UC Santa Barbara: Acceptance Rate and Admissions Statistics

Dr. Allen Grove is an Alfred University English professor and a college admissions expert with over 20 years of experience helping students transition to college.

Located north of Los Angeles along the Pacific Ocean, University of California, Santa Barbara is a public research university with an acceptance rate of 29.6%. Considering applying to UC Santa Barbara? Here are the admissions statistics you should know, including average SAT/ACT scores and GPAs of admitted students.

Why UCSB?

• Location: Santa Barbara, California
• Campus Features: UCSB's 1,000 acre campus has miles of beachfront property, making it one of the best colleges for beach lovers. The campus also wins high marks for it's green initiatives and number of LEED-certified buildings.
• Student/Faculty Ratio: 17:1
• Athletics: The UCSB Gauchos compete in the NCAA Division I Big West Conference.
• Highlights: Undergraduates can choose from over 90 majors. The university has notable strengths in the environmental and biological sciences, and the school was awarded a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa for strong programs in the liberal arts and sciences.

Acceptance Rate

During the 2018-19 admissions cycle, UC Santa Barbara had an acceptance rate of 29.6%. This means that for every 100 students who applied, 29 students were admitted, making UCSB's admissions process highly competitive.

The admissions data in the graph is self-reported by applicants to University of California, Santa Barbara. GPAs are unweighted. Find out how you compare to accepted students, see the real-time graph, and calculate your chances of getting in with a free Cappex account.

Admissions Chances

University of California, Santa Barbara, which accepts just under one-third of applicants, has a selective admissions process with above average grades and standardized test scores. However, UC Santa Barbara, like all of the University of California schools, has holistic admissions and is test-optional, so the admissions officers are evaluating students on more than numerical data. As part of the application, students are required to write four short personal insight essays. Since UCSB is a part of the University of California system, students can easily apply to multiple schools in that system with one application. Students who show special talent or have a compelling story to tell will often get a close look even if their grades and test scores are a bit below the norm. Impressive extracurricular activities and strong essays are all important parts of a successful application to UCSB.

Keep in mind that California residents who apply must have a GPA of 3.0 or better with no grade lower than a C in 15 college preparatory "a-g" courses. For non-residents, your GPA must be 3.4 or better. Local students from participating high schools may also qualify if they are in the top 9% of their class.

Due to the selective nature of UCSB, the university has a comprehensive freshman selection process. A number of art, music, and writing programs within the College of Creative Studies at UCSB require an audition or portfolio submission. The University of California, Santa Barbara, along with all the other UC schools, does not accept letters of recommendation, unless they are specifically requested. Admission interviews are not offered by the university.