University of California-Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, California · Public, 4-year
At a glance
Average net price
$16,109
In-state, after aid
6-year graduation rate
83.0%
Admission rate
33%
Undergrad size
23,113
In-state tuition
$16,414
Out-of-state tuition
$50,614
Cost of attendance
$41,573
Median earnings (10y)
$74,915
Admissions
- SAT average
- Not available
- ACT midpoint
- Not available
- Retention
- 93.0%
- Locale
- Suburb
Programs breakdown
18 program areas reported · Academic mix is led by social sciences (38%), stem (37%), humanities & arts (25%).
- STEM37%
- Business1%
- Humanities & arts25%
- Social sciences38%
- Social sciences26.6%~6,157 students/yr · Social sciencesCompare schools
- Biological sciences11.1%~2,570 students/yr · STEMCompare schools
- Psychology10.3%~2,376 students/yr · Social sciencesCompare schools
- Mathematics9.5%~2,186 students/yr · STEMCompare schools
- Communication9.3%~2,147 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
- ~1,338 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
- ~1,190 students/yr · STEMCompare schools
- Engineering4.2%~971 students/yr · STEMCompare schools
- ~938 students/yr · STEMCompare schools
- Computer science2.6%~603 students/yr · STEMCompare schools
- History2.4%~557 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
- ~506 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
- ~458 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
- English1.9%~441 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
- ~361 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
- ~169 students/yr · Social sciencesCompare schools
- Business0.6%~141 students/yr · BusinessCompare schools
- Legal0.0%~5 students/yr · Social sciencesCompare schools
Share of all degrees and certificates awarded in each broad CIP-2 program area (U.S. Department of Education, latest reporting year). Estimated students/yr = share × undergrad size.
Specific majors offered
40 specific majors with reported completions. Earnings shown are median annual earnings 1 year after graduation; debt is median student-loan debt at graduation.
| Major | Credential | Grads | Median earnings | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sociology. | Bachelor's | 1,364 | $28,687 | $13,500 |
| Economics. | Bachelor's | 1,352 | $59,465 | $13,516 |
| Research and Experimental Psychology. | Bachelor's | 1,266 | $28,978 | $15,000 |
| Communication and Media Studies. | Bachelor's | 1,202 | $41,054 | $13,018 |
| Biology, General. | Bachelor's | 775 | $30,350 | $14,586 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research. | Bachelor's | 656 | $33,029 | $16,533 |
| Statistics. | Bachelor's | 646 | $46,652 | $17,500 |
| Political Science and Government. | Bachelor's | 579 | $35,379 | $16,485 |
| Applied Mathematics. | Bachelor's | 399 | $49,765 | $17,000 |
| English Language and Literature, General. | Bachelor's | 352 | $29,434 | $17,550 |
| Physics. | Bachelor's | 344 | $49,863 | $15,982 |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts. | Bachelor's | 338 | $27,057 | $15,000 |
| International/Globalization Studies. | Bachelor's | 331 | $35,213 | $14,792 |
| Computer Science. | Bachelor's | 323 | $86,276 | $11,000 |
| History. | Bachelor's | 315 | $26,516 | $14,500 |
| Anthropology. | Bachelor's | 261 | $28,935 | $19,500 |
| Mathematics. | Bachelor's | 255 | $41,219 | $17,000 |
| Fine and Studio Arts. | Bachelor's | 255 | $21,605 | $16,978 |
| Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services. | Bachelor's | 247 | $26,790 | $14,100 |
| Philosophy. | Bachelor's | 217 | $25,487 | $15,000 |
| Chemistry. | Bachelor's | 217 | $40,310 | $15,805 |
| Education, General. | Master's | 187 | — | — |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies. | Bachelor's | 185 | $28,971 | $13,500 |
| Geography and Cartography. | Bachelor's | 181 | $32,729 | $13,750 |
| Mechanical Engineering. | Bachelor's | 160 | $68,678 | $15,908 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research. | Master's | 158 | $51,972 | — |
| Education, General. | Graduate certificate | 151 | — | — |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology. | Bachelor's | 148 | $28,592 | $9,500 |
| Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology. | Bachelor's | 146 | $26,780 | $12,500 |
| Computer Engineering. | Bachelor's | 130 | $83,726 | $14,410 |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics. | Bachelor's | 128 | $23,017 | $16,261 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering. | Bachelor's | 126 | $70,445 | $15,571 |
| Pharmacology and Toxicology. | Bachelor's | 116 | $46,278 | $14,500 |
| Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences. | Bachelor's | 104 | $25,193 | $19,000 |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences. | Bachelor's | 104 | $36,796 | $21,800 |
| Computer Science. | Master's | 99 | — | — |
| Chemical Engineering. | Bachelor's | 94 | $61,540 | $14,937 |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods. | Bachelor's | 94 | $54,194 | $11,128 |
| Microbiological Sciences and Immunology. | Bachelor's | 87 | $37,928 | $16,500 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering. | Master's | 86 | — | — |
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard Field of Study. Earnings cover graduates who received federal financial aid and are working / not enrolled. Cells marked "—" are not reported or were suppressed for privacy.
