University of California, Santa Barbara
A UC research campus on the Pacific cliffs, with eight Nobel laureate faculty and a test-blind, one-round application.
- Acceptance rate
- 38%
- Fall 2025 entering first-years (latest published); applying now for fall 2027
- Students
- 26,035
- 23,091 undergraduates
- International
- 11%
- of students
- Student–faculty
- 18:1
- ratio
- Tuition
- $56,943
- 2026-27
About UCSB
UC Santa Barbara traces its roots to the Anna Blake School of 1891 and became a campus of the University of California in 1944. It sits on cliffs above the Pacific next to the student town of Isla Vista, and in fall 2025 enrolled 26,035 students: 23,091 undergraduates and 2,944 graduate students. It is a member of the Association of American Universities and was the first Hispanic-Serving Institution in that group.
Undergraduates enter one of three colleges. The College of Letters and Science is the largest and does not consider choice of major in admission. The Robert Mehrabian College of Engineering admits by major and has limited space. The small College of Creative Studies, about 400 students, admits by supplemental application to nine majors from math and physics to writing and art. Graduate study adds the Bren School of Environmental Science and Management and the Gevirtz Graduate School of Education.
The research profile is strongest in engineering and the physical sciences. Eight UCSB faculty members have won Nobel Prizes, the Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics is on campus, and the 2025 Leiden Ranking placed UCSB first among U.S. public universities for scientific impact in engineering and the physical sciences. The campus suits self-directed students who want serious science or social science in a place where most undergraduates live within walking distance of class and the beach.
Fiat lux
“Let there be light” — university motto
Why students choose UCSB
The College of Creative Studies lets about 400 students design their own programme in fields such as mathematics, physics, computing or writing with close faculty advising.
Eight faculty members have won Nobel Prizes, and centres such as the Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics and the California NanoSystems Institute are on campus.
About 43.8% of seniors in the 2024 UC survey said they had assisted faculty with research or creative work, or done independent study.
Most undergraduates live close to class: 94% of new freshmen live on campus and 89% of all undergraduates live within walking distance.
Admissions
Fall 2025 entering first-years (latest published); applying now for fall 2027
About 1 in 3 applicants is admitted
42,093 admitted from 110,187 applicants
First-year figures for fall 2025 from UCSB's 2025-26 Campus Profile: 110,187 applicants, 42,093 admits (38.2%) and 5,081 enrolled. Admission to Engineering majors and the College of Creative Studies is more selective than to Letters and Science.
Typical entry requirements
| US high school (A-G subjects) | 15 UC A-G college-preparatory courses with C or better; minimum GPA 3.0 (California residents) or 3.4 (non-residents); admitted students' middle 50% weighted GPA 4.12-4.46 |
|---|---|
| International curricula (A-levels, IB, national systems) | Must meet UC subject requirements; grades are evaluated in the context of your country's system. Report predicted results in the UC application and do not convert grades to a UC GPA |
| English language | IELTS 6.5 UC minimums: IELTS 6.5; TOEFL iBT 4.5 on the new 1-6 scale from January 2026 (80 on the old 0-120 scale before then); Duolingo 115. Also met by AP English 3+, IB English A SL 6-7 or HL 5-7, ACT ELA 24 or SAT Writing and Language 31. Campuses may expect higher scores. |
Deadlines
- UC Application filing period (fall 2027) Non-binding Next deadline · In 55 daysNovember 30, 2026
Submit between October 1 and November 30, 2026. UCSB has no early decision or early action; it admits for fall only. Decisions are released mid-March.
- College of Creative Studies priority deadline Non-binding In ~3 monthsJanuary 5, 2027
Priority deadline for CCS supplemental materials; the UC Application itself must still be submitted by November 30, 2026.
UCSB's dates and deadlines page and the UC first-year application page both give an October 1 to November 30 filing period for fall 2027. Admitted students submit the Statement of Intent to Register by May 1, 2027.
How to apply
Submit the UC Application (one application for all UC campuses), which opens August 1, with activities and awards, UC-approved coursework and self-reported grades, and four Personal Insight Questions. No recommendations or transcripts are reviewed for general admission. Creative Studies applicants also send a free supplemental application; Dance and Music performance applicants audition.
What admissions looks for
- Academic GPA in A-G courses, with extra weight for UC-certified honors, AP, IB Higher Level and college courses.
- Coursework beyond the minimum requirements and a strong senior-year programme.
- Performance judged in the context of the opportunities available at your school, including recent marked improvement.
- Special talents, achievements, leadership and community service shown in the activities section and Personal Insight Questions.
- Achievement in light of life circumstances such as low family income, being first in family to attend college or needing to work.
Tips for applying to UCSB
- 1 Don't prepare SAT or ACT scores for admission: UCSB is test-blind and decides only on the UC Application.
- 2 Choose your Engineering major carefully: UCSB will not consider an alternate Engineering major, so put a Letters and Science major as your second choice if you want a fallback.
- 3 If you apply to the College of Creative Studies, submit the supplemental materials by the January 5, 2027 priority deadline and add a second-choice major outside CCS.
- 4 Use the four Personal Insight Questions and the activities section to show context: reviewers read achievements against the opportunities you had.
- 5 International applicants should enter grades exactly as on their transcripts and report predicted exam results rather than converting them.
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in USD
Aid goes mainly to US residents: most California families earning up to $100,000 receive enough grants and scholarships to cover UC tuition. Aid for international students is very limited, and they must show funding for their first year. In 2025-26, 45% of undergraduates received income-based grants or scholarships, averaging $28,973.
