University of California-Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, CA · Public · Visit Website

UC Santa Barbara's campus occupies a unique coastal setting on the former site of a Marine Corps air station. The university is divided into three undergraduate colleges and two graduate schools, with a strong emphasis on research. Known for its programs in the sciences and engineering, UCSB also houses the Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics. Its prime location offers students easy access to beaches and the surrounding Santa Barbara area.

Programs Analyzed
36
Avg Grad Earnings
$44,160/yr
Avg DegreeOutlook Score
51/100
Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$14,965/yr
Out-of-state: $45,742/yr

Financial Aid & Net Price

What students actually pay after grants and scholarships, by family income. 28% of students receive Pell Grants and 20% take federal loans.

Family Income Avg Net Price/yr 4-Year Net Cost Net-Price ROI
$0 – $30K $7,745 $30,980 14.3x
$30K – $48K $8,910 $35,640 12.4x
$48K – $75K $11,398 $45,592 9.7x
$75K – $110K $16,839 $67,356 6.6x
$110K+ $30,085 $120,340 3.7x
Sticker price (no aid) $14,965 $59,860 7.4x

Net price = tuition + fees + room & board minus grants and scholarships. ROI = average 10-year graduate earnings ÷ 4-year net cost. Source: IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey via College Scorecard.

All Programs at University of California-Santa Barbara

36 degree programs ranked by DegreeOutlook Score. Click any program for full AI scenario analysis and 10-year earnings projections.

Program DW Score Earnings AI Risk ROI
Computer Science
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89 $107,776/yr Very High 23.3x
Computer Engineering
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86 $91,387/yr Very High 22.4x
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods
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84 $66,099/yr Very High 15.5x
Economics
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80 $66,334/yr Very High 17.0x
Mechanical Engineering
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74 $81,108/yr Very High 15.8x
Chemical Engineering
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73 $79,737/yr High 16.4x
Applied Mathematics
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73 $59,638/yr Very High 17.3x
Physics
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69 $53,597/yr Very High 16.4x
Statistics
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67 $55,110/yr Very High 17.5x
Chemistry
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65 $47,197/yr High 12.3x
Mathematics
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61 $46,447/yr Very High 11.6x
Biochemistry & Biophysics and Molecular Biology
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60 $49,100/yr High 14.2x
Pharmacology and Toxicology
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58 $39,421/yr High 15.3x
Political Science and Government
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57 $39,404/yr Very High 11.3x
Communication and Media Studies
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55 $46,598/yr High 11.3x
Research and Experimental Psychology
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50 $34,431/yr High 10.1x
Geography and Cartography
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49 $37,398/yr High 9.8x
Biology, General
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48 $33,486/yr High 11.7x
Microbiological Sciences and Immunology
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47 $42,634/yr High 6.1x
Sociology
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43 $34,372/yr High 8.9x
Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences
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42 $38,333/yr High 8.5x
Romance Languages & Literatures
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42 $35,635/yr Very High 9.1x
History
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42 $29,749/yr High 8.6x
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
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41 $33,759/yr High 10.2x
Anthropology
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41 $31,420/yr High 8.7x
International/Global Studies
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37 $33,553/yr Moderate 10.0x
Zoology/Animal Biology
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36 $37,633/yr High 7.9x
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences
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36 $30,759/yr High 11.0x
Ethnic & Cultural Minority
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33 $32,341/yr Very High 8.7x
Linguistic & Comparative
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31 $27,629/yr Very High 7.8x
Philosophy
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31 $25,303/yr Very High 9.9x
English Language and Literature, General
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31 $24,099/yr Very High 8.7x
Film/Video and Photographic Arts
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29 $28,608/yr High 7.8x
Ecology & Evolution
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28 $29,258/yr High 7.3x
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
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22 $20,503/yr Moderate 2.4x
Religion/Religious Studies
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15 $19,911/yr Very High 2.3x
Compare any program at University of California-Santa Barbara with another school. Use the comparison tool →
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →