Santa Barbara, CA · Public · 23,113 undergraduates · suburban
University of California-Santa Barbara
Selective
A coastal research university contains a small, separately admitted College of Creative Studies for intensive work in selected fields.
Institutional profile
Top tier Strong in affordability, and strong in mobility.- Admission
- 27.8% admitted
- Price by income
- Resident and nonresident prices differ
- Completion
- 87.5%
110,871 applicants in the reported year
Compare recent average annual costs by household income
$74,915 median earnings 10 years after enrollment
What sets University of California, Santa Barbara apart
Academic design
The College of Creative Studies uses small classes, close faculty mentorship, and accelerated opportunities across eight specialized majors.
Campus pattern
The campus sits directly on the Pacific beside Isla Vista, with an extensive bicycle-path network shaping everyday transportation.
A signature opportunity
College of Creative Studies.
Can I get in?
27.8% admitted
CCS requires a separate supplemental application; applicants pursuing both Engineering and CCS must list Engineering first and CCS second.
Recent applicant pool
110,871About 28 in every 100 applicants were admitted.
Record over scores
No score range is published for the entering class, so the transcript, the course rigor, and the required materials carry the file.
Admission by residency
Harder for residents
Undergraduate first-year applicants and admits · Fall 2025
University of California-Santa Barbara admitted 32.1% of California applicants and 54.8% of applicants from other states. Out-of-state applicants were admitted at 1.7 times the resident rate.
23,949 admitted from 74,639 applicants
9,223 admitted from 16,835 applicants
8,998 admitted from 18,691 applicants
In the season card
Where your GPA sits in the entering class
The full entering-class GPA distribution for University of California, Santa Barbara, in nine bands from 4.0 down, with your own record marked on it.
See where I landIn the season card
What University of California, Santa Barbara weighs when it reads a file
See how this college describes the role of grades, testing, essays, recommendations, activities, and demonstrated interest.
- Course rigor
- GPA
- Test scores
- Essay
- Recommendations
- Extracurriculars
- Demonstrated interest
What moves the application
The evidence that separates a strong file
Show preparation for this curriculum
The College of Creative Studies uses small classes, close faculty mentorship, and accelerated opportunities across eight specialized majors.
Make institutional fit specific
A coastal research university contains a small, separately admitted College of Creative Studies for intensive work in selected fields.
Use the application route carefully
CCS requires a separate supplemental application; applicants pursuing both Engineering and CCS must list Engineering first and CCS second.
Give commitments a clear through-line
Activities and recommendations should show sustained contribution, not a collection of disconnected credentials.
How to apply
Rounds, route, and required materials
CCS requires a separate supplemental application; applicants pursuing both Engineering and CCS must list Engineering first and CCS second.
$80 application fee
Major and program admission
Some fields have their own entry path.
The college admit rate above covers the university as a whole. These requirements apply only to the named program.
BusinessAdmits separately
What this program asks for, and when it closes.
Communication and journalismAdmits separately
What this program asks for, and when it closes.
Computer scienceAdmits separately
What this program asks for, and when it closes.
EngineeringAdmits separately
What this program asks for, and when it closes.
Can I afford it?
Compare annual cost by household income.
Start with the average net price for your income range, then set that estimate beside your other realistic options.
College funding
Scholarships and financial aid
Review available aid, application requirements, and renewal terms.
University of California-Santa Barbara publishes one merit award, the largest reaching $5,000 to $10,000 a year. All of them renew past the first year.
Open across the university · Merit · Competitive · Renews each year
In the season card
This award, by name
What each one is called, what it pays, the grades and scores it asks for, and what to send.
- The name of each award
- What it pays
- The grades and scores it asks for
- How to be considered
- What to send, and where
In the season card
Average annual cost by household income at University of California, Santa Barbara
Compare recent average net prices across five federal income ranges and estimate a 4-year cost for yours.
- $0–30k
- $30–48k
- $48–75k
- $75–110k
- $110k+
Is it worth it?
Completion, debt, and earnings
Read completion, borrowing, field mix, and earnings together. One university-wide earnings figure does not describe every student path.
Degree completion across the reported entering cohort
First-year students who return for year two
And what that comes to against what they earn.
Reported 10 years after enrollment
Academic portfolio
Largest bachelor’s fields
How many students finish in each field, and median earnings four years after completing the program.
Economics
Sociology
Research and Experimental Psychology
Communication and Media Studies
Admits separately
Biology, General
What is campus life like?
University of California, Santa Barbara beyond the classroom
The campus sits directly on the Pacific beside Isla Vista, with an extensive bicycle-path network shaping everyday transportation.
A defining academic feature
The College of Creative Studies uses small classes, close faculty mentorship, and accelerated opportunities across eight specialized majors.
Read the residential pattern
Compare the residential setup and surrounding area with the day-to-day routine you want.
Daily life follows the campus map
Dining and nearby options matter most when they support the academic, residential, and social routine you expect.
What shapes an ordinary week
The campus sits directly on the Pacific beside Isla Vista, with an extensive bicycle-path network shaping everyday transportation.
Turn a direction into participation
The strongest opportunities connect a clear academic or personal direction to real work beyond class.
Find the right everyday fit
The campus sits directly on the Pacific beside Isla Vista, with an extensive bicycle-path network shaping everyday transportation.