UCSB: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes
Officially University of California-Santa Barbara · Santa Barbara, California · Public · Selective · CDS 2025-2026
Admission at a glance
Common Data Set 2025-2026
- Test-blind
- 110,187
- Applicants
- 42,093
- Admitted38%
- 5,081
- Enrolled
- 12%
- Yield rate
Selectivity
Selective38% admittedRanked #44 (tie) in National Universities; Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs #36 (tie), Computer Science #34 (tie), Economics #36 (tie)U.S. News & World Report, Best Colleges 2027
Admission figures come from the 2025-2026 Common Data Set published by University of California-Santa Barbara (see the source), read on 2026-09-20. The admission-factor grid was re-read from that file to confirm each weighting.
Is UCSB a reach, target or safety for your student?
Enter a GPA and course load and the calculator places UCSB against it in about a minute. No account needed.
UCSB is a public university in Santa Barbara, California that admits about 38% of applicants, making it a selective school. The average family pays about $16,109 a year after financial aid, which matters more than the published sticker price. It is best known for Sociology, Economics and Research and Experimental Psychology, its largest undergraduate programs by number of graduates. About 84% of students graduate within six years. Its most recent Clery Act report shows roughly 9.9 criminal offenses per 1,000 students.
UCSB is a public institution located in Santa Barbara, California with a selective admissions profile. For the most recent reporting cycle, UCSB admits between a quarter and half of applicants, with an overall admission rate of 38%. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $16,109 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price.
What parents should know about UCSB right now
UC Santa Barbara joined the University of California system in 1944, making it the third-oldest UC campus after Berkeley and UCLA, with roots tracing back to the 1891 Anna Blake School. Fall 2024 enrollment totaled 26,133 students, including 23,181 undergraduates. The fall 2024 admission cycle drew 110,266 applications, with 36,347 admitted (33 percent acceptance rate) and 5,008 enrolled, and admitted students averaged a high school GPA of 4.3. UCSB does not consider SAT or ACT scores in admission decisions or scholarship awards, although those scores can still be used for course placement after enrollment, and the application deadline is November 30. Academically, UCSB physics is ranked 9th nationally, chemistry 24th, and computer science 27th, and the campus is home to the prestigious Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics; 11 Nobel laureates have been affiliated with the university. UCSB also reported $305.48 million in research and development spending in fiscal 2023. The oceanfront campus sits on cliffs above the Pacific with its own beach, an unusual setting that affects everything from housing demand to recreational life. About 29 percent of undergraduates received Pell Grants in fall 2023, signaling broad financial aid availability. Parents should plan around early November application deadlines and California's December 1 priority window for the broader UC application; UCSB does not review unsolicited transcripts, recommendation letters, or supplemental materials.
What GPA does my child need for UCSB?
88% of enrolled students at UCSB had a high school GPA of 4.0 or above, and the average was 4.29, according to its 2025-2026 Common Data Set.
Compare UCSB with the other schools on your list
Open UCSB in College Search to set it beside up to three other colleges on cost, admission odds and outcomes, and save it to a shortlist when you are ready.
What does UCSB weight in admissions?
UCSB reports these factor weights in its Common Data Set (2025-2026). What the weights mean
Very Important
2- Academic GPA
- Application essay
Important
1- Rigor of secondary school record
Considered
8- Extracurricular activities
- Talent/ability
- Character/personal qualities
- First generation status
- Geographical residence
- State residency
- Volunteer work
- Work experience
Not Considered
7- Class rank
- Standardized test scores
- Recommendations
- Interview
- Alumni/ae relation
- Religious affiliation/commitment
- Level of applicant's interest
SAT and ACT scores UCSB typically admits
Many applicants to schools in this tier submit test scores, though the policy varies by year, so check the latest test-optional status before deciding.
- • Test-blind: UCSB does not consider SAT or ACT scores in admission decisions, even if submitted.
- • UC system is test-blind: SAT/ACT not used for admission or scholarships; may be used for course placement after enrolling.
- • Checked for Fall 2027 applicants on UCSB's admissions site. Policies change; confirm before you apply.
How much does UCSB actually cost?
