Home › University of California-Santa Barbara

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

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