University of California, Santa Barbara
Founded 1909
President Henry Yang (Chancellor)
Fees USD 14,312
Acceptance Rate Selective (20–50%)
Campus Setting Suburban
The University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) is a public research university founded in 1909, located on a stunning 1,000-acre coastal campus near Santa Barbara, California. UCSB is consistently ranked among the top 50 universities globally and is particularly renowned for its research excellence — 6 Nobel Prizes have been awarded to UCSB faculty since 2000 alone. The campus enrolls approximately 26,000 students and is known for its collaborative research culture and exceptional quality of life.
Colleges and Schools
- College of Engineering — Top-ranked CS, electrical, and chemical engineering
- College of Letters and Science — Physics, chemistry, mathematics, and humanities
- Bren School of Environmental Science — Top environmental science research
- College of Creative Studies — Unique independent research college
How to Apply
- Application: UC Application
- Test Scores: Test-free (UC policy)
- Acceptance Rate: ~26%
- In-State Tuition: ~$14,312 | Out-of-State: ~$44,066
Key Deadlines
- Application Window: November 1–30