- 45%, average award $28,973
- Undergraduates receiving income-based grants or scholarships (2025-26)
- 31%
- Undergraduates receiving Pell Grants (2025-26)
- 29%, average debt $20,043
- Freshman-entry graduates who borrowed (class of 2024-25)
- $90,216
- Total cost of attendance, non-residents (2026-27)
Academics
Academic calendar: Quarters
College of Creative Studies
A college of about 400 students in nine majors, including Mathematics, Physics, Computing, Marine Science and Writing and Literature, with individual faculty advising.
Physics
Home to the Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics; THE ranks UCSB 33rd in the world for Physical Sciences (2026).
Computer Science
A selective major in the Robert Mehrabian College of Engineering, which admits by major and does not consider an alternate Engineering major.
Psychological and Brain Sciences
About 8% of UCSB's bachelor's degrees in 2024-25 were in this field, making it one of the campus's largest majors.
Statistics and Data Science
One of UCSB's five largest bachelor's degree areas, accounting for 6% of 2024-25 degrees.
Economics
Taught in the College of Letters and Science by a department whose faculty include 2004 Nobel economics laureate Finn Kydland.
Research
- UCSB received $247.7 million in sponsored research awards in 2024-25, $137.7 million of it direct federal funding led by the NSF.
- The 2025 Leiden Ranking placed UCSB first among U.S. public universities and seventh worldwide for scientific impact in engineering and the physical sciences.
- Campus research centres include the Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics, the California NanoSystems Institute, the Marine Science Institute and the National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis.
- Nobel laureate Shuji Nakamura leads UCSB solid-state lighting research that produced the first nonpolar blue-violet laser diodes.
Schools & faculties
- College of Letters and Science
- Robert Mehrabian College of Engineering
- College of Creative Studies
- Bren School of Environmental Science and Management
- Gevirtz Graduate School of Education
College Scorecard median earnings 10 years after entry: $74,915. Of 2024 seniors surveyed, 44% planned to work and 31% to go to graduate or professional school.
Student life
UCSB is a residential, outdoor campus: 94% of new freshmen live in university housing, which includes eight residence halls and eight apartment complexes, and 89% of undergraduates live within walking distance of class. In fall 2025, 44% of UCSB students lived in Isla Vista, the student town next to campus, and 38% in university-owned housing. The campus has its own lagoon, beaches and bike paths, and surfing is part of daily life. Storke Tower, with its 61-bell carillon, is the campus landmark and houses the Daily Nexus newspaper and KCSB radio.
- Gauchos teams compete in NCAA Division I, mostly in the Big West Conference; men's soccer won the 2006 NCAA title.
- Campus beaches such as Campus Point and Sands are regular surf spots, and the UCSB surf team competes nationally.
- Living Learning Communities in the residence halls are built around cultural, identity and academic themes.
- Campus Housing offers more than 800 student jobs and leadership positions, including the Residential Housing Association.
Housing. Most new freshmen live in the residence halls, whose nine-month contract includes a meal plan; the 2026-27 sample budget puts rent at $13,203 and food at $10,782.
Location
UCSB is on the coast about 100 miles northwest of Los Angeles, between the Pacific Ocean and the Santa Ynez Mountains, next to the city of Goleta and the student town of Isla Vista. The campus is not part of the city of Santa Barbara itself but has its own beaches, lagoon and nature reserve. Student life centres on campus and Isla Vista, where 44% of students lived in fall 2025, and a Mediterranean climate keeps much of it outdoors.
Nearest airport: Santa Barbara Airport (SBA)
Notable alumni
- CG Carol Greider2009 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine; BA in biology from the College of Creative Studies
- RB Robert BallardOceanographer who found the wreck of the Titanic; chemistry and geology graduate
- MD Michael DouglasAcademy Award-winning actor and producer; BA in drama
- JO Jeffrey O. HenleyChairman of Oracle Corporation; BA in economics
- KT Katy TurNBC and MSNBC journalist
- JJ Jack JohnsonSinger-songwriter and former professional surfer
- JL Jason LezakSwimmer and four-time Olympic gold medallist
- LG Logan GreenCo-founder of Lyft
Frequently asked questions
What is UC Santa Barbara's acceptance rate?
For fall 2025, UCSB admitted 42,093 of 110,187 first-year applicants, an admit rate of 38.2%. Engineering majors and the College of Creative Studies are more competitive.
Does UCSB require the SAT or ACT?
No. UCSB is test-blind and does not use SAT or ACT scores in admission or scholarship decisions; scores may only be used for course placement after you enrol.
When is the UCSB application deadline for fall 2027?
Submit the UC Application between October 1 and November 30, 2026. There is no early decision or early action, and decisions come out in mid-March.
What GPA do you need to get into UCSB?
The minimum A-G GPA is 3.0 for California residents and 3.4 for non-residents, but the middle 50% of fall 2025 entering freshmen had weighted GPAs of 4.12 to 4.46.
How much does UCSB cost for out-of-state and international students?
For 2026-27, tuition and fees are about $56,943 for non-residents, and the full sample cost of attendance with residence hall housing is $90,216. Financial aid for international students is very limited.
Sources & methodology
Figures on this page were checked against official university publications, national application services and ranking publishers in September 2026. Each number is shown with the year or admissions cycle it describes. Always confirm deadlines and fees on the university's own website before applying.
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