University of California Santa Barbara is a world-renowned public research university established in 1891. Santa Barbara University ranks at #163 position as per QS World Ranking 2024. The university includes 200+ degrees, majors and credentials that offer 90+ UG majors and 50+ graduate courses. The admission to CSU Santa Barbara grants a total enrollment of 26,421 students in the academic session of 2022-2023. University of California Santa Barbara admissions is very selective with an acceptance rate of 29%. Candidates on US student visa can attain UC Santa Barbara graduate programs and undergraduate programs. The tuition fees of Santa Barbara University vary from 13,470-13,752 USD (INR 11,04,493-11,27,664) per year. The university requires a minimum GPA of 3.4 for international students. Candidates must meet the IELTS score of 6.5 and TOEFL score of 80 for UC Santa Barbara University admission. The graduates attain popular job sectors in USA with average annual salary of 82,000 USD (INR 67,23,881) after pursuing courses from UC Santa Barbara CA.

Table of Content
  1. Why Choose University of California Santa Barbara?
  2. University of California Santa Barbara Ranking
  3. University of California Santa Barbara Acceptance Rate
  4. University of California Santa Barbara Courses and Fees
  5. University of California Santa Barbara Application Deadline
  6. University of California Santa Barbara Application Process
    6.1 Documents Required
  7. University of California Santa Barbara Admission Requirements
    7.1 UG and PG Score Requirements
    7.2 ELP Requirements
  8. University of California Santa Barbara Cost of Attendance
    8.1 University of California Santa Barbara Extracurricular Activities
  9. University of California Santa Barbara Diversity
  10. University of California Santa Barbara Scholarships
    10.1 University of California Santa Barbara Internships
  11. University of California Santa Barbara Placement
  12. University of California Santa Barbara Notable Alumni
  13. University of California Santa Barbara Vs University of California San Diego Vs University of California Davis Vs University of California Los Angeles
  14. FAQs

Why Choose University of California Santa Barbara?

There are lots of reasons for studying at University of California Santa Barbara UCSB. The major reasons for choosing Santa Barbara Masters programs and Bachelors programs are as follows:

  • California State University Santa Barbara offers immense job opportunities to students. 90% of students get job offers within 3 months of completing UC Santa Barbara graduate programs.
  • International students attain a variety of job roles like Supply Chain Specialist, Data Analyst, Product Manager etc. after completing MTM at Univ of Calif Santa Barbara.
  • The university has great connections with top industries like Biotech, Property Management, Pharmaceutical, AdTech, Consulting etc. Candidates attain high-paying jobs in USA with an average salary of 82,000 USD (INR 67,23,881) per year.
  • University of California Santa Barbara UCSB placement includes top recruiting companies like Microsoft, Google, Amazon, Walmart etc. that hire the bulk of graduates.
  • The university offers scholarships like Morris K. Udall Scholarship, Rotary Peace Fellowship etc. to bear the studying and living expenses in USA.

University of California Santa Barbara Ranking

University of California Santa Barbara is one of the Ivy League Universities in USA. Various agencies rank the university in different positions. The rankings of University of Santa Barbara CA USA by top agencies are as follows:

  • #163 QS World University Ranking 2024.
  • #149 QS World University Ranking 2023.
  • #64 THE (Times Higher Education) World University Ranking 2023.
  • #67 US News & World Report Global Universities 2023
  • #32 US News & World Report National University Ranking 2023.

