UC Santa Barbara combines selective 27.8% admission with exceptional access outcomes, enrolling 28.0% Pell-eligible and 42.4% first-generation students. Graduates earn $14,372 more than peer institutions with manageable $13,993 median debt, creating strong value proposition for diverse student populations seeking upward economic mobility.
With strong tier designation, driven by solid long-term earnings outcomes relative to educational investment
With strong tier designation, reflecting controlled costs, manageable debt levels, and effective financial aid
With excellent tier designation, reflecting above-average enrollment of Pell-eligible and first-generation students relative to institutional selectivity
With excellent tier designation, indicating exceptional ability to support economic advancement for diverse student populations
Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Opportunity Builder: selective admissions with strong access
University of California-Santa Barbara ranks #51 nationally in Azimuth's composite rankings, placing in the 96.9th percentile with excellent performance across multiple dimensions. Located in Santa Barbara, California, this large public research university maintains selective admission standards with a 27.8% acceptance rate while serving diverse student populations.
UC Santa Barbara enrolls 28.0% Pell-eligible students and 42.4% first-generation students, demonstrating strong commitment to educational access alongside academic quality. The institution operates as an Opportunity Builder, combining selective admissions with strong economic mobility outcomes for students from varied backgrounds.
Graduates earn $11,776 beyond expectations relative to similar students nationally, ranking at the 87.7th percentile for earnings uplift. Median earnings reach $74,915 ten years after enrollment, placing UC Santa Barbara in the 90th percentile for long-term earnings outcomes.
This combination of selective admissions, above-average access for low-income and first-generation students, and strong economic returns positions UC Santa Barbara as a high-performing public research institution.
UC Santa Barbara delivers strong earnings outcomes relative to educational investment and student demographics. Graduates earn a median of $74,915 ten years after enrollment, ranking in the 90th percentile nationally and exceeding the peer median by $14,372 annually.
The institution generates $11,776 in earnings beyond expectations, placing it in the 87.7th percentile on this value-added measure. Earnings span from $49,095 at the 25th percentile to $111,078 at the 75th percentile, reflecting diverse career trajectories across academic disciplines.
Students seeking strong post-graduation outcomes at a selective public research university with significant opportunities for first-generation and transfer students. Well-suited for students who value academic selectivity combined with broad access, particularly those interested in social sciences, natural sciences, and interdisciplinary programs where UC Santa Barbara demonstrates exceptional national rankings.
UC Santa Barbara admits approximately 27.8% of applicants, meaning roughly 1 in 4 applicants receives an offer of admission. This places the university in the Selective admission tier, indicating competitive but accessible admission standards.
The peer median admission rate of 78.1% demonstrates that UC Santa Barbara maintains significantly more selective admission than typical four-year institutions, with acceptance rates 50.3 percentage points below peer averages. This level of selectivity means that strong academic credentials are important for admission success, though the university remains more accessible than highly selective institutions that admit fewer than 15% of applicants.
The 27.8% acceptance rate reflects UC Santa Barbara's position as a competitive public research university that balances academic standards with broad educational access. Students considering UC Santa Barbara should treat it as a reach or match school depending on their academic profile, and should build comprehensive college lists that include options with higher acceptance rates.
The combination of selective admission with strong post-graduation outcomes makes UC Santa Barbara an attractive option for students with solid academic preparation, though applicants should prepare for competitive admission standards typical of premier public research universities.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
UC Santa Barbara's published cost of attendance reaches $36,776 annually, comprising $14,965 in-state tuition, $18,684 for room and board, and $1,482 for books and supplies. Out-of-state students face significantly higher costs with $45,742 tuition.
However, the average student pays just $13,825 after financial aid, representing substantial savings of $22,951 from the sticker price. This net price places UC Santa Barbara $1,765 below the peer median of $15,590, indicating competitive affordability relative to similar institutions.
The university's financial aid effectiveness reduces costs by 62.4% from published rates, demonstrating strong institutional commitment to affordability. Net prices vary significantly by family income, ranging from $7,745 for families earning under $30,000 to $30,085 for families earning over $110,000.
This progressive pricing structure ensures that lower-income families face substantially reduced costs while higher-income families pay closer to published rates. The $22,266 gap between lowest and highest income tiers reflects targeted financial aid supporting educational access for students from diverse economic backgrounds.
UC Santa Barbara graduates demonstrate consistent earnings growth from early to mid-career. Median earnings progress from $56,852 six years after enrollment to $68,092 at eight years and $74,915 at ten years, representing 31.8% growth from the six-year mark.
These outcomes reflect data from substantial cohorts of 4,527 to 5,085 graduates across different time horizons, providing high confidence in reported figures. Graduates earn $11,776 beyond expectations compared to similar students nationally, placing UC Santa Barbara in the 87.7th percentile for earnings uplift relative to student demographics and institutional characteristics.
The earnings distribution shows meaningful variation, with the 75th percentile ($111,078) earning 2.3 times more than the 25th percentile ($49,095), reflecting differences in program choice and career trajectory. Low-income graduates earn $56,800, indicating solid outcomes for students from lower-income backgrounds.
Approximately 24.1% of graduates continue to graduate or professional study, demonstrating the institution's effectiveness in preparing students for both workforce entry and advanced education pathways.
Computer Science.
145 graduates
Computer Engineering, General.
55 graduates
Electrical and Electronics Engineering.
52 graduates
Environmental Toxicology.
29 graduates
Mechanical Engineering.
88 graduates
UC Santa Barbara offers 20 bachelor's degree programs with federal earnings data for comprehensive outcome analysis. Computer Science stands out with median earnings of $118,830 from a cohort of 145 graduates, ranking #43 nationally and #14 in California with a value score of 77.0.
Applied Sociology ranks #9 nationally and #5 in California, graduating 713 students with median earnings of $50,703 and an exceptional value score of 96.7. Applied Economics ranks #26 nationally and #4 in California, producing 703 graduates earning $88,311 with a value score of 87.6.
Behavioral Neuroscience ranks #6 nationally and #3 in California, graduating 579 students with median earnings of $53,297 and a value score of 90.0. Communication and Media Studies ranks #7 nationally and #3 in California, with 517 graduates earning $61,114 and a value score of 97.6.
Several programs achieve flagship status at the institution, indicating particular strength and student demand in these academic areas.
Explore alternatives with comparable outcomes based on location, selectivity, and value:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Occidental College Higher acceptance rate (12.1 percentage points higher) with similar program focus and located 95 miles away; similar graduate earnings | CA | 40% | $75,951 | Compare |
Southern California Institute Of Architecture Higher acceptance rate (54.9 percentage points higher) and located 96 miles away; similar graduate earnings | CA | 83% | $71,909 | Compare |
Woodbury University Higher acceptance rate (45.1 percentage points higher) and located 87 miles away; similar graduate earnings | CA | 73% | $65,668 | Compare |
University Of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus Higher acceptance rate (59.3 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | CT | 87% | $73,997 | Compare |
University Of Connecticut-Avery Point Higher acceptance rate (58.7 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | CT | 87% | $73,997 | Compare |
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
University Of Florida Similar quality tier (#50 ranked) | FL | 24% | $71,588 | #50 | Compare |
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This is the University Of California-Santa Barbara hub overview page. For comprehensive institutional data including detailed charts and metrics, visit the full analysis at /school/university-of-california-santa-barbara/analysis.
Stony Brook University Similar quality tier (#49 ranked) | NY | 49% | $74,502 | #49 | Compare |
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