UCSB vs. UT Austin

Comparable Facts

Compare University of California Santa Barbara in Santa Barbara, CA with The University of Texas at Austin in Austin, TX on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

The University of Texas at Austin is larger than UCSB based on total student enrollment (53,864 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); The University of Texas at Austin is in Austin, TX (Large City setting).
• University of California Santa Barbara is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. The University of Texas at Austin is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of California Santa Barbara 17:1; The University of Texas at Austin 18:1.

UCSB vs. UT Austin Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UCSB or UT Austin? 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 UT Austin ($17,658 vs. $17,942).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at The University of Texas at Austin are 26.9% lower than at University of California Santa Barbara ($14,828 vs. $20,279).
• University of California Santa Barbara is 40.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than UT Austin (about $4,726 more per year; $16,414.00 vs. $11,688.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 12.7% higher at UCSB than at The University of Texas at Austin (about $5,706 more per year; $50,614.00 vs. $44,908.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of California Santa Barbara than at The University of Texas at Austin (53% vs. 42%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Santa Barbara students is 80.5% larger than aid received by The University of Texas at Austin students ($24,695 vs. $13,681).

UCSB vs. UT Austin Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at The University of Texas at Austin (1380) is 30 points higher than at UCSB (1350).
• Incoming UCSB students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 30 at UT Austin).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Santa Barbara 1230/1460; The University of Texas at Austin 1250/1510.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Santa Barbara 28/34; The University of Texas at Austin 27/33.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UCSB - Test-free; UT Austin - Required.
• Typical fall application deadline: UCSB Nov 30, 2026; UT Austin Dec 1, 2026.
• Accepted freshman UCSB students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.82) than students at UT Austin (3.8).
• UCSB has a higher acceptance rate (33%) than UT Austin (26.6%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 13.8% at UCSB vs. 47.4% at UT Austin.

UCSB vs. UT Austin Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UCSB and UT Austin? 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).

• The University of Texas at Austin's six-year graduation rate (81%) is higher than University of California Santa Barbara's (80%).
• Graduates from The University of Texas at Austin earn a median of about $9,600 more per year than UCSB graduates about ten years after starting college ($68,600 vs. $59,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Santa Barbara graduates have a $5,799 lower median loan debt than UT Austin graduates ($16,451 vs. $22,250).
• Among borrowers, UCSB graduates have an estimated $60 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UT Austin graduates ($170 vs. $230).
• More UT Austin graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UCSB students, three years after graduation. (77% vs. 73%)

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.