University of California, Santa Barbara
The University of California, Santa Barbara is a public research university set on a Pacific Ocean bluff in the Santa Barbara suburb of Goleta, known for its strength in the physical and marine sciences — its faculty include multiple Nobel laureates — and its selective College of Creative Studies. An Association of American Universities member, UCSB draws more than 110,000 first-year applicants and admits roughly 38%, enrolling about 23,000 undergraduates who report an average high school GPA near 4.29. Like every University of California campus, UCSB is test-free, reviewing applications without SAT or ACT scores, and the social sciences are its single most popular field of study. The figures below come directly from UC Santa Barbara's official Common Data Set.
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UC Santa Barbara admissions statistics
Acceptance Rate
Overall acceptance rate, plus the in-state and out-of-state admit rates the school reports separately.
Admit rate by residency
% admittedEarly Admissions
UC Santa Barbara does not offer an Early Decision or Early Action plan; all applicants apply through Regular Decision.
Standardized Tests
UC Santa Barbara is test-free — SAT and ACT scores are not considered in admissions.
SAT / ACT scores are not used
UC Santa Barbara does not review SAT or ACT scores for admission, even if you submit them. Applicants are evaluated on GPA, coursework, essays, and activities instead.
Admissions Factors
How UC Santa Barbara weighs each part of your application.
Rigor of High School Record
Academic GPA
Standardized Test Scores
Application Essay
Recommendations
Extracurricular Activities
Character / Personal Qualities
Talent / Ability
First Generation
Level of Applicant's Interest
Class Rank
Volunteer Work
Work Experience
Geographical Residence
State Residency
Alumni Relation
Racial / Ethnic Status
Religious Affiliation
Cost of Attendance
Estimated full-time annual cost from UC Santa Barbara's Common Data Set. Only tuition changes with residency.
Out-of-state students pay $39,270 more — entirely in tuition. Room, board, and other costs are identical regardless of residency.
Financial Aid
Need-based aid statistics for full-time first-year students.
Major Distribution
Bachelor's degrees awarded in the past year by academic major.
Student Diversity
Racial and ethnic breakdown of enrolled undergraduate students.
Student-Faculty Ratio
The number of students for every one faculty member, indicating the average level of access students have to instructional staff.
Campus Life
On-campus housing and Greek life participation rates.
Enrollment by Gender
Since some students did not report gender, totals may not fully reflect the student body.
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Frequently asked questions about UC Santa Barbara admissions
What GPA do you need to get into UC Santa Barbara?＋
There is no hard cutoff, but admitted first-year students at UC Santa Barbara report an average high school GPA of about 4.29 (weighted), so competitive applicants typically have near-straight-A's in advanced coursework. Because UCSB is test-free, your academic GPA is weighed as a very important factor alongside the rigor of your high school record.
Is it hard to get into UC Santa Barbara?＋
UC Santa Barbara is selective: it admitted about 38.2% of applicants in the most recent cycle, drawing roughly 110,000 first-year applications and enrolling around 5,080 students. With no test scores in the review, admission hinges on a strong GPA (about 4.29 average), rigorous coursework, and the personal insight essays.
Does UC Santa Barbara require the SAT or ACT?＋
No. Like every University of California campus, UC Santa Barbara is test-free (test-blind) and does not consider SAT or ACT scores in admission decisions, even if you submit them. Standardized test scores are listed as not considered, so your application is reviewed entirely without them.
What are my chances of getting into UC Santa Barbara from out of state?＋
Out-of-state applicants are actually admitted at a higher rate than California residents at UCSB. In the Fall 2025 cycle, domestic non-residents were admitted at 54.8% (9,237 of 16,870 applicants) compared to 32.1% for California residents (23,972 of 74,659 applicants); international students were admitted at 47.7%. The tradeoff is cost — out-of-state tuition runs about $56,913 vs. $17,643 in-state — and only about 15% of the undergraduate body comes from outside California. State residency is a considered factor in the holistic review.
Does the application essay matter at UC Santa Barbara?＋
Yes — a lot. With test scores off the table, UC Santa Barbara rates the application essay (the UC Personal Insight Questions) as a very important factor, on par with your academic GPA. Since UCSB cannot rely on SAT or ACT scores, well-revised, specific essays are one of the clearest places to stand out.
How much does UC Santa Barbara cost in-state vs. out-of-state?＋
Annual tuition and required fees are about $17,643 for California residents and $56,913 for out-of-state and international students, with on-campus food and housing adding roughly $24,000 a year. About 44% of first-years receive need-based grant aid, the average need-based package is near $35,891, and UCSB meets about 82% of demonstrated need on average.
What are the most popular majors at UC Santa Barbara?＋
The social sciences are the single most popular area at about 27% of bachelor's degrees, followed by the sciences and mathematics (around 23%), psychology, and communication. UCSB is also well known for its engineering, physical-sciences, and marine-sciences programs, though those account for a smaller share of degrees conferred.
Source: University of California, Santa Barbara Common Data Set 2025-2026. Figures transcribed 2026-06-07. Esslo aggregates publicly reported data and is not affiliated with UC Santa Barbara. Banner photo by Coolcaesar, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0).