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UConn UCSD UVM Penn State UCI UCSC Cal Poly UC Davis UCLA UW-Seattle Rutgers UMass Dartmouth| University of California Santa Barbara | University of Massachusetts Amherst | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
UCSB | UMass | ||
| Location | Santa Barbara, CA | Amherst, MA | ||
| Setting | Midsize Suburban | Town Fringe | ||
| Enrollment | 26,068 | 31,810 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #112 | #176 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | ucsb.edu | umass.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
UCSB | UMass | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $11,834 | $16,591 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $42,611 | $38,527 | ||
| Room & Board | $18,684 | $14,869 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $15,283 | $22,954 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $21,732 | $12,343 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 50% | 75% |
Admission |
UCSB | UMass | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 110,871 | 50,424 | ||
| Admitted | 30,804 | 29,129 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 27.8% | 57.8% | ||
| Enrolled % | 16.4% | 18.1% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.82 | 3.99 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Exceptional | Exceptional | ||
| Applicant Competition | High | Low | ||
| ACT Range | 28/34 | 29/33 | ||
| SAT Range | 1230/1460 | 1300/1480 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Nov 30, 2025 | Jan 15, 2026 |
Academics |
UCSB | UMass | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 17:1 | 18:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
UCSB | UMass | ||
| Graduation Rate | 80% | 67% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $59,000 | $55,200 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 73% | 76% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $16,451 | $24,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $170 | $248 |
Diversity |
UCSB | UMass | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 6% | 12% | ||
| % Women | 5% | 12% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very High | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 35% | 67% | ||
| % Black | 2% | 4% | ||
| % Hispanic | 26% | 5% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 8% | 3% | ||
| % International | 7% | 4% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 3% | 8% |
Students |
UCSB | UMass | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 80% | 67% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 9% | 23% | ||
Campus |
UCSB | UMass | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- University of Massachusetts Amherst is larger than than UCSB based on total student enrollment (31,810 students vs. 26,068 students)
UCSB vs. UMass Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, UCSB or UMass?
- University of Massachusetts Amherst is 40.2% more expensive to attend than UCSB for in-state tuition ($16,591.00 vs. $11,834.00)
- Out of state tuition is 10.6% higher at UCSB than University of Massachusetts Amherst ($42,611.00 vs. $38,527.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of California Santa Barbara than UMass ($15,283 vs. $22,954)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Massachusetts Amherst are 25.7% lower than costs at University of California Santa Barbara ($14,869 vs. $18,684)
- More students receive financial grant aid at University of Massachusetts Amherst than University of California Santa Barbara (75% vs. 50%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Santa Barbara students is 76.1% larger than aid received University of Massachusetts Amherst ($21,732 vs. $12,343)
UCSB vs. UMass Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, UCSB or UMass? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between UMass or UCSB .
- The average SAT score at University of California Santa Barbara (1248) is 22 points higher than at UMass (1226)
- Incoming UCSB students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (29) than students at UMass (28)
- 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 (57.8%) than UCSB (27.8%)
UCSB vs. UMass Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, UCSB or UMass? 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 UMass and UCSB.
- The graduation rate at UCSB is higher than University of Massachusetts Amherst (80% vs. 67%)
- Graduates from University of California Santa Barbara earn on average $3,800 more per year than UMass graduates after ten years. ($59,000 vs. $55,200)
- University of California Santa Barbara students graduate with a $7,549 lower median federal student loan debt than UMass graduates. ($16,451 vs. $24,000)
- UCSB graduates are paying $78 less per month on federal student loans 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/