University of California-Santa Barbara
Two ratings: the overall grade compares colleges the conventional way (outcomes, cost, resources, experience, reputation). The Outcome Rating asks what students earn: 60% wage-adjusted earnings 10 years after enrolling, 25% graduation, 15% retention. Methodology
Quick Stats
Earnings, Debt & Completion
What happens to students who enroll at University of California-Santa Barbara, from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
Typical debt at graduation equals about 19% of one year’s median earnings ten years after entry.
Earnings rank: 83rd percentile among bachelor’s-degree-focused colleges after a partial adjustment for local wage levels (CA wage index 1.21). This drives the Outcome Rating.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, retrieved Oct 2026. Earnings are for federally aided students who enrolled, whether or not they graduated.
Earnings by Major at University of California-Santa Barbara
Median pay of bachelor's degree graduates by field of study, and how each program ranks against every college reporting that major — by raw pay and adjusted for state wage levels. Same school, very different paychecks.
| Major | 1 yr after | 4 yrs after | vs. national | Rank (pay) | Rank (wage-adj.) | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Science | $107,776 | $149,190 | +39% | #33 of 349 | #38 | $13,500 |
| Computer Engineering | $91,387 | $144,703 | +33% | #17 of 189 | #22 | $14,410 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | — | $117,215 | +16% | #18 of 258 | #63 | $15,500 |
| Chemical Engineering | $79,737 | $113,317 | +15% | #10 of 158 | #54 | $14,937 |
| Applied Mathematics | $59,638 | $109,360 | +19% | #9 of 45 | #10 | $17,000 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $81,108 | $104,336 | +13% | #22 of 318 | #117 | $15,000 |
| Pharmacology and Toxicology | $39,421 | $98,462 | +43% | #1 of 5 | #1 | $14,500 |
| Economics | $66,334 | $98,178 | +19% | #73 of 368 | #99 | $13,440 |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | $66,099 | $96,078 | +11% | #37 of 126 | #56 | $11,128 |
| Statistics | $55,110 | $90,778 | -2% | #23 of 50 | #29 | $17,167 |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | $49,100 | $90,694 | +39% | #1 of 110 | #4 | $11,750 |
| Microbiological Sciences and Immunology | $42,634 | $90,061 | +44% | #2 of 49 | #4 | $16,500 |
| Mathematics | $46,447 | $85,391 | +23% | #61 of 309 | #93 | $17,000 |
| Physics | $53,597 | $85,219 | +11% | #38 of 107 | #50 | $15,965 |
| Chemistry | $47,197 | $74,713 | +15% | #40 of 209 | #82 | $15,805 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $46,598 | $72,976 | +29% | #31 of 660 | #61 | $13,000 |
| Philosophy | $25,303 | $71,796 | +32% | #7 of 86 | #16 | $15,000 |
| Political Science and Government | $39,404 | $70,384 | +11% | #119 of 565 | #210 | $15,033 |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $35,635 | $68,496 | +25% | #27 of 225 | #48 | $16,601 |
| Geography and Cartography | $37,398 | $67,521 | +17% | #19 of 117 | #43 | $14,000 |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | $30,759 | $66,788 | +11% | #42 of 138 | #70 | $16,298 |
| Research and Experimental Psychology | $34,431 | $66,171 | +19% | #18 of 82 | #26 | $14,500 |
| International/Globalization Studies | $33,553 | $66,127 | +10% | #22 of 87 | #34 | $14,724 |
| Biology | $33,486 | $64,520 | +13% | #204 of 841 | #404 | $14,500 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | $33,759 | $63,628 | +16% | #42 of 265 | #79 | $16,200 |
| Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services | $27,629 | $61,580 | +23% | #14 of 90 | #26 | $13,000 |
| Sociology | $34,372 | $60,013 | +14% | #80 of 462 | #160 | $13,500 |
| History | $29,749 | $59,342 | +17% | #69 of 459 | #136 | $14,282 |
| English Language and Literature | $24,099 | $59,334 | +22% | #64 of 576 | #110 | $16,892 |
| Area Studies | — | $59,042 | +4% | #32 of 70 | #37 | $22,697 |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies | $32,341 | $59,004 | +14% | #17 of 103 | #25 | $13,250 |
| Anthropology | $31,420 | $56,238 | +20% | #22 of 188 | #39 | $18,000 |
| Zoology/Animal Biology | $37,633 | $53,727 | +22% | #15 of 52 | #20 | — |
| Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology | $29,258 | $50,694 | +4% | #31 of 62 | #48 | $12,750 |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | $28,608 | $49,893 | +14% | #42 of 144 | #58 | $15,000 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | — | $46,428 | +12% | #93 of 423 | #191 | $15,459 |
| Dance | — | $44,858 | +12% | #21 of 58 | #29 | — |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | $20,503 | $44,106 | +11% | #62 of 255 | #120 | $16,667 |
| Religion/Religious Studies | $19,911 | $43,377 | +5% | #27 of 45 | #31 | $16,500 |
| Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences | $38,333 | — | — | — | — | $19,000 |
| Music | — | $33,825 | -21% | #245 of 268 | #256 | — |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study data. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid and were working; small programs are not reported.
The University of California-Santa Barbara Town Property Report
- Top nearby ZIP by cap rate: 93117 (2.2% cap, Goleta)
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🏆 Where University of California-Santa Barbara Ranks
Rankings based on Repit College Grade among schools offering each program.
Costs & Financial Aid
Tuition & Fees
| Category | In-State | Out-of-State |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | $11,834 | $42,611 |
| Total Cost (On-Campus) | $40,587 | $71,364 |
Financial Aid
Net Price by Family Income
| Family Income | Average Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $7,745 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $8,910 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $11,398 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $16,839 |
| $110,001+ | $30,085 |
Programs & Career Paths
Top Degree Programs
Programs ranked by number of degrees awarded annually.
Related Career Paths
Careers that graduates from University of California-Santa Barbara's top programs commonly pursue.
Student Demographics
👥 Race & Ethnicity
🏠 Living Arrangements
💻 Learning Mode
📊 Age Distribution
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the acceptance rate at University of California-Santa Barbara?
How much does it cost to attend University of California-Santa Barbara?
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Is University of California-Santa Barbara a good school?
- Outcomes (A+): Graduation and retention rates
- Affordability (C+): Net cost and financial aid access
- Resources (B): Class sizes and selectivity
- Experience (A+): Campus life and learning format
- Prestige (A): Reputation and recognition
How many students attend University of California-Santa Barbara?
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🎓 Similar Colleges to University of California-Santa Barbara
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Data source: IPEDS 2023-24 | Last updated: October 2026 | Methodology