University of California-Santa Barbara

www.ucsb.edu

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2023 Undergraduate Tuition

$11,834

2.33% growth from 2022

2023 Average Net Price

$15,283

After Financial Aid

2020 Default Rate

0.0268%

on Student Loans

2023 Acceptance Rate

27.8%

110,871 Applicants

2023 Enrolled Students

26,068

97% Full-Time

2023 Graduation Rate

85.3%

3,852 Graduates

About

University of California-Santa Barbara is a higher education institution located in Santa Barbara County, CA. In 2023, the most popular Bachelors Degree concentrations at University of California-Santa Barbara were Econometrics & Quantitative Economics (696 degrees awarded), Sociology (692 degrees), and General Communication (620 degrees).

In 2023, 8,030 degrees were awarded across all undergraduate and graduate programs at University of California-Santa Barbara. 55.5% of these degrees were awarded to women, and 44.5% awarded men. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients was white (2,599 degrees), 1.4 times more than then the next closest race/ethnicity group, hispanic or latino (1,855 degrees).

The median undergraduate tuition at University of California-Santa Barbara is $11,834, which is $−19,169 less than the national average for Doctoral Universities ($31,004).

In 2020 the default rate for borrower's at University of California-Santa Barbara was 0.0268%, corresponding to 1 out of the 3,725 total borrowers.

About the photo: Beteen the Nano (Courtyard) Cafe and CNSI

Photo by Glenn Beltz

Doctoral Universities: Highest Research Activity Doctoral Universities

Costs

In 2023, the median undergraduate tuition at University of California-Santa Barbara is $11,834, which is $19,170 less than the national average for Doctoral Universities ($31,004).

After taking grants and loans into account, the average net price for students is $15,283.

In 2023, 57% of undergraduate students attending University of California-Santa Barbara received financial aid through grants. Comparatively, 20% of undergraduate students received financial aid through loans.

Tuition Costs

$11,834

2023 Undergraduate Tuition

In 2023, the cost of tuition at University of California-Santa Barbara was $11,834. The cost of tuition at University of California-Santa Barbara is $−19,170 less than than the overall (public and private) national average for Doctoral Universities ($31,004).

This chart compares the tuition costs of University of California-Santa Barbara (in red) with those of other similar universities.

Average Net Price

$15,283

2023 Value

9.43%

1 Year Growth

In 2023 University of California-Santa Barbara had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $15,283. Between 2022 and 2023, the average net price of University of California-Santa Barbara grew by 9.43%.

This chart compares the average net price of University of California-Santa Barbara (in red) with that of other similar universities.

Average net price is calculated from full-time beginning undergraduate students who were awarded a grant or scholarship from federal, state or local governments, or the institution.

Other Student Expenses

$15,565

Room and Board

$1,343

Books and Supplies

The average yearly cost of room and board at University of California-Santa Barbara was of $15,565 in 2023. The cost of room and board increased by 2.06% between 2022 and 2023.

During the same period, the average yearly cost of books and supplies was $1,343. The cost of books and supplies increased by 1.97% during the same period.

This chart compares the average student costs at University of California-Santa Barbara (in red) with that of similar universities.

Financial Aid by Income Level

57%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants

20%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans

57% of undergraduate students at University of California-Santa Barbara received financial aid through grants or loans in 2023. This represents a decline of 6.56% with respect to 2022, when 61% of undergraduate students received financial aid.

This chart compares the average award discount at University of California-Santa Barbara (in red) with that of other similar universities.

The average award discount is the ratio between the average grant or scholarship value, and the cost, which is the sum of out-of-state tuition, room, board, book, supplies, and other expenses.

Student Loan Default Rate

Cohort default rates only account for borrowers who default in the first three years, and some schools only have a small proportion of borrowers entering repayment. These rates should be interpreted with caution, as they may not be reflective of the entire school population.

0.0268%

2020 Default Rate

Number of Defaults

In 2020 the default rate for borrower's at University of California-Santa Barbara was 0.0268%, which represents 1 out of the 3725 total borrowers.

