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Texas A&M UCSD TCU SMU UCI UCSC Cal Poly UC Davis UCLA UW-Seattle UC Berkeley Trinity| Baylor University | University of California Santa Barbara | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Baylor | UCSB | ||
| Location | Waco, TX | Santa Barbara, CA | ||
| Setting | Midsize City | Midsize Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 20,824 | 26,068 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #166 | #112 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | Baptist | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | baylor.edu | ucsb.edu | ||
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Costs |
Baylor | UCSB | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $54,844 | $11,834 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $54,844 | $42,611 | ||
| Room & Board | $14,235 | $18,684 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $49,727 | $15,283 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $20,409 | $21,732 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 97% | 50% |
Admission |
Baylor | UCSB | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Applied | 39,735 | 110,871 | ||
| Admitted | 20,262 | 30,804 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 51% | 27.8% | ||
| Enrolled % | 16.4% | 16.4% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.74 | 3.82 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Exceptional | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | High | ||
| ACT Range | 27/32 | 28/34 | ||
| SAT Range | 1210/1400 | 1230/1460 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) | ||
| Application Deadline | Feb 1, 2026 | Nov 30, 2025 |
Academics |
Baylor | UCSB | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 15:1 | 17:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Baylor | UCSB | ||
| Graduation Rate | 72% | 80% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $56,200 | $59,000 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 73% | 73% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $25,000 | $16,451 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $258 | $170 |
Diversity |
Baylor | UCSB | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 9% | 6% | ||
| % Women | 18% | 5% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | Very High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 64% | 35% | ||
| % Black | 7% | 2% | ||
| % Hispanic | 14% | 26% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 5% | 8% | ||
| % International | 3% | 7% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 0% | 3% |
Students |
Baylor | UCSB | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 60% | 80% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 37% | 9% | ||
Campus |
Baylor | UCSB | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- University of California Santa Barbara is larger than than Baylor based on total student enrollment (26,068 students vs. 20,824 students)
Baylor vs. UCSB Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Baylor or UCSB?
- Baylor University is 363.4% more expensive to attend than UCSB for in-state tuition ($54,844.00 vs. $11,834.00)
- Out of state tuition is 28.7% higher at Baylor than University of California Santa Barbara ($54,844.00 vs. $42,611.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of California Santa Barbara than Baylor ($15,283 vs. $49,727)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Baylor University are 31.3% lower than costs at University of California Santa Barbara ($14,235 vs. $18,684)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Baylor University than University of California Santa Barbara (97% vs. 50%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Santa Barbara students is 6.5% larger than aid received Baylor University ($21,732 vs. $20,409)
Baylor vs. UCSB Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Baylor or UCSB? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between UCSB or Baylor .
- The average SAT score at University of California Santa Barbara (1248) is 9 points higher than at Baylor (1239)
- Incoming UCSB students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (29) than students at Baylor (28)
- Accepted freshman UCSB students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.82) than students at Baylor (3.74)
- Baylor has a higher acceptance rate (51%) than UCSB (27.8%)
Baylor vs. UCSB Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Baylor or UCSB? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between UCSB and Baylor.
- The graduation rate at UCSB is higher than Baylor University (80% vs. 72%)
- Graduates from University of California Santa Barbara earn on average $2,800 more per year than Baylor graduates after ten years. ($59,000 vs. $56,200)
- University of California Santa Barbara students graduate with a $8,549 lower median federal student loan debt than Baylor graduates. ($16,451 vs. $25,000)
- UCSB graduates are paying $88 less per month on federal student loans than Baylor graduates. ($170 vs. $258)
- More Baylor graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UCSB students, three years after graduation. (73% vs. 73%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/