College Profiles/ University of California, Santa Barbara
College Profile · Fall 2027 Entry
University of California, Santa Barbara Admissions: Acceptance Rate, Cost, Financial Aid and Deadlines
Santa Barbara, CA · 23,181 undergraduates. Everything families need to apply to University of California, Santa Barbara for fall 2027, verified against the school’s own Common Data Set, cost of attendance and admissions pages, with ConnectPrep’s strategic read.
By Jeremy Fine, Founder of ConnectPrep
Updated October 11, 2026 · Data verified against official sources
✓ Every figure cited
Quick answer
University of California, Santa Barbara admitted 38.2% of 110,187 first-year applicants in the 2025-2026 Common Data Set.[1] The 2026-27 cost of attendance is $50,946 for in-state students and $90,216 out of state.[2] First-year students who received need-based aid got an average grant of $32,900.[1] For fall 2027 entry, deadlines are Regular Decision Nov 30.[3]
38.2%
Overall admit rate[1]
$90,216
Out-of-state cost, 2026-27[2]
$32,900
Average need-based grant[1]
$1.3B
Endowment, FY2025[4]
83.6%
Six-year graduation rate[1]
University of California, Santa Barbara at a Glance
- Location
- Santa Barbara, CA
- Type
- Public
- Student to faculty ratio
- 18:1[1]
- Endowment
- $1.3 billion (FY2025)[4]
- SAT/ACT, fall 2027
- Blind/Free[3]
- Application
- UC Application[3]
- First-year retention
- 93.5%[1]
The ConnectPrep Take on University of California, Santa Barbara
The ConnectPrep take
UCSB is test free: it will not use SAT or ACT scores in admission or scholarship decisions, so the grades, essays and activities carry everything. It reviews 13 holistic factors, says it does not compare any applicant with any other, and weighs activities in light of the opportunities available to each student. The average GPA is 4.29, and the admit rate is 38.2% on 110,187 applicants. There are no early plans; every application is due Nov 30. In Letters and Science, major choice is not considered, apart from dance and music performance auditions. Engineering is different: it does not consider alternate Engineering majors and historically offers very few changes into Engineering after enrollment, so choose carefully. The mistake we see is a College of Creative Studies hopeful forgetting the separate application.
What to do this fall
- Submit the UC application by Nov 30; there is no early round.
- Engineering applicants should pick the exact major they want, since alternate Engineering majors are not considered.
- College of Creative Studies applicants must file a separate application with a second-choice major outside CCS.
- File the FAFSA or California Dream Act application and Cal Grant GPA verification by Mar 2.
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University of California, Santa Barbara Admissions Statistics
| Applicant pool |
Applied |
Admitted |
Admit rate |
| All first-year applicants[1] |
110,187 |
42,093 |
38.2% |
- Yield, the share of admitted students who enrolled, was 12.1%.[1]
- 25,713 students were offered a waitlist spot, 18,022 accepted one, and 9,603 were admitted from it.[1]
Testing and academic profile
| Academic profile of enrolled first-years |
Middle 50% or share |
| Average high school GPA[1] |
4.29 |
What University of California, Santa Barbara looks for
In its own words: UCSB uses 13 holistic review factors and says 'We do not compare your application with any other applicant, regardless of school or location'; activities and accomplishments are weighed 'in light of the opportunities available to you'.[6]
University of California, Santa Barbara Application Deadlines 2026-2027
| Round |
Deadline |
Decision |
| Regular Decision |
Nov 30 |
mid-Mar |
Insider deadlines families miss
These scholarship, honors, program, interview and aid deadlines come from University of California, Santa Barbara’s own pages. Anything tagged Before RD is due before the Regular Decision deadline.
| Program or rule |
Deadline |
What to know |
| College of Creative Studies |
Priority deadline in Jan (separate application) |
CCS requires its own online application (letter of intent to the major's faculty, unofficial transcript, recommendation letters for most majors, major-specific supplemental materials) in addition to the UC application; decisions late Mar. Date from 2025-26 page: Physics priority deadline extended to Jan 21, 2026.[7] |
See how University of California, Santa Barbara compares with other colleges in the West deadlines database or the full 2026-2027 college application deadlines hub.