A cohort default rate is the percentage of a school's borrowers who enter repayment on certain Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program or William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program loans during a particular federal fiscal year (FY), October 1 to September 30, and default or meet other specified conditions prior to the end of the second following fiscal year.

Admissions

University of California-Santa Barbara received 110,871 undergraduate applications in 2023, which represents a 0.112% annual growth. Out of those 110,871 applicants, 30,804 students were accepted for enrollment, representing a 27.8% acceptance rate.

There were 26,068 students enrolled at University of California-Santa Barbara in 2023. 82% of first-time enrollees submitted SAT scores with their applications.

University of California-Santa Barbara has an overall enrollment yield of 16.4%, which represents the number of admitted students who ended up enrolling.

Acceptance Rate

27.8%

Acceptance Rate in 2023

30,804

Accepted Out of 110,871

In 2023, the undergraduate acceptance rate of University of California-Santa Barbara was 27.8% (30,804 admissions from 110,871 applications). This is higher than the acceptance rate of 2022, which was 25.8%. Between 2022 and 2023, the number of applicants declined by 0.112%, while admissions grew by 7.38%.

This chart compares the acceptance rate of University of California-Santa Barbara (in red) with that of other similar universities, and the chart below shows the acceptance rate by gender.

SAT Scores

82%

Submission Percentage (2020)

3,957

Scores Submitted (2020)

82% of enrolled first-time students at University of California-Santa Barbara in 2020 submitted SAT scores with their applications.

The following chart shows the average SAT scores for the 25th, 50th, and 75th percentile of applicants for each section of the test that they are evaluated on.

Enrollment

University of California-Santa Barbara had a total enrollment of 26,068 students in 2023. The full-time enrollment at University of California-Santa Barbara is 25,275 students and the part-time enrollment is 793. This means that 97% of students enrolled at University of California-Santa Barbara are enrolled full-time.

The enrolled student population at University of California-Santa Barbara, both undergraduate and graduate, is 32.1% White, 24.5% Hispanic or Latino, 17.9% Asian, 7.99% Two or More Races, 2.17% Black or African American, 0.184% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.0767% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders.

Students enrolled at University of California-Santa Barbara in full-time Undergraduate programs are most commonly White Female (18.2%), followed by Hispanic or Latino Female (16.7%) and White Male (13.1%). Students enrolled in full-time Graduate programs are most commonly White Female (19%), followed by White Male (18%) and Hispanic or Latino Female (6.48%).

Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment

97%

Full-Time Enrollment

The total enrollment at University of California-Santa Barbara in 2023, both undergraduate and graduate, is 26,068 students. The full-time enrollment at University of California-Santa Barbara is 25,275 and the part-time enrollment is 793. This means that 97% of students enrolled at University of California-Santa Barbara are enrolled full-time compared with 77.9% at similar Doctoral Universities.

This chart shows the full-time vs part-time enrollment status at University of California-Santa Barbara (in red) compares to similar universities.

Retention Rate over Time

92%

2023 Retention Rate

Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall. The retention rate for full-time undergraduates at University of California-Santa Barbara was 92%. Compared with the full-time retention rate at similar Doctoral Universities (84%), University of California-Santa Barbara had a retention rate higher than its peers.

This chart shows the retention rate over time at University of California-Santa Barbara (highlighted in red) compares to similar universities.

Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity

Most Common Race or Ethnicity (2023)

White
8,369 enrolled students
Hispanic or Latino
6,394 enrolled students
Asian
4,678 enrolled students

The enrolled student population at University of California-Santa Barbara is 32.1% White, 24.5% Hispanic or Latino, 17.9% Asian, 7.99% Two or More Races, 2.17% Black or African American, 0.184% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.0767% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders. This includes both full-time and part-time students as well as graduate and undergraduates. By comparison, enrollment for all Doctoral Universities is 46.5% White, 15.9% Hispanic or Latino, and 9.78% Black or African American.

