University of California, Santa Barbara

Basic Information

Type Public
Geographical Reach Regional
Population 280,000

Weather

Comfortable Days 195 (99% 😎)
Sunshine Hours 3,120 (92% ☀️)
Days Without Precipitation 322 (96% 🏖️)

Demographics

Total Undergraduates 23,520
Men / Women 42% / 58%
From State 83%
From Region 1%
Athletes 488 (2.2%)

Racial/Ethnic

White 31%
Hispanic 28%
Asian 18%
Mixed 9%
International 9%
Black 2%
Native American 0%

Schools & Majors

⇅ Ranked Trends Degrees Male White Asian Black Hispanic Intl Earnings Earn % Earn z ROI Employment Debt-to-Earn Accept SAT p25 SAT p75
College of Creative Studies 83 53% 35% 19% 1% 18% 16% $79,877 72 +0.52 77 91%
Computing (CCS) 7 — 71% 14% 57% 0% 0% 14% $155,866 85 +0.90 100 96% — 34% — —
Marine Science (CCS) — — — — — — — — $74,229 87 +0.83 69 — — — — —
Mathematics (CCS) 14 +2 71% 21% 21% 0% 21% 36% $83,229 57 -0.08 81 91% — 55% — —
Physics (CCS) 16 +1 81% 31% 19% 0% 12% 31% $93,820 81 +0.74 89 85% — 55% — —
Biology (CCS) 11 — 36% 36% 27% 0% 27% 0% $73,160 83 +0.78 67 93% — 42% — —
Chemistry & Biochemistry (CCS) 8 — 50% 38% 12% 0% 12% 12% $77,161 71 +0.50 74 98% — 55% — —
Literature (CCS) 12 +1 25% 42% 8% 0% 33% 0% $57,520 77 +0.62 29 95% — 35% — —
Art (CCS) 9 +1 11% 44% 0% 0% 22% 11% $49,872 67 +0.33 12 91% — 35% — —
Music Composition (CCS) 6 — 67% 67% 17% 17% 0% 0% $51,890 73 +0.55 16 83% — 35% — —
⇅ Ranked Trends Degrees Male White Asian Black Hispanic Intl Earnings Earn % Earn z ROI Employment Debt-to-Earn Accept SAT p25 SAT p75
College of Engineering 482 77% 24% 39% 1% 12% 10% $134,756 100 +0.66 99 97%
Chemical Engineering 49 — 63% 41% 22% 0% 14% 14% $102,894 39 -0.27 94 100% — 21% — —
Computer Engineering 54 — 80% 20% 43% 2% 17% 2% $136,464 88 +0.92 99 100% — 21% — —
Electrical Engineering 78 +1 82% 31% 29% 0% 17% 9% $130,555 84 +0.64 99 94% — 21% — —
Mechanical Engineering 86 +1 84% 34% 24% 2% 23% 1% $102,876 74 +0.46 94 98% — 21% — —
Computer Science 215 +7 75% 14% 52% 1% 5% 15% $155,866 85 +0.90 100 96% — 34% — —
⇅ Ranked Trends Degrees Male White Asian Black Hispanic Intl Earnings Earn % Earn z ROI Employment Debt-to-Earn Accept SAT p25 SAT p75
College of Letters and Science 5,992 40% 37% 16% 2% 26% 9% $71,681 49 +0.24 64 95%
Applied Mathematics 79 +12 67% 20% 11% 0% 11% 51% $91,946 33 -0.53 88 98% — 55% — —
Chemistry 11 — 55% 36% 18% 0% 0% 27% $77,161 80 +0.54 74 98% — 55% — —
Earth Science 45 +1 44% 44% 7% 4% 38% 2% $68,700 69 +0.33 58 98% — 55% — —
Financial Mathematics and Statistics 108 — 57% 25% 20% 0% 6% 38% $91,946 33 -0.53 88 98% — 55% — —
