Evergreen vs. UCSB

Comparable Facts

Compare The Evergreen State College in Olympia, WA with University of California Santa Barbara in Santa Barbara, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of California Santa Barbara is larger than Evergreen based on total student enrollment (26,133 students vs. 2,490 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• The Evergreen State College is located in Olympia, WA (Midsize Suburban setting); University of California Santa Barbara is in Santa Barbara, CA (Midsize Suburban setting).
• The Evergreen State College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of California Santa Barbara is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: The Evergreen State College 17:1; University of California Santa Barbara 17:1.

Evergreen vs. UCSB Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Evergreen or UCSB? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of California Santa Barbara than Evergreen ($17,658 vs. $18,350).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at The Evergreen State College are 28.1% lower than at University of California Santa Barbara ($14,589 vs. $20,279).
• University of California Santa Barbara is 77.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Evergreen (about $7,150 more per year; $16,414.00 vs. $9,264.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 58.6% higher at UCSB than at The Evergreen State College (about $18,709 more per year; $50,614.00 vs. $31,905.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at The Evergreen State College than at University of California Santa Barbara (90% vs. 53%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Santa Barbara students is 115.4% larger than aid received by The Evergreen State College students ($24,695 vs. $11,466).

Evergreen vs. UCSB Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Evergreen or UCSB? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between UCSB and Evergreen.

• The typical SAT score (midpoint estimate) at University of California Santa Barbara (1350) is 210 points higher than at Evergreen (1140).
• Incoming UCSB students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate) (31 vs. 26 at Evergreen).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: The Evergreen State College 1035/1253; University of California Santa Barbara 1230/1460.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: The Evergreen State College 23/29; University of California Santa Barbara 28/34.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Evergreen - Test optional; UCSB - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: UCSB Nov 30, 2026.
• Enrolled freshman UCSB students have a 0.7 point higher average high school GPA (3.82) than students at Evergreen (3.12).
• Evergreen has a higher acceptance rate (96.4%) than UCSB (33%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 25.4% at Evergreen vs. 13.8% at UCSB.

Evergreen vs. UCSB Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Evergreen and UCSB? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

• University of California Santa Barbara's six-year graduation rate (80%) is higher than The Evergreen State College's (54%).
• Graduates from University of California Santa Barbara earn a median of about $22,000 more per year than Evergreen graduates about ten years after starting college ($59,000 vs. $37,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Santa Barbara graduates have a $1,144 lower median loan debt than Evergreen graduates ($16,451 vs. $17,595).
• Among borrowers, UCSB graduates have an estimated $11 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Evergreen graduates ($170 vs. $181).
• More UCSB graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Evergreen students, three years after graduation. (73% vs. 57%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.