UCSB vs. Penn State

Deciding between University of California Santa Barbara and Penn State Main Campus? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

University of California Santa Barbara
Penn State Main Campus

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UCSB Santa Barbara, CA
  • Penn State University Park, PA
  • Setting
  • UCSB Midsize Suburban
  • Penn State Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • UCSB 26,133
  • Penn State 50,737
  • Type
  • UCSB Public 4 Year
  • Penn State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UCSB #112
  • Penn State #185
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UCSB -
  • Penn State -
  • Status
  • UCSB Non-profit
  • Penn State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UCSB
  • Penn State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UCSB $16,414
  • Penn State $20,644
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UCSB $50,614
  • Penn State $41,790
  • Room & Board
  • UCSB $20,279
  • Penn State $14,474
  • Average Net Price
  • UCSB $17,658
  • Penn State $27,889
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UCSB $24,695
  • Penn State $11,336
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UCSB 53%
  • Penn State 37%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UCSB 110,259
  • Penn State 88,478
  • Admitted
  • UCSB 36,347
  • Penn State 53,579
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UCSB 33%
  • Penn State 60.6%
  • Enrolled
  • UCSB 13.8%
  • Penn State 17.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UCSB 1350
  • Penn State 1330
  • Typical ACT score
  • UCSB 31
  • Penn State 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • UCSB 3.82
  • Penn State -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UCSB A-
  • Penn State -
  • Admissions Standards
  • UCSB Exceptional
  • Penn State Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • UCSB High
  • Penn State Low
  • ACT Range
  • UCSB 28/34
  • Penn State 27/32
  • SAT Range
  • UCSB 1230/1460
  • Penn State 1240/1420
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UCSB Test-free
  • Penn State Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UCSB Nov 30, 2026
  • Penn State

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UCSB 17:1
  • Penn State 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UCSB
    • Social Sciences (20%)
    • Business (11%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Biology (7%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Penn State
    • Business (16%)
    • Engineering (12%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UCSB 80%
  • Penn State 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UCSB $59,000
  • Penn State $55,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UCSB 73%
  • Penn State 69%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UCSB $16,451
  • Penn State $26,818
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UCSB $170
  • Penn State $277

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UCSB 43%
  • Penn State 52%
  • % Women
  • UCSB 57%
  • Penn State 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UCSB Very High
  • Penn State Medium
  • HBCU
  • UCSB No
  • Penn State No
  • % White
  • UCSB 35%
  • Penn State 69%
  • % Asian
  • UCSB 19%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Black
  • UCSB 2%
  • Penn State 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • UCSB 26%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Native American
  • UCSB 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UCSB 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UCSB 8%
  • Penn State 3%
  • % International
  • UCSB 7%
  • Penn State 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UCSB 3%
  • Penn State 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UCSB 82%
  • Penn State 53%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UCSB 9%
  • Penn State 40%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • UCSB Yes
  • Penn State Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • UCSB No
  • Penn State Yes
  • Meal Plan
  • UCSB Yes
  • Penn State Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • UCSB No
  • Penn State Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • UCSB Yes
  • Penn State Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare University of California Santa Barbara in Santa Barbara, CA with Penn State Main Campus in University Park, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Penn State Main Campus is larger than UCSB based on total student enrollment (50,737 students vs. 26,133 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of California Santa Barbara is located in Santa Barbara, CA (Midsize Suburban setting); Penn State Main Campus is in University Park, PA (Small City setting).
  • University of California Santa Barbara is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of California Santa Barbara 17:1; Penn State Main Campus 16:1.

UCSB vs. Penn State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UCSB or Penn State? 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 Penn State ($17,658 vs. $27,889).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Main Campus are 28.6% lower than at University of California Santa Barbara ($14,474 vs. $20,279).
  • Penn State Main Campus is 25.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than UCSB (about $4,230 more per year; $20,644.00 vs. $16,414.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 21.1% higher at UCSB than at Penn State Main Campus (about $8,824 more per year; $50,614.00 vs. $41,790.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of California Santa Barbara than at Penn State Main Campus (53% vs. 37%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Santa Barbara students is 117.8% larger than aid received by Penn State Main Campus students ($24,695 vs. $11,336).

UCSB vs. Penn State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UCSB or Penn State? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Penn State and UCSB.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of California Santa Barbara (1350) is 20 points higher than at Penn State (1330).
  • Incoming UCSB students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 29 at Penn State).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Santa Barbara 1230/1460; Penn State Main Campus 1240/1420.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Santa Barbara 28/34; Penn State Main Campus 27/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UCSB - Test-free; Penn State - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UCSB Nov 30, 2026.
  • Penn State has a higher acceptance rate (60.6%) than UCSB (33%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 13.8% at UCSB vs. 17.1% at Penn State.

UCSB vs. Penn State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UCSB and Penn State? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Penn State Main Campus's six-year graduation rate (87%) is higher than University of California Santa Barbara's (80%).
  • Graduates from University of California Santa Barbara earn a median of about $3,700 more per year than Penn State graduates about ten years after starting college ($59,000 vs. $55,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Santa Barbara graduates have a $10,367 lower median loan debt than Penn State graduates ($16,451 vs. $26,818).
  • Among borrowers, UCSB graduates have an estimated $107 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State graduates ($170 vs. $277).
  • More UCSB graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State students, three years after graduation. (73% vs. 69%)

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.