University of California-Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, CA · Public · offers Graduate degrees

Midsize suburb

33%Acceptance rate
$16,109Average net price / year
83%Graduation rate
$74,915Median earnings 10 yrs after entry
$13,993Median debt at graduation
23,113Undergraduates

Cost

In-state tuition & fees
$16,414
Out-of-state tuition
$50,614
Total cost of attendance
$41,573
Room & board
$20,279
Books & supplies
$1,381
Average net price
$16,109

Net price by family income

$0–30k
$9,231
$30–48k
$9,992
$48–75k
$12,588
$75–110k
$17,136
$110k+
$31,863

Official net price calculator

Admissions

Acceptance rate
33.0%

Outcomes

Graduation rate
83%
First-year retention
93%
Median earnings (6 yrs)
$56,852
Median earnings (10 yrs)
$74,915
Median debt (graduates)
$13,993
3-year loan default rate
0.0%
Students with Pell grants
28%
Students with federal loans
18%

Programs: what graduates earn

48 of 149 programs have published earnings or debt data. Earnings are median salaries of graduates one year after completing the program (or the latest available year).

Bachelor's degree

ProgramGraduatesEarningsMedian debt
Computer Science162$107,776$13,500
Computer Engineering58$91,387$14,410
Mechanical Engineering82$81,108$15,000
Chemical Engineering41$79,737$14,937
Economics696$66,334$13,440
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods47$66,099$11,128
Applied Mathematics184$59,638$17,000
Statistics355$55,110$17,167
Physics183$53,597$15,965
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology74$49,100$11,750
Chemistry114$47,197$15,805
Communication and Media Studies620$46,598$13,000
Mathematics123$46,447$17,000
Microbiological Sciences and Immunology49$42,634$16,500
Pharmacology and Toxicology62$39,421$14,500
Political Science and Government322$39,404$15,033
Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences49$38,333$19,000
Zoology/Animal Biology26$37,633—
Geography and Cartography81$37,398$14,000
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics60$35,635$16,601
Research and Experimental Psychology650$34,431$14,500
Sociology692$34,372$13,500
Natural Resources Conservation and Research338$33,759$16,200
International/Globalization Studies143$33,553$14,724
Biology, General391$33,486$14,500
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies95$32,341$13,250
Anthropology121$31,420$18,000
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences54$30,759$16,298
History159$29,749$14,282
Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology83$29,258$12,750
Film/Video and Photographic Arts174$28,608$15,000
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services125$27,629$13,000
Philosophy108$25,303$15,000
English Language and Literature, General184$24,099$16,892
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft33$20,503$16,667
Religion/Religious Studies20$19,911$16,500
Area Studies27$34,028$22,697
Music34$33,825—
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering58$88,523$15,500
Fine and Studio Arts122$36,625$15,459
Dance19$44,858—

Master's degree

ProgramGraduatesEarningsMedian debt
Education, General96$63,765—
Natural Resources Conservation and Research79$55,039$32,485

Doctoral degree

ProgramGraduatesEarningsMedian debt
Education, General13$66,809—
Psychology, Other9$106,003—
Materials Sciences22$164,651—

Graduate certificate

ProgramGraduatesEarningsMedian debt
Education, General74$65,475$23,291

Non-credential program

ProgramGraduatesEarningsMedian debt
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities—$87,224—

Students

Undergraduates
23,113
Graduate students
3,013
Part-time
2%
Women / men
58% / 42%
White
32%
Hispanic
27%
Black
2%
Asian
18%
International
9%

Faculty & school

Student–faculty ratio
17:1
Avg faculty salary
$186,093 / year
Full-time faculty
90%
Accreditor
Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission
Website
www.ucsb.edu
Also known as
UCSB UC Santa Barbara

Most popular fields

  • Natural Resources & Conservation – 5% of degrees
  • Communication & Journalism – 9% of degrees
  • Computer & Information Sciences – 3% of degrees
  • Engineering – 4% of degrees
  • English – 2% of degrees
  • Biological Sciences – 10% of degrees

Frequently asked questions

What is the acceptance rate at University of California-Santa Barbara?

33.0% of applicants were admitted.

How much does University of California-Santa Barbara cost?

The average net price after grants is $16,109 per year; in-state tuition and fees are $16,414 and the full cost of attendance is $41,573.

How much do University of California-Santa Barbara graduates earn?

Students who enrolled earn a median of $74,915 ten years later. See the program table above for salaries by major.

What is the graduation rate?

83% of first-time, full-time students graduate within 150% of normal time.

Other colleges in Santa Barbara

CollegeNet priceAcceptanceGraduationEarnings
Santa Barbara City College
Santa Barbara, CA · Public · 9,889 students
$11,315—34%$47,647
Westmont College
Santa Barbara, CA · Private nonprofit · 1,302 students
$29,05377%70%$64,778
Antioch University-Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, CA · Private nonprofit · 55 students
———$51,541
Fielding Graduate University
Santa Barbara, CA · Private nonprofit
————
The Colleges of Law at Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, CA · Private nonprofit
————

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, June 2026 release.