University of California, Santa Barbara
Basic Information
Type
Public
Geographical Reach
Regional
Location
Santa Barbara, CA
Population
280,000
Website
http://www.ucsb.edu/
Demographics
Total Undergraduates
23,205
Men / Women
42% / 58%
White
31%
Hispanic
22%
Asian
15%
International
9%
Mixed
8%
Black
2%
Native American
0%
From State
83%
From Region
1%
Academics
Undergraduate Degrees
Life & Natural Sciences
15%
Physical Sciences & Math
13%
Business & Economics
11%
Arts
6%
Engineering
4%
Computer Science
3%
Health Sciences
1%
Financial
In-State Tuition & Fees
$14,934
Out-of-State Tuition & Fees
$52,536
Est. In-State Cost
$19,319
Est. Out-of-State Cost
$67,961
10-Year ROI
$255,000
ROI Percentile
93th
Retention & Graduation
Full-Time Retention
93%
4-Year Graduation Rate
70%
6-Year Graduation Rate
83%
Transfer-Out Rate
0%
Weather
Comfortable Days
195 (99% 😎)
Sunshine Hours
3,120 (92% ☀️)
Days Without Precipitation
322 (96% 🏖️)
Admissions
Uses Common App
No
Acceptance Rate
38%
Yield (Unbound)
14%
Regular Decision
Jan 1
Research
Research Level
R1
Expenditure
| Engineering, Computing & Math | $125M | #54 |
| Humanities & Social Sciences | $16M | #100 |
| Life & Natural Sciences | $119M | #105 |
Graduate Degrees
| Engineering, Computing & Math | 100 | #57 |
| Humanities & Social Sciences | 152 | #146 |
| Life & Natural Sciences | 151 | #156 |
Honors College
Standardized Tests
Test Scores
Test Policy
blind
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).
Schools & Majors
| ⇅ | Trends | Degrees | Male/Female | Intl | Earnings | ROI | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| College of Creative Studies | 60 | 57% / 43% | 13% | $91,749 | 92% | ||
| Computing (CCS) | 15 +6 | 80% / 20% | 13% | $145,485 | 100 | 95% | |
| Mathematics (CCS) | 8 +12 | 75% / 25% | 38% | $75,626 | 79 | 91% | |
| Physics (CCS) | 8 — | 75% / 25% | 38% | $104,149 | 97 | 89% | |
| Biology (CCS) | 10 +4 | 40% / 60% | 0% | $76,068 | 80 | 93% | |
| Chemistry and Biochemistry (CCS) | 5 — | 40% / 60% | 0% | $79,458 | 83 | 93% | |
| Literature (CCS) | 8 +4 | 25% / 75% | 0% | $58,240 | 43 | 90% | |
| Art (CCS) | 4 — | 0% / 100% | 0% | $48,583 | 16 | 87% | |
| Music Composition (CCS) | 2 — | 100% / 0% | 0% | $33,149 | 2 | 100% |
| ⇅ | Trends | Degrees | Male/Female | Intl | Earnings | ROI | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| College of Engineering | 423 | 83% / 17% | 12% | $125,873 | 94% | ||
| Chemical Engineering | 44 — | 68% / 32% | 16% | $104,039 | 97 | 95% | |
| Computer Engineering | 81 — | 89% / 11% | 14% | $139,942 | 100 | 94% | |
| Electrical Engineering | 58 — | 81% / 19% | 9% | $108,865 | 98 | 94% | |
| Mechanical Engineering | 87 — | 89% / 11% | 8% | $100,669 | 96 | 90% | |
| Computer Science | 153 +6 | 80% / 20% | 12% | $145,485 | 100 | 95% |
| ⇅ | Trends | Degrees | Male/Female | Intl | Earnings | ROI | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| College of Letters and Science | 5,946 | 41% / 59% | 10% | $75,494 | 93% | ||
| Applied Mathematics | 91 +4 | 65% / 35% | 46% | $109,292 | 98 | 88% | |
| Chemistry | 5 — | 80% / 20% | 60% | $79,458 | 83 | 93% | |
| Chemistry | 65 — | 48% / 52% | 14% | $79,458 | 83 | 93% | |
| Earth Science | 43 — | 49% / 51% | 5% | $71,720 | 73 | 96% | |
| Financial Mathematics and Statistics | 82 +1 | 55% / 45% | 45% | $109,292 | 98 | 88% | |
| Hydrology and Water Resources Science | 5 — | 40% / 60% | 0% | $71,720 | 73 | 95% | |
