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 University of Massachusetts Amherst's (67%).
  • Graduates from University of California Santa Barbara earn a median of about $3,800 more per year than UMass graduates about ten years after starting college ($59,000 vs. $55,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Santa Barbara graduates have a $7,549 lower median loan debt than UMass graduates ($16,451 vs. $24,000).
  • Among borrowers, UCSB graduates have an estimated $78 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UMass graduates ($170 vs. $248).
  • More UMass graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UCSB students, three years after graduation. (76% 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.