About University of California-Santa Barbara
University of California-Santa Barbara is a very large institution located in Santa Barbara, California, primarily awarding the bachelor's degree. It enrolls roughly 23,113 undergraduate students in a suburb setting. The most popular fields of study include Social sciences, Biological sciences, Psychology.
Cost & tuition
The average net price at University of California-Santa Barbara — what a typical student actually pays after grants and scholarships — is $16,109 per year, which is moderately priced compared to other U.S. institutions. Sticker tuition runs $16,414 for in-state students and $50,614 for out-of-state students before aid. Total cost of attendance, including housing, books, and living expenses, comes to about $41,573 annually.
Graduation & earnings outcomes
The 6-year graduation rate is 83.0%, a strong completion outcome. 93.0% of first-time students return for a second year, a useful proxy for student satisfaction and academic fit. Ten years after enrolling, the median graduate earns $74,915 per year according to U.S. Department of Education earnings tracking.
Programs & majors
University of California-Santa Barbara confers degrees and certificates across 18 broad program areas, with the largest concentrations of completions in Social sciences, Biological sciences, Psychology. Grouped into wider academic categories, the mix is led by social sciences (38% of credentials), stem (37% of credentials), humanities & arts (25% of credentials), which gives a quick read on the school's overall academic profile. Use the programs breakdown below to see every reported area, an estimated number of students per program per year, and links to compare other U.S. colleges in the same field.
Admissions
University of California-Santa Barbara accepts 33% of applicants, making it selective.
Location & campus
Set in Santa Barbara, California (suburb), University of California-Santa Barbara draws students from across California and beyond. Prospective students often weigh proximity, cost of living, and local industry demand when choosing between schools in this area.
Frequently asked questions about University of California-Santa Barbara
Q.How much does University of California-Santa Barbara cost?
The average net price at University of California-Santa Barbara is $16,109 per year after grants and scholarships, with total cost of attendance around $41,573.
Q.What is the graduation rate at University of California-Santa Barbara?
University of California-Santa Barbara has a 6-year graduation rate of 83.0% according to the latest U.S. Department of Education data.
Q.How hard is it to get into University of California-Santa Barbara?
University of California-Santa Barbara admits 33% of applicants, which is considered selective.
Q.How much do University of California-Santa Barbara graduates earn?
Ten years after enrolling, the median University of California-Santa Barbara graduate earns $74,915 per year.
Q.What is tuition at University of California-Santa Barbara?
Published tuition is $16,414 in-state and $50,614 out-of-state. Most students pay less than the sticker price after financial aid.
Q.Where is University of California-Santa Barbara located?
University of California-Santa Barbara is located in Santa Barbara, California (ZIP 93106).
Data on this page comes from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS, the federal sources colleges are required to report to. Net price, graduation rate, and earnings figures reflect the latest available federal release. Always verify current tuition and program availability directly with University of California-Santa Barbara at their official website.