University of California, Santa Barbara Cost and Financial Aid
| Cost and aid |
Figure |
| Cost of attendance, in-state (2026-2027)[2] |
$50,946 |
| Cost of attendance, out-of-state (2026-2027)[2] |
$90,216 |
| First-years awarded need-based aid[1] |
45.0% |
| Average need-based scholarship or grant[1] |
$32,900 |
| Average total financial aid package[1] |
$35,891 |
| Average share of need met[1] |
82.4% |
| Merit (non-need) awards to first-years[1] |
137 students, average $11,666 |
New incoming freshman in Residence Halls, CA resident: tuition and student services fee $15,588, campus fees $2,085, books $1,515, housing $13,203, food $10,782, transportation $789, personal $2,652, phone $324, health insurance $4,008. Nonresident total $90,216 adds $39,270 supplemental tuition.[2]
What families actually pay: net price by income
Net price is the full cost of attendance minus the average grants and scholarships for first-year in-state students receiving aid, by family income. It comes from federal data, which runs a year or two behind the school’s current cost figures.[8]
| Family income |
Average net price per year |
| $0 to $30,000 |
$9,231 |
| $30,001 to $48,000 |
$9,992 |
| $48,001 to $75,000 |
$12,588 |
| $75,001 to $110,000 |
$17,136 |
| Over $110,000 |
$31,863 |
| All aided students |
$16,109 |
Academics and Majors at University of California, Santa Barbara
Most popular fields by share of bachelor’s degrees awarded[1]
- Social sciences27%
- Psychology11%
- Mathematics and statistics10%
- Communication/journalism9%
- Biological/life sciences9%
Signature programs
College of Creative Studies
Small UCSB college whose applicants submit a supplemental application reviewed by Creative Studies faculty and select a second-choice major outside CCS; majors include Music Composition and Writing and Literature.[6]
Five-year combined bachelor's/master's programs
Combined bachelor's/master's option available to freshmen in five years (three years for transfers).[5]
Undergraduate research (URCA)
Listed among UCSB's pre-professional programs as the undergraduate research office (urca.ucsb.edu).[5]
Choosing a major and getting in
In the College of Letters and Science major choice is not considered (except dance and music performance auditions). The College of Engineering does not consider alternate Engineering majors because of high demand and historically offers very few changes into Engineering after SIR. College of Creative Studies requires a supplemental application plus a second-choice major outside CCS.[6]
Special admission paths
- No early plans (UC application only).
- College of Creative Studies supplemental application.
- Five-year combined bachelor's/master's options.
University of California, Santa Barbara Retention and Graduation Rates
| Outcome |
Figure |
| First-year students who returned for sophomore year[1] |
93.5% |
| Graduated within four years[1] |
71.2% |
| Graduated within six years[1] |
83.6% |
| Median earnings 10 years after starting college[8] |
$74,915 |
| Median federal loan debt of graduates[8] |
$13,993 |
| Undergraduates receiving Pell Grants[8] |
28% |
Make University of California, Santa Barbara a realistic goal
ConnectPrep builds the full plan: the right round, a score target and test schedule, essays that sound like your student, and every scholarship and program deadline on one calendar. Start with a free consultation or a free practice test.
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University of California, Santa Barbara FAQs
What is the University of California, Santa Barbara acceptance rate?
University of California, Santa Barbara admitted 38.2% of first-year applicants (42,093 of 110,187), according to its 2025-2026 Common Data Set.
When are the University of California, Santa Barbara application deadlines for 2026-27?
For students entering in fall 2027: Regular Decision Nov 30.
How much does University of California, Santa Barbara cost?
The 2026-2027 cost of attendance is $50,946 for in-state students and $90,216 for out-of-state students. First-year students who received need-based aid got an average grant of $32,900.
Does UCSB look at SAT or ACT scores?
No. UCSB will not use SAT or ACT scores in admission decisions or scholarship selection, though scores may be used for course placement after enrolling. That puts the full weight on grades, course rigor and the written application. The average GPA of enrolled students is 4.29, and admitted students averaged a 4.18 UC GPA.
Is it hard to switch into engineering at UCSB?
Yes. The College of Engineering does not consider alternate Engineering majors because of high demand and historically offers very few changes into Engineering after students accept their offer. In the College of Letters and Science, major choice is not considered, except for dance and music performance auditions. Choose the intended major with care.
About the author
Jeremy Fine
Jeremy Fine founded ConnectPrep in 2013 and brings more than 20 years of experience in education, spanning test preparation, college advising and academic program management. He holds a BA from Washington University in St. Louis and an MPA from the University of Pittsburgh.
ConnectPrep is based in Westport, Connecticut, and works with students from kindergarten through graduate school, in person and online. Meet the team.
This profile is an independent ConnectPrep resource and is not affiliated with or endorsed by University of California, Santa Barbara. Figures come from the sources listed above as published when checked in October 2026; the Common Data Set year is noted where used. Policies and costs change, so confirm with the school before applying.