University of California Santa Barbara Acceptance Rate


Acceptance rate for USA colleges varies from one college to another. The university holding low acceptance has a highly selective admission process. UC Santa Barbara CA has an acceptance rate of 29%. Hence, admission to UC Santa Barbara graduate and undergraduate programs is highly competitive. The enrollment data of University of California Santa Barbara is listed below:

  • Total Enrollment of students: 26,421
  • Total Undergraduate students: 23,460
  • Total Graduate students: 2,961
  • Total Undergraduate students enrolled in full-time programs: 22,794
  • Total graduate students enrolled in full-time programs: 2,945
  • Total International students: 3,674

For admission in UC Santa Barbara CA University, the admission criteria are as follows:

Admission Criteria

Range

High School GPA

4.04 - 4.28

ACT Composite Score

26 - 31

ACT English Language Arts

27 - 34

SAT Evidence-Based Reading & Writing

630 - 730

SAT Mathematics

650 - 790

SAT Essay

15 - 18

University of California Santa Barbara Courses and Fees

University of California Santa Barbara USA offers 200+ degrees, majors and credentials. This includes 90+ UG majors and 50+ graduate courses. The cost of studying in USA University of California Santa Barbara varies as per different programs. The table below highlights the annual tuition fees of the popular programs of CSU Santa Barbara:

Popular Programs

Annual Tuition Fees

Actuarial Science MS

13,470 USD (INR 11,04,493)

Electrical & Computer Engineering MS

13,470 USD (INR 11,04,493)

Mechanical Engineering MS

13,470 USD (INR 11,04,493)

Computer Science MS

13,470 USD (INR 11,04,493)

Economics MA

13,470 USD (INR 11,04,493)

Sociology MA

13,470 USD (INR 11,04,493)

Philosophy MA

13,470 USD (INR 11,04,493)

Anthropology MA

13,470 USD (INR 11,04,493)

Mathematics MA

13,470 USD (INR 11,04,493)

Statistics MA

13,470 USD (INR 11,04,493)

University of California Santa Barbara Application Deadline

Application deadlines for top universities in USA vary as per different programs. Candidates need to apply for admission before the application deadline. The table below highlights the application deadlines for undergraduate programs:

Intake

Application Deadline

Winter 2023

Application Filling Period: July 1-31, 2022 (Closed)

Spring 2023

Application Filling Period: October 1-31, 2022 (Closed)

Fall 2023

Application Filling Period: November 1-30, 2022 (Closed)

The application deadline for University of California Santa Barbara graduate programs differs from one program to another. Here given below the application deadline for the top graduate programs:

Popular Programs

Application Deadline

Actuarial Science MS

Fall - Departmental Deadline: May 1; Online Application Submission Deadline: May 15, 2023 (Closed)
Winter - Departmental Deadline: November 1; Online Application Submission Deadline: November 15, 2022 (Closed)
Spring - Departmental Deadline: February 1; Online Application Submission Deadline: February 15, 2023 (Closed)

Electrical & Computer Engineering MS, MS/PhD, PhD

Fall: December 15, 2022-- Financial support and admission consideration (MS, MS/PhD, PhD) (Closed)
Winter: November 1, 2022 (by 11:59 PM PST) - Admission only (PhD) (Closed)
Spring: January 3, 2023 - Admission only (PhD) (Closed)

Mechanical Engineering MS

Fall Only: December 15, 2022 (Closed)

Computer Science MS

Fall Only: December 15, 2022 (Closed)

Economics MA/PhD

Fall Only, Ph.D./M.A.: December 2, 2022 – For admission with priority Financial Support Consideration. (Closed)
January 2, 2023 – Final deadline to apply for admission. (Closed)

Sociology MA

Fall Only: December 1, 2022 (Closed)

Philosophy MA

Fall Only: December 18, 2022 (Closed)

Anthropology MA

Fall Only: December 1, 2022 (Closed)

Mathematics MA

Fall Only: December 15, 2022

Statistics MA

Fall 2023: February 15, 2023 – Final Deadline (Closed)
Winter 2023: October 18, 2022 (Closed)
Spring 2023: January 10, 2023 (Closed)

University of California Santa Barbara Application Process

Candidates can begin UC application from the official website. There are certain universities in USA without application fees. For University of California Santa Barbara graduate admissions and undergraduate admissions, candidates must check the eligibility and application fees. University of California Santa Barbara application fee and other requirements are detailed below:

Application Fee

  • Undergraduate Application Fee: 80 USD (INR 6,560)
  • Graduate Application Fee: 155 USD (INR 12,709)

