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© 2025 Tuition Covered. All Rights Reserved.
OverviewTuition & CostsReturn on EducationAdmissionsMajors & DegreesStudentsReviews
  1. Colleges
  2. Catalog
  3. University of California-Santa Barbara

Estimated Net Cost
Average for college across all majors
 

(per year)
$16k

Estimated Post Grad Salary
Average for college across all majors
 

(per year)
$61k

Return on Education

(post 4-year graduation)
Excellent
The University of California-Santa Barbara is a public university located in Santa Barbara, California, founded in 1944. Known for its strong research programs and beautiful seaside campus, it is recognized for its environmental studies and marine science programs. Its campus is situated along the coast, offering students stunning ocean views and a relaxed beachside atmosphere.

Pros

  • Beautiful coastal campus

  • Strong research programs

  • Vibrant student life

  • Diverse academic offerings

Cons

  • High cost of living

  • Large campus can feel isolating

  • Limited parking

  • Competitive admission process

Tuition and Costs

Understanding Tuition Costs at University of California-Santa Barbara: Navigating college expenses doesn't have to be complicated. Our comprehensive guide to tuition, fees, and other associated costs breaks down everything you need to know about financing your education at University of California-Santa Barbara. Find out how we make higher education affordable and what financial options are available to you.

Most Recent Tuition Costs

Understanding Tuition Costs at University of California-Santa Barbara: Navigating college expenses doesn't have to be complicated. Our comprehensive guide to tuition, fees, and other associated costs breaks down everything you need to know about financing your education at University of California-Santa Barbara. Find out how we make higher education affordable and what financial options are available to you.

Yearly4 years
Tuition and Fees
Average Tuition, including fees before grants and scholarships.
 
$14,965$59,860
Room and Board
This is the average, based on staying on-campus
 
$18,684$74,736
Books and Supplies
The expenditure on books and supplies for an average student at University of California-Santa Barbara
 
$1,482$5,928
Other expenses
The amount of money (estimated by the financial aid office at University of California-Santa Barbara) needed by a student to cover expenses such as laundry, transportation, entertainment, and furnishings.
 
$5,456$24,304
Sticker Price$40,587$164,828

Historical Tuition Costs

Based on historical data, in-state tuition is expected to rise by approximately $532 per year over the next three years, reaching $17,201 in 2024, and $17,733 in 2025, and $18,264 in 2026.

Return On Education

Admissions

University of California-Santa Barbara admissions is selective with an acceptance rate of 26%. The application deadline can be found on the institution's website.
26%Admission Rate
86%Graduation Rate

Admissions Requirements

SAT Range
ACT Range -
High School GPA

N/A

Key dates

Application DeadlineSee college website
Early Decision DateSee college website
Early Action DateSee college website

Majors & Degrees

Explore the range of academic programs offered at this institution.
SciencesBachelor's Degree
⌄
Cellular Biology•Bachelor's Degree, Master's Degree, Doctoral Degree – Research
Microbiology•Bachelor's Degree
Zoology•Bachelor's Degree
Pathology•Bachelor's Degree
Toxicology•Bachelor's Degree
Neurobiology•Doctoral Degree – Research
Economics•Bachelor's Degree, Master's Degree, Doctoral Degree – Research
Geology•Bachelor's Degree, Master's Degree, Doctoral Degree – Research
Material Sciences•Master's Degree, Doctoral Degree – Research
Psychology•Bachelor's Degree, Master's Degree, Doctoral Degree – Research, Doctoral Degree – Other
HistoryBachelor's Degree, Master's Degree, Doctoral Degree – Research
⌄
Medieval Studies•Bachelor's Degree
Political Science•Bachelor's Degree, Master's Degree, Doctoral Degree – Research
Cartography•Bachelor's Degree, Master's Degree, Doctoral Degree – Research
LinguisticsBachelor's Degree, Master's Degree, Doctoral Degree – Research
⌄
East Asian Languages, Literatures & Linguistics•Bachelor's Degree, Doctoral Degree – Research
Slavic Languages, Literatures & Linguistics•Bachelor's Degree
German•Bachelor's Degree, Master's Degree, Doctoral Degree – Research
Romance Languages, Literatures & Linguistics•Bachelor's Degree, Master's Degree, Doctoral Degree – Research
Classic Languages, Literatures & Linguisitics•Bachelor's Degree, Master's Degree, Doctoral Degree – Research
Foreign Languages, Literatures & Linguisitics•Doctoral Degree – Research
EducationMaster's Degree, Doctoral Degree – Research, Doctoral Degree – Other
⌄
Education Administration•Doctoral Degree – Research
Liberal ArtsBachelor's Degree, Doctoral Degree – Other
BiologyBachelor's Degree
⌄
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology•Bachelor's Degree, Master's Degree, Doctoral Degree – Research
Ecology•Bachelor's Degree, Master's Degree, Doctoral Degree – Research
MathematicsBachelor's Degree, Master's Degree, Doctoral Degree – Research
⌄
Applied Mathematics•Bachelor's Degree, Master's Degree
Statistics•Bachelor's Degree, Master's Degree, Doctoral Degree – Research
ChemistryBachelor's Degree, Master's Degree, Doctoral Degree – Research
PhysicsBachelor's Degree, Master's Degree, Doctoral Degree – Research
AnthropologyBachelor's Degree, Master's Degree, Doctoral Degree – Research
SociologyBachelor's Degree, Master's Degree, Doctoral Degree – Research
ManagementBachelor's Degree, Master's Degree

Student Life

Learn about the community, campus culture, and experiences that shape student life at this college.

Student Breakdown

Total Enrollment5,043
Full-time Students5,014
Part-time Students29

Faculty

Faculty-Student Ratio:17:1
Full-Time FacultyN/A
Part-Time FacultyN/A

Reviews and Ratings

For complete transparency we combine scores from across the web to give you a true picture of what students think about University of California-Santa Barbara. Additionally, we have our own score which can be used alongside these external sources.

Tuition Covered Rating
(4.5)
Niche
(3.9)
US News
(5.0)

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Investing in higher education is a pivotal step towards future prosperity. It's essential to weigh the upfront costs against the potential for increased lifetime earnings and career opportunities. Our ROEdu score aims to help you understand tuition, living expenses, and financial aid, alongside the long-term benefits of earning a degree. By making informed decisions about where and what you study, you can maximize the return on your educational investment, turning the cost of your degree into a foundation for future success and financial security.

RoEDU
955
University of California-Santa Barbara stands in the premier league, positioned within the top institutions for return on education, delivering unparalleled value and setting its graduates on a path to remarkable success.

University of California-Santa Barbara

Public
Santa Barbara, CA
Suburb