UCSB vs. UNC Chapel Hill

Comparable Facts

Compare University of California Santa Barbara in Santa Barbara, CA with University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in Chapel Hill, NC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is larger than UCSB based on total student enrollment (32,438 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 North Carolina at Chapel Hill is in Chapel Hill, NC (Small City setting).
• University of California Santa Barbara is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of California Santa Barbara 17:1; University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 15:1.

UCSB vs. UNC Chapel Hill Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UCSB or UNC Chapel Hill? 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 North Carolina at Chapel Hill than UCSB ($10,154 vs. $17,658).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill are 31.9% lower than at University of California Santa Barbara ($13,804 vs. $20,279).
• University of California Santa Barbara is 82.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than UNC Chapel Hill (about $7,420 more per year; $16,414.00 vs. $8,994.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 22.8% higher at UCSB than at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (about $9,411 more per year; $50,614.00 vs. $41,203.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of California Santa Barbara than at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (53% vs. 38%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Santa Barbara students is 38.6% larger than aid received by University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill students ($24,695 vs. $17,814).

UCSB vs. UNC Chapel Hill Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UCSB or UNC Chapel Hill? 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 UNC Chapel Hill and UCSB.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (1460) is 110 points higher than at UCSB (1350).
• Incoming UCSB students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 31) as students at UNC Chapel Hill (31).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Santa Barbara 1230/1460; University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 1390/1530.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Santa Barbara 28/34; University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 28/34.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UCSB - Test-free; UNC Chapel Hill - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: UCSB Nov 30, 2026; UNC Chapel Hill Jan 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman UNC Chapel Hill students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.83) than students at UCSB (3.82).
• UCSB has a higher acceptance rate (33%) than UNC Chapel Hill (15.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 13.8% at UCSB vs. 45.5% at UNC Chapel Hill.

UCSB vs. UNC Chapel Hill Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UCSB and UNC Chapel Hill? 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 North Carolina at Chapel Hill's six-year graduation rate (89%) is higher than University of California Santa Barbara's (80%).
• Graduates from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill earn a median of about $7,100 more per year than UCSB graduates about ten years after starting college ($66,100 vs. $59,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Santa Barbara graduates have a $28 lower median loan debt than UNC Chapel Hill graduates ($16,451 vs. $16,479).
• Among borrowers in the federal data, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and UCSB graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($170 vs. $170).
• More UNC Chapel Hill graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UCSB students, three years after graduation. (82% 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.