Hydrology and Water Resources Science 4 — 50% 100% 0% 0% 0% 0% $68,700 69 +0.33 58 98% — 55% — —
Marine Sciences 1 — 100% 0% 0% 0% 100% 0% $71,839 82 +0.61 65 — — — — —
Mathematics 67 +7 73% 19% 18% 0% 18% 33% $83,229 57 -0.08 81 91% — 55% — —
Physics 112 +6 80% 29% 21% 1% 9% 28% $93,820 81 +0.74 89 85% — 55% — —
Statistical Science 408 +39 64% 20% 33% 2% 11% 27% $79,124 11 -0.94 76 98% — 55% — —
Biochemistry 32 — 56% 50% 19% 0% 25% 6% $86,861 96 +1.37 84 86% — 42% — —
Biochemistry-Molecular Biology 46 +2 54% 26% 33% 2% 20% 4% $86,861 96 +1.37 84 86% — 42% — —
Biology 340 +7 32% 35% 23% 3% 23% 3% $73,160 83 +0.78 67 93% — 42% — —
Cell Biology 40 — 35% 35% 25% 2% 12% 5% $83,742 93 +1.09 81 90% — 42% — —
Cellular and Molecular Biology 12 — 33% 58% 33% 0% 0% 0% $83,742 93 +1.09 81 90% — — — —
Chemistry & Biochemistry 46 +2 50% 41% 20% 0% 13% 7% $77,161 71 +0.50 74 98% — 55% — —
Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology 33 — 30% 64% 15% 3% 9% 0% $52,830 39 -0.39 17 95% — 42% — —
Microbiology 19 — 32% 47% 26% 0% 16% 0% $77,844 87 +1.02 75 100% — 42% — —
Physiology 6 — 33% 17% 0% 17% 67% 0% $76,336 79 +0.61 72 — — 42% — —
Aquatic Biology 39 — 23% 56% 3% 0% 28% 0% $52,830 44 -0.21 17 95% — 42% — —
Environmental Studies 353 +16 30% 51% 4% 1% 26% 4% $60,084 61 +0.18 36 96% — 42% — —
Zoology 37 — 24% 54% 5% 3% 32% 0% $46,965 16 -0.84 8 90% — 42% — —
Pharmacology 51 +7 47% 37% 29% 0% 14% 10% $92,853 30 -0.83 89 100% — 42% — —
Actuarial Science 31 — 65% 23% 13% 0% 10% 39% $97,181 52 +0.01 91 94% — 42% — —
Business Economics 4 — 75% 50% 0% 0% 25% 25% $95,141 59 -0.11 90 — — 42% — —
Economics 699 +40 62% 34% 24% 1% 13% 17% $97,395 65 -0.02 91 94% — 38% — —
African-American Studies 5 +2 20% 0% 0% 80% 20% 0% $57,484 50 -0.14 29 96% — 38% — —
Area Studies 2 +2 50% 0% 0% 0% 100% 0% $52,175 29 -0.56 16 85% — 38% — —
Asian American Studies 8 +6 0% 0% 62% 0% 0% 0% $57,484 50 -0.14 29 96% — 38% — —
Asian Studies 6 — 33% 0% 33% 0% 0% 33% $52,175 29 -0.56 16 85% — 38% — —
Chicano and Chicana Studies 22 +7 27% 5% 0% 0% 95% 0% $57,484 50 -0.14 29 96% — 38% — —
Chinese 2 — 50% 0% 50% 0% 50% 0% $52,186 30 -0.52 16 100% — — — —
Classical Languages 6 +2 67% 50% 0% 0% 50% 0% $59,471 58 +0.13 34 — — 35% — —
Comparative Literature 26 +4 35% 19% 15% 0% 50% 8% $68,949 97 +2.02 59 85% — 35% — —
English 114 +8 28% 42% 11% 4% 35% 1% $57,520 77 +0.62 29 95% — 35% — —
Feminist Studies 15 +6 7% 20% 0% 13% 47% 7% $57,484 65 +0.15 29 96% — 38% — —
