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Santa Barbara , CA
The University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) is a renowned public research university located in Santa Barbara, California. Established in 1909, UCSB is part of the prestigious University of California system and is well-known for its strong academic programs, beautiful campus, and vibrant community.
UCSB offers an extensive range of academic programs through its five schools: the College of Creative Studies, the College of Engineering, the College of Letters and Science, the Bren School of Environmental Science & Management, and the Gevirtz Graduate School of Education. The university is particularly esteemed for its programs in engineering, computer science, economics, psychology, and environmental studies. The faculty members at UCSB are highly regarded in their respective fields, and students benefit from their expertise, mentorship, and dedication to teaching.
Along with its academic excellence, UCSB boasts a stunning coastal campus that spans over 1,000 acres. The university features state-of-the-art facilities, including modern research labs, libraries, and performance spaces. The campus is home to numerous research centers and institutes, fostering a vibrant culture of innovation and scholarly pursuits. Outside of academics, UCSB offers a dynamic social scene, providing students with a range of extracurricular activities, cultural events, clubs, and sports teams. The surrounding city of Santa Barbara offers a beautiful beachfront setting, a vibrant arts scene, and a variety of recreational opportunities.
In conclusion, the University of California, Santa Barbara offers a world-class education in a stunning coastal location. With its diverse range of academic programs, dedicated faculty, and beautiful campus, UCSB is a top choice for students from around the world. Whether students are pursuing a degree in engineering, humanities, environmental science, or any other field, they can expect an enriching and fulfilling educational experience at UCSB.
Located in Santa Barbara, CA, University of California, Santa Barbara is a public comprehensive higher education institution. This academic institution uses a quarterly calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 32%. The freshman retention rate at University of California, Santa Barbara is 93.26% and the six-year graduation rate is 83%.
For freshmen, the application deadline for this school is November 30. To find out more about what University of California, Santa Barbara has to offer to its students, read on for the latest data reported by this school.
Quick Facts
23,181
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
17:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
83%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
Knowing as much as possible about the institution's criteria for admission maximizes your chances of getting admitted. What are the admission requirements for University of California, Santa Barbara?
In 2025, the school accepted 36,347 new students.
Test Scores
The latest reported average GPA of the enrolled students was 4.3. That means that you need a GPA that's above average in order to get into University of California, Santa Barbara.
Deadlines
The deadline for submitting applications to University of California, Santa Barbara is November 30.
Retention Rate
The percentage of freshmen at a college or university who stay on for their second year is known as the freshman retention rate. That information can tell you if the majority of freshmen liked their first year enough to come back.
The freshman retention rate for University of California, Santa Barbara was 93.26% in 2025, which is an amazing retention rate only the most prestigious institutions have.
The graduation rate is another indicator to take into account. This rate shows how many students complete their degrees in a certain number of years. The six-year graduation rate at this school is 83%, which is considered an above-average graduation rate.
Student Body
It is always challenging to figure out which school is best for you. Having a better insight into a school's student body helps you learn more about its culture and life.
Main Student Body
In 2025, the school enrolled 26,133 students.
The school reported an out-of-state student body portion of 9% for that year. The total number of undergraduate students enrolled at the institution was 23,181, 1990 of which were foreign students. 2,109 students enrolled as transfer students.
Student Population Gender Ratio
With a coeducational student body, the school had 10,809 male and 14,187 female full-time students in 2025.
Student Population Diversity
Higher Education is dedicated to increasing student diversity and enhancing students' feelings of inclusion and belonging. A diverse student body brings together individuals from different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. Discover more about the many ethnic communities that go to this school.
In 2025, out of the total number of students enrolled at the institution, the number of Asian students was 4,546, while the number of Afro-American students was 403. 6,447 students at this school declared as Hispanic/Latino and 1,829 as multirace. The school also had 13 students who identified as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, as well as 25 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 648 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
The financial aspect is one of the most important things to consider before applying to any college or university. Here are some details you should know about the cost of attendance for University of California, Santa Barbara.
Tuition and Fees
Here are some facts that can be useful if you were curious about University of California, Santa Barbara estimated tuition fees.
