University of California-Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, California · Public · 23,113 undergraduates · ucsb.edu
Test policy (fall 2027)
Test blind
Scores aren't considered
Admit rate
38%
of 110,187 applicants
Annual cost (2027-28)
$48,030Est.Estimate
$88,710 out of state
Your chances and merit aid at University of California-Santa Barbara
See where you stand for admission, how much merit aid you could get, and what you'd pay after it.
We started you at a typical enrolled freshman here. Move the sliders to match you.
Your admission chances
38% of applicants admitted
…
University of California-Santa Barbara doesn't consider test scores and doesn't publish its freshmen's GPAs, so your chances rest on your courses, grades and the rest of your application.
88% of freshmen had a weighted high school GPA of 4.0 or higher (average 4.29).
Estimated merit aid
a year
Your cost after merit aid
$88,710
a year in 2027-28, from a $88,710 sticker price (out of state)
What to do with your 1200
Scores aren't considered here
This college doesn't consider SAT or ACT scores, even if you send them.
Reach, target and likely are a rough guide from your test score and how selective the college is. Admissions also weigh your courses, grades, essays and activities. Merit aid figures are estimates, before any need-based aid.
Admissions
Test policy for fall 2027
Test blind
SAT and ACT scores aren't considered for admission, even if you send them.
Source: Frequently Asked Questions | Undergraduate Admissions · Checked October 16, 2026
Application deadlines
- Nov30Regular Decision · November 30, 2026The standard deadline.
Who gets in
38%
of applicants were admitted: 42,093 of 110,187 for fall 2025.
Wait list
25,713 students were offered a spot; 9,603 were later admitted.
High school GPA of enrolled freshmen
Average GPA: 4.29
- 4.088%
- 3.75 to 3.999%
- 3.50 to 3.742.6%
- 3.25 to 3.490.3%
- 3.00 to 3.240.2%
- 2.50 to 2.990.1%
- Below 2.500%
Cost and financial aid
The sticker price is what a year costs before any aid. Most students pay less after grants and scholarships.
Sticker price for 2027-28Estimate
$48,030
a year, in state
$88,710
a year, out of state (tuition $55,290)
- Tuition (in state)$14,610
- Fees$3,540
- Food and housing$24,670
- Books and supplies$1,520
- Transportation and other$3,690
University of California-Santa Barbara published $46,682 in state for 2026-27. Its 2027-28 prices aren't out yet.
Source: Common Data Set 2025-2026
What families actually pay
What a year cost on average after grants and scholarships, for freshmen who got federal aid in 2023-24 (in-state students), by family income.
- $0 to $30,000$9,523
- $30,001 to $48,000$10,281
- $48,001 to $75,000$14,181
- $75,001 to $110,000$18,954
- Over $110,000$36,658
Financial aid
82%
of a student's financial need is covered, on average
$32,900
average need-based grant to freshmen, money you don't repay
2.7%
of freshmen got merit aid without financial need, $11,666 on average
- FAFSA
- Required for need-based aid. It's the free federal aid form.
- CSS Profile
- Not required. Only the FAFSA is needed.
Source: Common Data Set 2025-2026
AP credit
AP exams that earn credit can replace college courses, so you pay for fewer of them and may graduate sooner.