Published tuition is $16,414 for in-state students and $50,614 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $20,279 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $16,109 per year, and that is the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 28% of students receive Pell Grants.
| In-state tuition | $14,202 |
| Out-of-state tuition | $53,472 |
| Room and board | $23,974 |
| Average net price (after aid) | $16,109 |
| Share of financial need metaverage, for students with need | 82% |
| Average need-based grant | $32,900 |
| Average merit award, no financial need137 first-year students received one | $11,666 |
| Graduates who borrowed | 29% |
| Average debt at graduationamong those who borrowed | $20,043 |
| Financial aid forms | FAFSA only (no CSS Profile)College Board 2026-27 list |
| Application fee | $80 (waivers available) |
Application deadlines and early decision data for UCSB
| Regular deadline | 11/30 |
| Notification date | 3/31 |
| Reply deadline | 5/1 |
Will my child graduate from UCSB?
These predict outcomes at UCSB better than its acceptance rate does. How to read retention and graduation rates
Most popular majors at UCSB
The most popular undergraduate programs at UCSB, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Sociology, Economics and Research and Experimental Psychology. Across all programs, UCSB confers roughly 3,776 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Sociology program report a median income of about $59,183 five years after entering college. What these figures mean
| Major | Graduates / year | Median earnings (5 yrs out) |
|---|---|---|
| Sociology | 672 | $59,183 |
| Economics | 656 | $107,948 |
| Research and Experimental Psychology | 616 | $66,321 |
| Communication and Media Studies | 582 | $73,857 |
| Biology, General | 384 | $76,068 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | 318 | $66,752 |
| Statistics | 291 | $110,783 |
| Political Science and Government | 257 | $73,638 |
Is UCSB safe? Campus crime & safety
In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), UCSB disclosed 229 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 9.9 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 23 violent offenses and 57 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Why per-1,000 rates, not counts
What is campus life like at UCSB?
About 37% of undergraduates at UCSB live in campus housing, so a meaningful share of students commute or live off campus. Residential rate and Greek participation shape day-to-day social life and are worth weighing alongside academics and cost.
Other colleges in California parents ask about
- University of California-Santa Cruz66% acceptance
- University of California-Riverside76% acceptance
- University of California-Merced91% acceptance
- California Institute of Technology3% acceptance
- San Diego State University36% acceptance
- San Jose State University85% acceptance
- San Francisco State University96% acceptance
- California State University-Long Beach46% acceptance
Next steps for UCSB
Common questions parents ask about UCSB
What GPA do I need for UCSB?
88% of enrolled students at UCSB had a high school GPA of 4.0 or above, and the average was 4.29, according to its 2025-2026 Common Data Set.
What SAT or ACT score does UCSB typically admit?
UCSB is test-blind: SAT and ACT scores are not considered in admission decisions, even if you submit them. There is no score range because scores are not read.
How much does UCSB actually cost after financial aid?
The average net price at UCSB after grants and scholarships is $16,109 per year, against a published in-state tuition of $16,414 and $50,614 out of state. Budget against the net figure.
Is UCSB realistic for my child?
UCSB admits 38% of applicants, so the transcript and course rigour carry the decision, with no published score band to place against. Then check the $16,109 average net price against what your family can carry.
What is the acceptance rate at UCSB?
UCSB accepts about 38% of applicants out of roughly 110,187 who apply each year. That makes it a selective school.
Is UCSB test-optional?
UCSB is test-blind for Fall 2027 applicants: it does not consider SAT or ACT scores in admission decisions, even if you submit them.
What is the graduation rate at UCSB?
About 84% of students at UCSB graduate within six years, and 71% finish in four years. 93% of freshmen return for sophomore year. Graduation rate predicts real outcomes better than acceptance rate.
What does UCSB look for in applicants?
UCSB rates GPA and the application essay as "very important" in its Common Data Set. These are the factors the admissions committee weighs most heavily when reviewing an application.
Is UCSB a public or private school, and where is it located?
UCSB is a public institution located in Santa Barbara, California.
What are the most popular majors at UCSB?
The largest undergraduate majors at UCSB by annual graduates are Sociology, Economics and Research and Experimental Psychology. The school awards about 3,776 bachelor's degrees a year in total. These figures come from federal IPEDS completion data.
Is UCSB safe? What is its campus crime rate?
UCSB reported 229 total criminal offenses in its most recent Clery Act disclosure (2024), roughly 9.9 per 1,000 students. Compare the per-1,000 rate rather than the raw total, since larger schools report more incidents.
What is campus life like at UCSB?
At UCSB, 37% of undergraduates live on campus, according to its most recent Common Data Set.
Sources: the 2025-2026 Common Data Set submitted by University of California-Santa Barbara, the College Scorecard and IPEDS, and Clery Act disclosures. What each source covers