If you are an area resident, your tuition was $14,934. Tuition fees were $52,536 for students coming from a different state. Tuition costs at University of California, Santa Barbara for international students totalled $52,536. Fees per academic year required of full-time students amounted to $2,016 in 2025.
| Category | Tuition | Fees | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Out-of-State | $52,536 | $2,016 | $54,552 |
| In-State | $14,934 | $2,016 | $16,950 |
Books and Supplies
When you try to estimate the cost of attendance for a college or university, you need to think about the cost of books and supplies you're going to need. Most students have to pay about $1,485 for books and supplies during their time at University of California, Santa Barbara.
Boarding
Besides tuition, another cost to consider is the price of housing in the dorms and eating at the school cafeteria. What do colleges and universities typically charge for room and board?
In 2025, room and board cost at University of California, Santa Barbara amounted to $21,627 a year.
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $ 14,934 |
| Room and Board | $ 21,627 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 1,485 |
| Total Expense | $ 38,046 |
Financial Aid
There are different types of financial help: grants, loans, scholarships, and work-study programs. Check out some recent data to get the info about need-based and non-need-based aid at University of California, Santa Barbara.
The most recent figures show that financial help was given to 2,301 freshmen. Students of this school received an average of $29,530 in financial help.
Need-based
Need-based financial aid is exactly what it sounds like — it’s awarded based on the determined financial need.
10,309 students were granted some form of need-based financial aid. Need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid at University of California, Santa Barbara is available to international students. The total number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need was 10,599. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution totaled $51,656,324, and state $114,187,652. The students of University of California, Santa Barbara received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $115,010,586, and external in the amount of $2,612,549.
$10,670
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Any financial aid given to a student who does not meet the requirements for need-based aid is considered non-need-based aid. Non-need-based student aid typicaly comes in a form of Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the Teacher Education Access for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant.
Institutional non-need-based scholarships or grants were given to 502 students overall (including freshmen) at University of California, Santa Barbara in 2025. Institutional grants or scholarships that are not based on financial need were given to 136 full-time freshman. The total dollar amount of federal non-need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the studens at this school was $51,656,324 while the state aid is $4,801,259. The total amount of institutional scholarships and awards that were not based on financial need was $11,346,483. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. The amount the students of this school received from external sources (e.g. Kiwanis, National Merit) was $1,886,043 USD.
Majors
Faculty
17:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
The student-to-faculty or student-to-professor ratio represents the number of students compared to the number of professors at a school.
According to the most recent data, the student-faculty ratio at University of California, Santa Barbara was 17:1: that means 17 students per one teacher. The total number of faculty teaching at the institution is 1,242. Out of that number, there were 689 male and 553 female faculty members.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
Knowing what to expect out of campus life at a college or university can set you up for success. Find out some details about campus life at University of California, Santa Barbara.
It has a campus size of 1,055 acres.
Student Organizations
A student organization is run by students at a university or a college institution, whose membership typically consists only of current students and/or alumni.
That includes sororities and fraternities. If drama is your thing, there is a club dedicated to acting that you can join. Interested in media and communication? University of California, Santa Barbara publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
Student Services
At University of California, Santa Barbara, there are many amenities that make life on campus comfortable and safe.
There are phone and alarm devices that can be accessed 24/7 for emergency situations. The dormitory entrances are electronically operated. The transport/escort service operates during late hours.
There is a health clinic with personal/psychological counseling. In addition, other services like Legal Services, Veteran's Affairs and Women's Center are available to the students of University of California, Santa Barbara.
All in all, campus life at University of California, Santa Barbara is rich and vibrant and provides everything most students need.
Career Services
Having career services at a college or university can mean a great deal for your career planning, so find out what you can expect at University of California, Santa Barbara.
Career Counselling
This school offers alumni networking opportunities, which could be excellent for your future career.
FAQ
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University of California, Santa Barbara is located in Santa Barbara, CA.
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University of California, Santa Barbara offers need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid to international students.
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The most recent reported acceptance rate for University of California, Santa Barbara is 32%.
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According to the latest information, the freshman retention rate for University of California, Santa Barbara is 93.26%.
Contact Information
University of California-Santa Barbara
1210 Cheadle Hall
Santa Barbara , CA
93106-2014
805 893-8000
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved. Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
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Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.