French 6 +5 50% 33% 17% 17% 17% 0% $60,594 63 +0.23 37 94% — 35% — —
German 3 +4 33% 33% 0% 0% 0% 33% $59,865 59 +0.16 35 — — 35% — —
History 96 +14 61% 40% 7% 2% 42% 2% $61,493 80 +0.45 40 91% — 35% — —
History and Administrative Studies 68 +7 40% 37% 13% 4% 35% 1% $61,493 80 +0.45 40 91% — 35% — —
Interdisciplinary Studies 1 — 100% 0% 100% 0% 0% 0% $58,649 66 +0.13 32 — — 30% — —
Italian Studies 2 +2 50% 0% 0% 0% 100% 0% $52,175 29 -0.56 16 85% — 38% — —
Japanese 5 — 40% 20% 60% 0% 0% 0% $52,186 30 -0.52 16 100% — 35% — —
Language Studies 11 +3 27% 36% 9% 0% 36% 18% $68,949 86 +0.97 59 85% — 35% — —
Linguistics — — — — — — — — $68,949 86 +0.97 59 85% — 35% — —
Medieval and Renaissance Studies 1 — 0% 100% 0% 0% 0% 0% $59,350 72 +0.24 34 — — — — —
Near and Middle Eastern Studies — — — — — — — — $52,175 29 -0.56 16 85% — 38% — —
Philosophy 72 +9 60% 40% 11% 3% 28% 7% $64,505 66 +0.23 48 94% — 35% — —
Portuguese 1 +2 0% 0% 0% 0% 100% 0% $60,594 63 +0.23 37 94% — — — —
Religious Studies 12 +4 42% 50% 0% 0% 25% 17% $54,712 77 +0.48 22 88% — 35% — —
Russian and Slavic Studies — +1 — — — — — — $58,584 54 -0.05 32 — — — — —
Spanish 15 +14 33% 7% 0% 7% 73% 0% $60,594 63 +0.23 37 94% — 35% — —
Anthropology 101 +8 33% 45% 12% 1% 28% 2% $49,650 19 -0.66 12 95% — 38% — —
Cognitive Science 52 +2 21% 27% 15% 0% 42% 4% $64,757 16 -0.76 48 94% — — — —
Communication 618 +41 32% 49% 9% 2% 24% 5% $75,573 90 +1.28 71 95% — 30% — —
Geographic Information Science and Cartography 47 +15 57% 34% 11% 4% 30% 6% $68,306 81 +0.71 57 91% — 38% — —
Geography 11 +1 27% 73% 9% 0% 0% 9% $68,306 81 +0.71 57 91% — 38% — —
Global Studies 107 +19 34% 42% 10% 4% 28% 9% $65,561 33 -0.37 50 93% — 30% — —
Political Science 241 +28 43% 39% 8% 2% 35% 4% $72,293 54 +0.01 66 98% — 38% — —
Psychological and Brain Sciences 171 +1 27% 39% 20% 1% 24% 1% $64,757 72 +0.37 48 94% — 38% — —
Psychology 545 +4 21% 38% 15% 2% 28% 6% $64,757 72 +0.37 48 94% — 38% — —
Sociology 661 +48 27% 30% 11% 2% 43% 4% $59,550 71 +0.24 34 96% — 38% — —
Dance 16 — 6% 31% 19% 0% 31% 0% $39,641 30 -0.46 3 90% — 35% — —
Film and Media Studies 155 +15 43% 37% 8% 3% 31% 4% $52,252 72 +0.47 16 97% — 35% — —
Fine Arts 61 +3 25% 43% 13% 0% 30% 5% $49,872 67 +0.33 12 91% — 35% — —
History of Art and Architecture 38 +9 13% 47% 5% 0% 34% 3% $49,872 52 -0.15 12 91% — 35% — —
Music 16 — 50% 6% 19% 0% 25% 6% $51,890 73 +0.55 16 83% — 35% — —
Theater 29 +2 38% 55% 0% 0% 31% 3% $41,338 39 -0.23 4 92% — 35% — —
Legal Studies 1 — 100% 0% 0% 0% 100% 0% $62,818 71 +0.40 43 — — 30% — —