Any student who is studying in the United States on a temporary basis is categorized as a "Non-Resident Alien", and the share of those students are shown in the chart below. Additionally, 662 students (2.54%) did not report their race.

Graduates

In 2023, 882 more women than men received degrees from University of California-Santa Barbara. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients at University of California-Santa Barbara is white (2,599 degrees awarded). There were 1.4 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, hispanic or latino (1,855 degrees).

The most common Bachelor's Degree concentration at University of California-Santa Barbara is Econometrics & Quantitative Economics (696 degrees awarded), followed by Sociology (692 degrees) and General Communication (620 degrees).

In 2023, the most specialized majors across all degree types at University of California-Santa Barbara, meaning they have significantly more degrees awarded in that concentration than the national average across all institutions, are Math & Statistics (693 degrees awarded), Natural Resources & Conservation (427 degrees), and Social Sciences (1,978 degrees).

Common Jobs by Major

Lawyers, & judges, magistrates, & other judicial workers

Most Common Job

The most common jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at University of California-Santa Barbara are Lawyers, & judges, magistrates, & other judicial workers (350,085 people), Other managers (333,854 people), Postsecondary teachers (219,892 people), Software developers (155,675 people), and Elementary & middle school teachers (153,906 people).

The most specialized majors at University of California-Santa Barbara in 2023 are Math & Statistics (693 degrees awarded), Natural Resources & Conservation (427 degrees), Social Sciences (1,978 degrees), Physical Sciences (488 degrees), and Cultural & Gender Studies (130 degrees) (as of 2023).

Highest Paying Jobs by Major

Surgeons

Highest Paying Job

The highest paying jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at University of California-Santa Barbara are Surgeons, Cardiovascular technologists and technicians, Securities, commodities, & financial services sales agents, Nuclear medicine technologists and medical dosimetrists, and Physicians

The most specialized majors at University of California-Santa Barbara are Math & Statistics (693 degrees awarded), Natural Resources & Conservation (427 degrees), Social Sciences (1,978 degrees), Physical Sciences (488 degrees), and Cultural & Gender Studies (130 degrees) (as of 2023).

Common Industries by Major

Elementary & secondary schools

Most Common Industry

The most common industries for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at University of California-Santa Barbara are Elementary & secondary schools (476,745 people), Colleges, universities & professional schools, including junior colleges (471,120 people), Computer Systems Design (298,231 people), Legal services (294,323 people), and General medical and surgical hospitals, and specialty (except psychiatric and substance abuse) hospitals (211,798 people).

Majors Awarded

IPEDS uses the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) standard, so the categories may not match the exact concentrations offered by University of California-Santa Barbara.

Most Common (2023)

Econometrics & Quantitative Economics
696 degrees awarded
Sociology
692 degrees awarded
General Communication
620 degrees awarded

In 2023, the most common bachelors degree concentration at University of California-Santa Barbara was Econometrics & Quantitative Economics with 696 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of degree-majors recipients from bachelors degree programs at University of California-Santa Barbara according to their major.

Sex Breakdown for Common Majors

3,574

Degrees Awarded to Men

in 2023

4,456

Degrees Awarded to Women

in 2023

In 2023, 3,574 degrees were awarded to men at University of California-Santa Barbara, which is 0.802 times less than the number of degrees awarded to females (4,456).

This chart displays the sex disparity between the top 5 majors at University of California-Santa Barbara by degrees awarded.

Most Common Male Majors

In 2023, 450 degrees were awarded to men at University of California-Santa Barbara in Econometrics & Quantitative Economics, which is 1.68 times more than the 268 female recipients with that same degree.

Most Common Female Majors

In 2023, 526 degrees were awarded to men at University of California-Santa Barbara in Sociology, which is 2.96 times more than the 178 male recipients with that same degree.

Time to Complete

70%

100% Completion Time

85%

150% Completion Time

In 2023, 70% of students graduating from University of California-Santa Barbara completed their program within 100% "normal time" (i.e. 4 years for a 4-year degree). Comparatively, 85% completed their degrees within 150% of the normal time, and 86% within 200%.