| Mathematics | 89 +12 | 71% / 29% | 30% | $75,626 | 79 | 91% | |
| Physics | 130 — | 75% / 25% | 38% | $104,149 | 97 | 89% | |
| Statistical Science | 338 +37 | 64% / 36% | 27% | $110,783 | 98 | 93% | |
| Aquatic Biology | 49 +1 | 33% / 67% | 2% | $49,625 | 19 | 91% | |
| Biochemistry | 27 +1 | 59% / 41% | 7% | $90,796 | 91 | 80% | |
| Biochemistry-Molecular Biology | 51 — | 55% / 45% | 4% | $90,796 | 91 | 80% | |
| Biological Sciences | 367 +4 | 37% / 63% | 2% | $76,068 | 80 | 93% | |
| Cell Biology | 57 — | 37% / 63% | 11% | $57,001 | 39 | 84% | |
| Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology | 35 — | 31% / 69% | 3% | $49,625 | 19 | 91% | |
| Environmental Studies | 331 +21 | 30% / 70% | 1% | $66,752 | 64 | 95% | |
| Microbiology | 31 — | 65% / 35% | 6% | $88,260 | 90 | 100% | |
| Physiology | 7 — | 14% / 86% | 14% | $76,527 | 80 | — | |
| Zoology | 26 +2 | 19% / 81% | 0% | $53,012 | 28 | 93% | |
| Pharmacology | 55 +2 | 44% / 56% | 13% | $97,773 | 95 | 100% | |
| Actuarial Science | 37 +1 | 65% / 35% | 19% | $98,845 | 95 | 95% | |
| Business Economics | 2 — | 0% / 100% | 0% | $97,934 | 95 | — | |
| Economics | 667 +35 | 64% / 36% | 16% | $107,948 | 98 | 93% | |
| African-American Studies | 4 +3 | 50% / 50% | 0% | $58,175 | 43 | 93% | |
| Anthropology | 106 +11 | 23% / 77% | 2% | $58,077 | 42 | 93% | |
| Area Studies | 2 +2 | 0% / 100% | 0% | $57,861 | 42 | 85% | |
| Asian American Studies | 4 +6 | 50% / 50% | 0% | $58,175 | 43 | 93% | |
| Asian Studies | 5 +1 | 60% / 40% | 80% | $57,861 | 42 | 85% | |
| Chicano and Chicana Studies | 17 +7 | 24% / 76% | 0% | $58,175 | 43 | 93% | |
| Chinese | — +4 | — | — | $57,763 | 42 | — | |
| Classical Languages | 3 +4 | 0% / 100% | 0% | $57,749 | 42 | — | |
| Communication | 597 +52 | 30% / 70% | 6% | $73,857 | 77 | 94% | |
| Comparative Literature | 18 +1 | 22% / 78% | 6% | $52,393 | 26 | 85% | |
| English | 115 +4 | 28% / 72% | 0% | $58,240 | 43 | 90% | |
| Feminist Studies | 12 +7 | 8% / 92% | 0% | $58,175 | 43 | 93% | |
| French | 8 +2 | 25% / 75% | 12% | $60,275 | 49 | 95% | |
| Geographic Information Science and Cartography | 45 +10 | 53% / 47% | 16% | $64,880 | 61 | 95% | |
| Geography | 5 — | 40% / 60% | 0% | $64,880 | 61 | 95% | |
| German | 8 +2 | 62% / 38% | 25% | $57,464 | 41 | — | |
| Global Studies | 126 +11 | 33% / 67% | 12% | $65,890 | 63 | 91% | |
| History | 112 +12 | 62% / 38% | 1% | $57,621 | 41 | 94% | |
| History and Administrative Studies | 43 +4 | 42% / 58% | 0% | $57,621 | 41 | 94% | |
| Interdisciplinary Studies | 1 — | 0% / 100% | 0% | $58,090 | 43 | — | |
| Italian Studies | 1 +2 | 0% / 100% | 0% | $57,861 | 42 | 85% | |
| Japanese | 3 +1 | 67% / 33% | 0% | $56,944 | 39 | — | |
| Language Studies | 14 +3 | 21% / 79% | 14% | $52,393 | 26 | 85% | |
| Legal Studies | 1 — | 100% / 0% | 0% | $59,726 | 47 | — | |
| Linguistics | 55 +11 | 22% / 78% | 7% | $52,393 | 26 | 85% | |
| Medieval and Renaissance Studies | — — | — | — | $58,890 | 45 | — | |
| Near and Middle Eastern Studies | 2 — | 50% / 50% | 0% | $57,861 | 42 | 85% | |
| Philosophy | 84 +9 | 51% / 49% | 8% | $65,351 | 62 | 90% | |
| Political Science | 285 +34 | 44% / 56% | 3% | $73,638 | 76 | 96% | |
| Psychological and Brain Sciences | 158 — | 28% / 72% | 2% | $66,321 | 63 | 94% | |
| Psychology | 503 +5 | 21% / 79% | 4% | $66,321 | 63 | 94% | |
| Religious Studies | 16 +8 | 50% / 50% | 19% | $42,509 | 7 | 100% | |
