PublicSuburbanUniversity of California-Santa Barbara
UCSB UC Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, California 93106
Data last updated: August 29, 2026
Strong graduate outcomes — major research university
University of California-Santa Barbara is a public institution in Santa Barbara with particular strength in biology and psychology.
A large campus of 23.2K undergraduates with a 17:1 student-faculty ratio. The suburban location offers a balance of campus life and nearby amenities.
85% of students graduate within four years, and graduates earn a median of $74,915 a decade after enrollment. Net price after aid averages $13,825.
Rankings
More About This School
Varsity Sports
History & Fun Facts
- •The Anna Blake School was taken over by the state in 1909 and became the Santa Barbara State Normal School, which then became the Santa Barbara State College in 1921.
- •In 1944, intense lobbying by an interest group in the City of Santa Barbara led by Thomas Storke and Pearl Chase persuaded the State Legislature, Gov.
- •A state constitutional amendment was passed in 1946 to stop subsequent conversions of State Colleges to University of California campuses.
- •From 1944 to 1958, the school was known as Santa Barbara College of the University of California, before taking on its current name.
- •When the vacated Marine Corps training station in Goleta was purchased for the rapidly growing college, Santa Barbara City College moved into the vacated State College buildings.
Source: Wikipedia
Schools Like This
University of California-San Francisco
San Francisco, CA · Urban · Public
University of California-Irvine
Irvine, CA · Urban · Public
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo, CA · Suburban · Public
University of California-San Diego
La Jolla, CA · Urban · Public
Admissions
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard / IPEDS.
Typical Application Requirements
Cost & Financial Aid
Sticker Price
Net Price by Family Income
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Net price reflects most recent cohort of federally-aided undergraduates.
Debt & Aid Detail
Graduate w/ Zero Debt
80.0%
Median Debt at Grad
$11,875
Programs (144)
Outcomes
Median Earnings After Graduation
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings reflect federally-aided students 6 and 10 years after entry.
Student Life
Student Satisfaction
Retention Rate
92%
Student Body
Race & Ethnicity
Campus Safety
Total Incidents (2024)
165
Peer Average
240
3-Year Trend
Emergency System
24/7 campus police department, blue-light phone network, emergency mass notification system
Incident Breakdown (2024)
Burglary
Aggravated Assault
Robbery
Motor Vehicle Theft
Sex Offenses
Arson
Drug Arrests
Liquor Arrests
Source: U.S. Department of Education Campus Safety & Security data (Clery Act, 2024 reporting year).
Location & Lifestyle
Cost of Living
Estimated from CA state average + suburban adjustment