The following chart shows these completion rates over time compared to the average for the Doctoral Universities Carnegie Classification group.

Graduation rate is defined as the percentage of full-time, first-time students who received a degree or award within a specific percentage of "normal time" to completion for their program.

Graduation Rate by Race and Sex

Showing demographic groups with ≥ 5 graduating students.

Two or More Races Female

Highest Graduation Rate (90.7%)

The student demographic with the highest graduation rate in 2023 at University of California-Santa Barbara is Female and Two or More Races (90.7% graduation rate). Across all Doctoral Universities, Non-resident Alien Male students have the highest graduation rate (65.7%).

The department of education defines graduation rate as the percentage of full-time, first-time students who received a degree or award within 150% of "normal time" to completion.

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) categorizes any student who is studying in the United States on a temporary basis as a "Non-Resident Alien", and the graduation rate of those students is shown in the chart below. Additionally, 1.64% of graduates (63 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Share

Most Common Student Race or Ethnicity (2023)

White
2,599 degrees awarded
Hispanic or Latino
1,855 degrees awarded
Asian
1,333 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity at University of California-Santa Barbara is white (2,599 degrees awarded). There were 1.4 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, hispanic or latino (1,855 degrees).

2.24% of degree recipients (180 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Sex

Most Common Sex Demographic (2023)

White Female
1,495 degrees awarded
Hispanic or Latino Female
1,131 degrees awarded
White Male
1,104 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity and sex grouping at University of California-Santa Barbara is white female (1,495 degrees awarded). There were 1.32 times more white female recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, hispanic or latino female (1,131 degrees).

Operations

University of California-Santa Barbara employs 519 Professors, 213 Lecturers and 186 Associate professors. Most academics at University of California-Santa Barbara are Male Professor (320), Female Professor (199), and Female Lecturer (117).

The most common positions for non-instructional staff at University of California-Santa Barbara are: Business and Financial Operations, with 613 employees, Computer, Engineering, and Science, with 536 employees, and Community, Social Service, Legal, Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports and Media with 524 employees.

Government Grants and Contracts

Grants & Contracts

$154M - Federal
$9.76M - State
$1.43M - Local

As of 2023, University of California-Santa Barbara received $154M in grants and contracts from the federal government, $9.76M from state grants and contracts, and $1.43M from local grants and contracts.

Salary Expenditure

$608M

2023 Salaries

7.21%

growth from 2022

In 2023, University of California-Santa Barbara paid a median of $608M in salaries, a 7.21% growth from the previous year. This is compared to a 2.45% growth between 2021 and 2022, and a 3.48% decline between 2020 and 2021.

The median for similar Doctoral Universities is 246M (41.5% of overall expenditures).

Instructional Salaries

$198M

Instructional Salaries

1,109

Number of Employees

In 2023, University of California-Santa Barbara paid a total of $198M to 1,109 employees working as instructors, which represents 32.5% of all salaries paid.

This is compared to a median of $6.13M (2.35%) for similar Doctoral Universities.

Occupations by Share

Professor

Most Common Instructor

519 Employees

Business and Financial Operations

Most Common Non-Instructional Employee

613 Employees

In 2023, the most common positions for instructional staff at University of California-Santa Barbara were Professor with 519 employees, Lecturer with 213 employees, and Associate professor with 186 employees.

In 2023, the most common positions for non-instructional staff at University of California-Santa Barbara were Business and Financial Operations with 613 employees, Computer, Engineering, and Science with 536 employees, and Community, Social Service, Legal, Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports and Media with 524 employees.

Instructors by Academic Rank and Sex

Most Common Demographic (2023)

Male Professor
Female Professor
Female Lecturer

In 2023, the most common demographic for instructional staff at University of California-Santa Barbara was Male Professor with 320 employees, Female Professor with 199 employees, and Female Lecturer with 117 employees.

This chart shows the sex split between each academic rank present at University of California-Santa Barbara.

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