US CollegesGetting in
University of California-Santa Barbara admits 33% of those who apply, which makes it selective. The median admission rate of colleges on this site that report one is 77%.
What it costs
| Tuition and fees, students from California | $16,989 |
| Tuition and fees, students from elsewhere | $54,591 |
| Room and meals on campus | $21,975 |
| Books and supplies | $1,484 |
| Average full cost of a year (tuition, living, books), before aid | $44,833 |
| Average net price after grants and scholarships | $16,807 |
The net price is what students who got federal aid paid on average for a year after grants and scholarships were taken off (for a public college, students from inside the state). It is 25% below the median net price of colleges in California on this site ($22,336). International students are normally charged the out-of-state tuition and do not receive US federal aid.
Net price by family income
| Family income a year | Average net price |
|---|---|
| Up to $30,000 | $9,523 |
| $30,001 to $48,000 | $10,281 |
| $48,001 to $75,000 | $14,181 |
| $75,001 to $110,000 | $18,954 |
| Above $110,000 | $36,658 |
For students who received federal aid. A negative figure means grants were larger than the cost counted.
For an estimate that fits your own family, use the college's net price calculator.
Results
| Measure | This college | CA median | US median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students who come back for a second year | 93% | 76% | 73% |
| Students who finish their degree (within one and a half times the normal length) | 84% | 51% | 49% |
| Median earnings 10 years after starting | $82,568 | $53,420 | $53,132 |
| Median federal loan debt of those who finish | $11,776 | $17,297 | $19,994 |
Medians are the middle value of the colleges on this site in California and in the whole country. Completion and return rates count first-time, full-time students. Earnings and debt count students who received federal aid.
The students
32% of undergraduates receive a Pell Grant, the federal grant for students from lower-income families. 18% take a federal student loan. The undergraduate body is 58% women and 42% men. By undergraduate numbers it is number 15 of the 267 colleges in California on this site that report a size; the middle-sized one has 2,759.
Other colleges in California of a similar size
- University of the PeoplePasadena, private nonprofit
- University of California-RiversideRiverside, public
- California Polytechnic State University-San Luis ObispoSan Luis Obispo, public
- California State University-FresnoFresno, public
- California State Polytechnic University-PomonaPomona, public
- University of Southern CaliforniaLos Angeles, private nonprofit
Common questions
What is the acceptance rate of University of California-Santa Barbara?
University of California-Santa Barbara admits 33% of applicants, according to the College Scorecard.
How much is tuition at University of California-Santa Barbara?
Published tuition and fees are $16,989 a year for students from California and $54,591 for others. Most students with aid pay less: see the net price.
What is the graduation rate of University of California-Santa Barbara?
84% of first-time, full-time students finish within one and a half times the normal length of the course.
Source: College Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education, data released on 2 November 2026; checked in November 2026. Net price, debt and earnings describe students who received US federal aid. Costs change each year. This is official data for general information, not advice: confirm costs and admission rules on the college's own website and at collegescorecard.ed.gov.