AP exams that earn credit
38 of 38
Earn credit with a score of 3
38 exams
A 3-credit course is worth
about $1,460Est.Estimate
at 2027-28 tuition for in-state students
Credit for each AP exam
| Exam | Score needed | Credits | Counts as |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2-D Art and Design | 3 | 8 | |
| 3-D Art and Design | 3 | 8 | |
| African American Studies | 3 | 4 | |
| Art History | 3 | 8 | Art History 1 |
| Biology | 3 | 8 | EEMB 22, MCDB 20 |
| Calculus AB | 3 | 4 | Mathematics 2A, 3A, 34A, or equivalent |
| Calculus BC | 3 | 8 | Mathematics 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B, 34A, 34B, or equivalent |
| Calculus BC: AB Subscore | 3 | 4 | Mathematics 2A, 3A, 34A, or equivalent |
| Chemistry | 3 | 8 | |
| Chinese Language and Culture | 3 | 8 | See department for level placement |
| Comparative Government and Politics | 3 | 4 | |
| Computer Science A | 3 | 8 | |
| Computer Science A | 4 | 8 | Computer Science 8 |
| Computer Science Principles | 3 | 8 | |
| Computer Science Principles | 4 | 8 | Computer Science 4 |
| Drawing | 3 | 8 | Art 18 |
| English Language and Composition | 3 | 8 | Writing 1, 1E |
| English Language and Composition | 4 | 8 | Writing 1, 1E, 2, 2E & 2LK |
| English Language and Composition | 5 | 8 | Writing 1, 1E, 2, 2E, 2LK, 50, 50E |
| English Literature and Composition | 3 | 8 | Writing 1, 1E |
| English Literature and Composition | 4 | 8 | Writing 1, 1E, 2, 2E & 2LK |
| English Literature and Composition | 5 | 8 | Writing 1, 1E, 2, 2E, 2LK, 50, 50E |
| Environmental Science | 3 | 4 | Environmental Studies 2 |
| European History | 3 | 8 | |
| French Language and Culture | 3 | 8 | French 1-3 |
| French Language and Culture | 4 | 8 | French 1-4 |
| French Language and Culture | 5 | 8 | French 1-5 |
| German Language and Culture | 3 | 8 | German 1-3 |
| German Language and Culture | 4 | 8 | German 1-4 |
| German Language and Culture | 5 | 8 | German 1-5 |
| Human Geography | 3 | 4 | Geography 5 |
| Italian Language and Culture | 3 | 8 | Italian 1-3 |
| Italian Language and Culture | 4 | 8 | Italian 1-5 |
| Italian Language and Culture | 5 | 8 | Italian 1-6 |
| Japanese Language and Culture | 3 | 8 | See department for level placement |
| Latin | 3 | 8 | Latin 1-3 |
| Macroeconomics | 3 | 4 | |
| Microeconomics | 3 | 4 | |
| Music Theory | 3 | 8 | Music 11 |
| Physics 1 | 3 | 8 | |
| Physics 2 | 3 | 8 | |
| Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism | 3 | 4 | Physics 6B + 6BL |
| Physics C: Mechanics | 3 | 4 | Physics 6A + 6AL |
| Psychology | 3 | 4 | Psychology 1 |
| Spanish Language and Culture | 3 | 8 | Spanish 1-3 |
| Spanish Language and Culture | 4 | 8 | Spanish 1-4 |
| Spanish Language and Culture | 5 | 8 | Spanish 1-5 |
| Spanish Literature and Culture | 3 | 8 | Spanish 1-4 |
| Spanish Literature and Culture | 4 | 8 | Spanish 1-5 |
| Spanish Literature and Culture | 5 | 8 | Spanish 1-6 |
| Statistics | 3 | 4 | Communication 87, PSTAT 5AA-ZZ, Psychology 5 |
| United States Government and Politics | 3 | 4 | Political Science 12 |
| United States History | 3 | 8 | |
| World History: Modern | 3 | 8 |
Source: AP credit policy
After college
Graduate within 6 years
84%
Come back for a second year
93%
Typical earnings
$82,568
a year, 10 years after starting here
- University of California-Santa Barbara$66,040
- All colleges$56,004
Median yearly earnings of graduates five years after finishing a bachelor's in this major. 40 majors here have earnings data.
Keep exploring
Figures marked Estimate are our estimates, not numbers the college published. Check each college's own site before you apply. SAT is a trademark of College Board, and ACT is a trademark of ACT, Inc. Sharp is not affiliated with either, or with University of California-Santa Barbara. The University of California-Santa Barbara logo is a trademark of the college.