UCSB vs. Rutgers

Deciding between University of California Santa Barbara and Rutgers University New Brunswick? 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
Rutgers University New Brunswick

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UCSB Santa Barbara, CA
  • Rutgers New Brunswick, NJ
  • Setting
  • UCSB Midsize Suburban
  • Rutgers Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • UCSB 26,133
  • Rutgers 52,269
  • Type
  • UCSB Public 4 Year
  • Rutgers Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UCSB #112
  • Rutgers #114
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UCSB -
  • Rutgers -
  • Status
  • UCSB Non-profit
  • Rutgers Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UCSB
  • Rutgers

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UCSB $16,414
  • Rutgers $17,929
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UCSB $50,614
  • Rutgers $37,441
  • Room & Board
  • UCSB $20,279
  • Rutgers $15,714
  • Average Net Price
  • UCSB $17,658
  • Rutgers $20,522
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UCSB $24,695
  • Rutgers $16,742
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UCSB 53%
  • Rutgers 50%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UCSB 110,259
  • Rutgers 68,614
  • Admitted
  • UCSB 36,347
  • Rutgers 39,899
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UCSB 33%
  • Rutgers 58.1%
  • Enrolled
  • UCSB 13.8%
  • Rutgers 20.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UCSB 1350
  • Rutgers 1410
  • Typical ACT score
  • UCSB 31
  • Rutgers 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • UCSB 3.82
  • Rutgers 3.3
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UCSB A-
  • Rutgers B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • UCSB Exceptional
  • Rutgers Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • UCSB High
  • Rutgers Low
  • ACT Range
  • UCSB 28/34
  • Rutgers 28/33
  • SAT Range
  • UCSB 1230/1460
  • Rutgers 1310/1500
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UCSB Test-free
  • Rutgers Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UCSB Nov 30, 2026
  • Rutgers

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UCSB 17:1
  • Rutgers 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UCSB
    • Social Sciences (20%)
    • Business (11%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Biology (7%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Rutgers
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Engineering (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UCSB 80%
  • Rutgers 77%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UCSB $59,000
  • Rutgers $66,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UCSB 73%
  • Rutgers 68%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UCSB $16,451
  • Rutgers $22,215
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UCSB $170
  • Rutgers $229

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UCSB 43%
  • Rutgers 46%
  • % Women
  • UCSB 57%
  • Rutgers 54%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UCSB Very High
  • Rutgers Very High
  • HBCU
  • UCSB No
  • Rutgers No
  • % White
  • UCSB 35%
  • Rutgers 42%
  • % Asian
  • UCSB 19%
  • Rutgers 26%
  • % Black
  • UCSB 2%
  • Rutgers 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • UCSB 26%
  • Rutgers 13%
  • % Native American
  • UCSB 0%
  • Rutgers 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UCSB 0%
  • Rutgers 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UCSB 8%
  • Rutgers 3%
  • % International
  • UCSB 7%
  • Rutgers 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UCSB 3%
  • Rutgers 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UCSB 82%
  • Rutgers 75%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UCSB 9%
  • Rutgers 13%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of California Santa Barbara in Santa Barbara, CA with Rutgers University New Brunswick in New Brunswick, NJ on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Rutgers University New Brunswick is larger than UCSB based on total student enrollment (52,269 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); Rutgers University New Brunswick is in New Brunswick, NJ (Small City setting).
  • University of California Santa Barbara is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Rutgers University New Brunswick is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of California Santa Barbara 17:1; Rutgers University New Brunswick 16:1.

UCSB vs. Rutgers Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UCSB or Rutgers? 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 Rutgers ($17,658 vs. $20,522).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rutgers University New Brunswick are 22.5% lower than at University of California Santa Barbara ($15,714 vs. $20,279).
  • Rutgers University New Brunswick is 9.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than UCSB (about $1,515 more per year; $17,929.00 vs. $16,414.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 35.2% higher at UCSB than at Rutgers University New Brunswick (about $13,173 more per year; $50,614.00 vs. $37,441.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of California Santa Barbara than at Rutgers University New Brunswick (53% vs. 50%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Santa Barbara students is 47.5% larger than aid received by Rutgers University New Brunswick students ($24,695 vs. $16,742).

UCSB vs. Rutgers Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UCSB or Rutgers? 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 Rutgers and UCSB.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Rutgers University New Brunswick (1410) is 60 points higher than at UCSB (1350).
  • Incoming UCSB students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 30 at Rutgers).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Santa Barbara 1230/1460; Rutgers University New Brunswick 1310/1500.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Santa Barbara 28/34; Rutgers University New Brunswick 28/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UCSB - Test-free; Rutgers - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UCSB Nov 30, 2026.
  • Accepted freshman UCSB students have a 0.52 point higher average high school GPA (3.82) than students at Rutgers (3.3).
  • Rutgers has a higher acceptance rate (58.1%) than UCSB (33%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 13.8% at UCSB vs. 20.5% at Rutgers.

UCSB vs. Rutgers Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UCSB and Rutgers? 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).

  • University of California Santa Barbara's six-year graduation rate (80%) is higher than Rutgers University New Brunswick's (77%).
  • Graduates from Rutgers University New Brunswick earn a median of about $7,200 more per year than UCSB graduates about ten years after starting college ($66,200 vs. $59,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Santa Barbara graduates have a $5,764 lower median loan debt than Rutgers graduates ($16,451 vs. $22,215).
  • Among borrowers, UCSB graduates have an estimated $59 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Rutgers graduates ($170 vs. $229).
  • More UCSB graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Rutgers students, three years after graduation. (73% vs. 68%)

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.