Financial

In-State Tuition & Fees $15,307
Out-of-State Tuition & Fees $55,153
Est. In-State Cost $19,801
Est. Out-of-State Cost $71,346
ROI Percentile 73th

Retention & Graduation

Full-Time Retention 93%
4-Year Graduation Rate 70%
6-Year Graduation Rate 83%
Transfer-Out Rate 0%

Earnings by Major Category

Each major category's degree-weighted estimated median 5-year earnings at this college, expressed as a z-score against the national degree-weighted distribution for that category. 0 is the national average. The shaded band between +1.28 and −1.28 marks the central 80% of the national distribution (10th–90th percentile).

Academics

⇅ % Degrees Male White Asian Black Hispanic Intl Earnings Earn % Earn z ROI Employment Debt-to-Earn
Social Sciences 39.0% 2,554 29% 39% 12% 2% 32% 4% $66,255 78 +0.44 52 95% —
Physical Sciences & Math 13.2% 865 66% 24% 25% 2% 12% 30% $83,831 61 -0.43 81 95% —
Business & Economics 11.2% 734 63% 34% 23% 1% 13% 18% $97,374 84 -0.02 91 94% —
Life & Natural Sciences 9.0% 593 37% 38% 23% 2% 20% 4% $75,305 87 +0.80 71 93% —
Humanities 7.8% 511 41% 34% 11% 4% 39% 4% $60,534 77 +0.45 37 93% —
Agriculture & Food Science 6.5% 429 29% 52% 4% 1% 27% 3% $58,293 41 +0.06 31 95% —
Arts 5.0% 330 34% 40% 9% 2% 30% 4% $49,878 43 +0.27 12 93% —
Engineering 4.1% 267 79% 31% 29% 1% 18% 6% $117,758 93 +0.47 98 98% —
Computer Science 3.4% 222 75% 14% 52% 1% 5% 15% $155,866 90 +0.90 100 96% —
Health Sciences 0.8% 51 47% 37% 29% 0% 14% 10% $92,853 90 -0.83 89 100% —
Professional 0.0% 1 100% 0% 0% 0% 100% 0% $62,818 37 +0.40 43 — —

Research R1

⇅ Research $ Rank Federal Industry $ PhDs Rank PhD students Postdocs
Physical Sciences & Math $113M #28 52% $1.3M 112 #14 687 149
Engineering $108M #48 68% $6.6M 63 #61 316 87
Humanities & Social Sciences $17.1M #122 42% $0.0M 131 #32 303 25
Computer Science $14.9M #62 75% $0.6M 21 #45 — 5
Business & Economics $10.8M #63 0% $0 14 #95 75 1
Life & Natural Sciences $7.1M #182 85% $0.0M 45 #59 182 22
Education $5.2M #96 34% $0 7 #364 — —
Agriculture & Food Science $0 #318 — $0 10 #51 58 10
Health Sciences $0 #441 — $0 — — — —
Total $276M #95 57% $8.6M 403 #55 1,621 299

Expenditure and funding source: NSF HERD, FY2024. Degrees: IPEDS completions, 2023–24. Students and postdocs: NSF Survey of Graduate Students and Postdoctorates, fall 2024, which covers science, engineering and selected health fields only. An em dash means the source does not report the figure, which is not the same as zero.

Sports NCAA D1

⇅ Athletes ▼ Revenue Expenses Net
Track & Field (outdoor) 56 $431K $431K $0
Baseball 52 $3.4M $3.4M $0
Soccer 45 $2.0M $2.0M $0
Water Polo 28 $654K $654K $0
Cross Country 25 $195K $195K $0
Swimming 24 $465K $465K $0
Volleyball 22 $1.0M $1.0M $0
Basketball 21 $4.6M $4.6M $0
Tennis 11 $723K $723K $0
Golf 10 $447K $447K $0
Total 272 $13.9M $13.9M $0
⇅ Athletes ▼ Revenue Expenses Net
Track & Field (outdoor) 55 $400K $400K $0
Track & Field (indoor) 52 $89K $89K $0
Soccer 39 $1.2M $1.2M $0
Swimming 27 $482K $482K $0
Water Polo 24 $661K $661K $0
Volleyball 22 $1.4M $1.4M $0
Softball 21 $1.6M $1.6M $0
Cross Country 19 $184K $184K $0
Basketball 16 $2.5M $2.5M $0
Tennis 10 $1.1M $1.1M $0
Total 216 $9.6M $9.6M $0
⇅ Athletes ▼ Revenue Expenses Net
Track & Field (outdoor) 111 $831K $831K $0
Soccer 84 $3.2M $3.2M $0
Baseball 52 $3.4M $3.4M $0
Track & Field (indoor) 52 $89K $89K $0
Water Polo 52 $1.3M $1.3M $0
Swimming 51 $948K $948K $0
Cross Country 44 $380K $380K $0
Volleyball 44 $2.4M $2.4M $0
Basketball 37 $7.1M $7.1M $0
Softball 21 $1.6M $1.6M $0
Tennis 21 $1.8M $1.8M $0
Golf 10 $447K $447K $0
Total 488 $32.8M $32.8M $0

Source: U.S. Department of Education, Equity in Athletics Data Analysis. Each team's revenue and expenses are what the college attributes to it. The Total view's totals row is the department's grand total, which also includes money not attributed to any team; the Male and Female totals rows only add up their teams.

Admissions

Uses Common App No
Acceptance Rate 38%
Yield (non-ED) 12%
Regular Decision Jan 1

Acceptance Rates

In-State Out-of-State International
Regular Decision 32% 55% 48%

Standardized Tests

Test Policy blind