Documents Required

For University of California Santa Barbara graduate application and undergraduate application, candidates must require certain documents. The documents required for securing University of California Santa Barbara degrees are as follows:

  • Academic transcripts
  • GMAT/GRE score card.
  • Updated Resume
  • Portfolios
  • SOP
  • IELTS/ TOEFL score card.
  • Supplementary Materials
  • Interviews
  • Financial statement/ proof of funding
  • 3 LOR
  • Copy of the passport.
  • F-1 student visa

University of California Santa Barbara Admission Requirements

University of California Santa Barbara admissions demands the candidates for attaining certain exams to study in USA. Here detailed below are the minimum score for the exams accepted by University of California Santa Barbara:

UG and PG Score Requirements

The score requirements for UC Santa Barbara undergraduate admissions and postgraduate admissions are tabulated below:

Exam Accepted

Minimum Score

ACT English Language Arts

24

SAT Reasoning (Writing Section)

560 or higher

SAT Essay (Writing and Language)

31 or higher

GRE

No minimum GRE score required

GMAT

No minimum GMAT score required

ELP Requirements

Candidates must meet the English language proficiency requirements to apply for top universities in USA. The table below highlights the IELTS, TOEFL and Duolingo score requirements for University of California Santa Barbara admissions:

Exam Accepted

Minimum Score for UG Admission

Minimum Score for PG Admission

IELTS

6.5 or better

7.0 or higher

TOEFL iBT

80 or better

80 or above

TOEFL PBT

550 or better

550 or better

Duolingo English Test

115 or higher

120 or higher

University of California Santa Barbara Cost of Attendance

Candidates must gain an idea about the cost of living in USA before coming to study in the selected university. The table below highlights University of California Santa Barbara cost of attendance for graduate and undergraduate programs:

Undergraduate Cost of Attendance:

Expense Type

On Campus Annual Cost

Off Campus Annual Cost

UC Tuition

13,752 USD (INR 11,27,664)

13,752 USD (INR 11,27,664)

Campus Fees

1,914 USD (INR 1,56,948)

1,914 USD (INR

1,56,948)

Book and Supplies

1,482 USD (INR 1,21,524)

1,482 USD (INR 1,21,524)

Living Expenses

18,276 USD (INR 14,98,632)

14,814 USD (INR 12,14,748)

Transportation Costs

669 USD (INR 54,858)

1,086 USD (INR 89,052)

UC Student Health Insurance

3,192 USD (INR 2,61,744)

3,192 USD (INR 2,61,744)

Personal Expenses

1,596 USD (INR 1,30,872)

1,797 USD (INR 1,47,354)

Phone

408 USD (INR 33,456)

321 USD (INR 26,322)

Total (CA Resident)

41,289 USD (INR 33,85,698)

38,358 USD (INR 31,45,356)

Non-Resident Supplemental Tuition

32,574 USD (INR 26,71,068)

32,574 USD (INR 26,71,068)

Total (Non-Resident)

73,863 USD (INR 60,56,766)

70,932 USD (INR 58,16,424)

Graduate Cost of Attendance:

Expense Type

On Campus Annual Cost

Off Campus Annual Cost

UC Tuition

13,470 USD (INR 11,04,493)

13,470 USD (INR 11,04,493)

Campus Fees

1,020 USD (INR 83,639)

1,020 USD (INR 83,639)

Book and Supplies

1,521 USD (INR 1,24,721)

1,521 USD (INR 1,24,721)

Living Expenses

18,276 USD (INR 14,98,623)

19,671 USD (INR 14,98,623)

Transportation Costs

2,820 USD (INR 2,31,238)

2,820 USD (INR 2,31,238)

UC Student Health Insurance

6,201 USD (INR 5,08,479)

6,201 USD (INR 5,08,479)

Personal Expenses

2,439 USD (INR 1,99,997)

2,439 USD (INR 1,99,997)

Total (CA Resident)

45,747 USD (INR 37,51,277)