| Russian and Slavic Studies | — +1 | — | — | $57,918 | 42 | — | |
| Sociology | 605 +45 | 28% / 72% | 5% | $59,183 | 46 | 95% | |
| Spanish | 32 +14 | 34% / 66% | 3% | $60,275 | 49 | 95% | |
| Art | 4 — | 25% / 75% | 0% | $48,583 | 16 | 87% | |
| Dance | 21 +3 | 5% / 95% | 5% | $43,961 | 8 | 90% | |
| Film and Media Studies | 196 +16 | 51% / 49% | 7% | $52,687 | 27 | 94% | |
| Fine/Studio Arts | 64 +5 | 23% / 77% | 12% | $48,583 | 16 | 87% | |
| History of Art and Architecture | 32 +6 | 3% / 97% | 3% | $48,583 | 16 | 87% | |
| Music | 20 +1 | 55% / 45% | 5% | $33,149 | 2 | 100% | |
| Theater | 29 +2 | 31% / 69% | 3% | $43,224 | 8 | 98% |
Rankings
Fun and Games
Party til You Drop (Out)
Party Schools
Legendary
Ski Bums and Surf Bros
Top Recreation
Surf
Politically Incorrect
Equal Opportunity Objectification
Most Attractive Men
Gym Selfie Central
I'm Getting Cancelled in 3, 2, 1...
Most Attractive Women
Instagram vs Reality (It's Real)
Engineering
It's Not About Molecules, It's About Pipes
Chemical Engineering
Polymer Whisperers & Battery Bros
Resistance Is Futile
Computer Engineering
Segfault Survivors & Kernel Panickers
Resistance Is Not Futile
Electrical Engineering
Short Circuit Survivors
Hugging Trees with Calculus
Environmental Engineering
Pollution Police
Is It a Solid? Is It a Liquid? Yes.
Materials Engineering
Crystal Clear Leaders
WD-40 & Duct Tape
Mechanical Engineering & Robotics
The Kinetic Energy Cartel
Computer Science
No, I Can't Fix Your Printer
Computer Science (Eng)
LeetCode Grinders
Explaining That HTML is Not a Programming Language
Computer Science (A&S)
LeetCode Grinders
Physical Sciences & Math
Breaking Bad
Chemistry
Industry Pipeline & Analytical Automatons
Rocks and Whales
Earth & Atmospheric Sciences
Core Samplers
The "I Understand Interstellar" Elite
Physics & Astronomy
We Cited Ourselves in the Standard Model
No Words Allowed
Pure Mathematics
Number Crunchers
Life & Natural Sciences
Pre-Med Reject Waiting Room
Biology
Petri Dish Elite
Photosynthesis Fan Club
Ecology & Plant Biology
Botanical Brigade
Doomsday Prepping with Data
Environmental Science
Ecosystem Engineers
Puppies Over People
Zoology & Veterinary Sciences
Overqualified Scuba Divers (Marine Biology)
Business & Economics
Pivot Tables & Missing Pallets
Business Analytics
Supply Chain Bottlenecks
It's Basic Supply and Demand, Bro
Economics
Mega-Macro State Factories
Humanities & Social Sciences
Much Ado About Nothing
English, Literature & Writing
Bookworm Elite
Saving the Planet, One Policy at a Time
Environmental Policy & Sustainability
Sustainability Wonks
Smashing the Patriarchy 101
Gender Studies
Activist Academics
Mappy Few, the Cartography Crew
Geography & Cartography
Cartography Cartel
Model UN Generation
Government & Politics
The Filibuster
Hindsight is 20/20 (And So is My Salary)
History & Archaeology
The Time Travelers
I'll Figure Out the Career Later
Liberal Arts & Interdisciplinary
Dabbler Deluxe
Professional Yapping
Media & Communication Studies
Solidly Upper-Middle-Class Comm Degrees
Feelings, But With Error Bars
Research & Experimental Psychology
Rodent Wranglers
Decolonizing the Curriculum
Regional & Ethnic Studies
Cultural Cartographers
Arguing with God for a Grade
Religion
Sunday School Professors
Everything is a Construct
Sociology & Anthropology
Field Observers
Grammar Police Academy
World Languages & Linguistics
Syntax Scholars
Education
Surviving PTA Karens
General Education
Chalkboard Champions