47,142 USD (INR 37,51,277)

Non-Resident Supplemental Tuition

15,102 USD (INR 12,38,371)

15,102 USD (INR 12,38,371)

Total (Non-Resident)

60,849 USD (INR 49,89,648)

62,244 USD (INR 51,04,039)

University of California Santa Barbara Extracurricular Activities

There are various benefits of studying in USA University of California Santa Barbara. The university has 500 students organization for involving every student in extracurricular activities. UC Santa Barbara campus encourages an active lifestyle for students. UC Santa Barbara campus consists of the following for promoting extracurricular activities among the students:

  • Pools
  • Courts
  • Weight rooms
  • Cardio equipment
  • Hot tub
  • Sports clubs
  • Intramural sports and much more.

University of California Santa Barbara Diversity

Candidates from all over the world travel and stay in USA for studying masters and bachelor courses. The table below shows the gender and ethnic diversity of the students of University of California Santa Barbara:

Gender Diversity:

Gender

Percentage

Male

44%

Female

54%

Unknown

2%

Ethnic Diversity:

Ethnicity

Percentage

American Indian/Alaskan

1%

Black/African American

4%

Chicano

20%

Latino

6%

Chicano/Latino Subtotal

27%

Asian/Pacific Islander

20%

Filipino

3%

E. Indian/Pakistani

5%

Asian/Pacific Islander Subtotal

28%

White

37%

Unknown

2%

International Students

14%

University of California Santa Barbara Scholarships

There are various scholarships to study in USA University of California Santa Barbara. The table highlights the scholarships for University of California Santa Barbara international students along with the benefits:

Name of Scholarships

Eligibility

Benefits

Rotary Peace Fellowship

Candidates enrolled in masters program

Covers tuition and living expenses

Zolve Global Scholarship

Candidates pursuing bachelors, masters or PhD programs in USA

5,000 USD (INR 4,10,007)

Zuckerman STEM Leadership Program

Candidates pursuing courses of technology, science, math and engineering.

Varies

MPOWER Women in STEM Scholarship

Female students enrolled in full-time STEM programs.

5,000 USD (INR 4,10,007)

Review It Scholarship

Candidates must have a GPA of 2.5 or greater for pursuing courses in USA

1000 USD (INR 82,001)

Morris K. Udall Scholarship

International students with a GPA of 3.0 or above

7,000 USD (INR 5,74,010)

University of California Santa Barbara Internships

University of California Santa Barbara offers thousands of internship opportunities to the candidates. Candidates can look for internships in the university’s premium platform ‘Handshake”. This platform promotes on-campus interviews and jobs for the candidates. The university also offers micro internships that are basically short-term paid assignments. Candidates can also attain internships for the university’s leading websites as follows:

  • CA Intern Network
  • WayUp
  • Internships.com
  • InternQueen
  • LinkedIn
  • GoAbroad
  • GoinGlobal
  • StudyAbroad.com

University of California Santa Barbara Placement

“What after Studying in USA”-is a question that arises in the minds of every student. Candidates attain multiple jobs after pursuing courses from University of California Santa Barbara USA. Approximately 60% of University of California Santa Barbara students received job offers before the courses ended. Around 90% of students of CSU Santa Barbara receive job offers within 3 months of completing their graduate programs. The average annual salary of graduates of UC Santa Barbara CA is 82,000 USD (INR 67,23,881). The top recruiting companies that offer immense career opportunities to the candidates are as follows:

  • Amazon
  • Appfolio
  • Cisco
  • Electronic Arts
  • Google
  • IBM
  • Microsoft
  • Nike
  • Uber
  • Walmart

University of California Santa Barbara Notable Alumni

Among the public universities in USA, University of California Santa Barbara is one of the top-ranked universities with excellent alumni. The table below highlights the notable alumni of the University of California Santa Barbara:

Notable Alumni

Profession

Angela Belcher

Materials Scientist, Professor, MacArthur Foundation “Genius” Award Winner

Larry Dierker

MLB Player, Manager

Harris Faulkner

TV Journalist

Robert Ballard

Deep-Sea Explorer, Discoverer of the Titanic

Amir Abo-Shaer

Mechanical Engineer, Teacher, MacArthur Foundation “Genius” Award Winner

University of California Santa Barbara Vs University of California San Diego Vs University of California Davis Vs University of California Los Angeles

The table below highlights the comparison of University of California Santa Barbara with other universities of USA:

Particulars

University of California Santa Barbara

University of California San Diego

University of California Davis

University of California Los Angeles

Ranking

#163 QS World University Ranking 2024
#67 US News & World Report Global Universities 2023
#64 Times Higher Education World University Ranking 2023

#62 QS Ranking 2024
#34 US News & World Report Global Universities 2023
#32 Times Higher Education World University Ranking 2023

#134 QS Ranking 2024
#73 US News & World Report Global Universities 2023
#63 Times Higher Education World University Ranking 2023

#29 QS Ranking 2024
#14 US News & World Report Global Universities 2023
#21 Times Higher Education World University Ranking 2023

Programs

200+ degrees, majors and credentials that offer 90+ UG majors and 50+ graduate courses

100+ UG and PG programs

100+ UG majors and 100+ PG degree programs

3900+ UG Programs and 130+ masters and doctoral degree

Acceptance Rate

29%

34%

49%

11%

Accepted Exam Score

IELTS: 6.5-7.0
TOEFL: 80

IELTS: 7
TOEFL: 83-85

IELTS: 7
TOEFL: 80

IELTS: 7
TOEFL: 87

Tuition Cost

13,470-13,752 USD (INR 11,04,493-11,27,664) per year

18,480-18,975 USD (INR 15,14,753-15,55,327) per year

13,104-14,567 USD (INR 10,74,560 -11,94,530) per year

12,264-12,522 USD (INR 10,05,673 -10,26,830) per year

Placement (Average Package)

82,000 USD (INR 67,23,881)

87,000 USD (INR 71,31,146) per year

86,000 USD (INR 70,51,570) per year

89,000 USD (INR 72,97,555) per year

University of California Santa Barbara offers wide opportunities for the success of the students. Admission to UC Santa Barbara University is highly selective. Candidates must meet the admission requirements to apply for graduate and undergraduate programs. Candidates can apply for scholarships to afford the Santa Barbara University cost of living and studying.

FAQs

Ques: Is UCSB difficult to get into?

Ans. Yes. The admission process at UCSB is highly competitive. The university has an acceptance rate of 29%. Candidates must need strong academic records to secure admission to UCSB.

Ques: How much does UCSB cost for Indian students?

Ans. The tuition fees of Santa Barbara University vary from 13,470-13,752 USD (INR 11,04,493-11,27,664) per year.

Ques: What GPA do I need to get into UC Santa Barbara?

Ans. A high school GPA of 4.04-4.28 is required for UC Santa Barbara admission.

Ques: Is UC Santa Barbara a good college?

Ans. UC Santa Barbara is a top-ranking public university in USA. The university ranks at #163 position as per QS World Ranking 2024.

Ques: How many students get accepted to UC Santa Barbara?

Ans. CSU Santa Barbara University grants a total enrollment of 26,421 students in the academic session of 2022-2023.

Ques: What major is UCSB known for?

Ans. UCSB is recognized for Social Sciences, Mathematics and Statistics, Biological and Biomedical Sciences and many other programs.

Ques: What is the lowest GPA accepted to UCSB?

Ans. UCSB requires a minimum GPA of 3.4 for international students.

Ques: Is University of Santa Barbara private?

Ans. University of California Santa Barbara is a world-renowned public research university.

Ques: What is the gender percentage at UC Santa Barbara?

Ans. The male percentage of UC Santa Barbara is 44% and the female percentage is 54%.

Ques: Is UCSB an Ivy League?

Ans. University of California Santa Barbara is one of the Public Ivy League Universities in USA.