UCSB vs. UC Merced

Comparable Facts

Compare University of California Santa Barbara in Santa Barbara, CA with University of California Merced in Merced, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

University of California Santa Barbara is larger than UC Merced based on total student enrollment (26,133 students vs. 9,110 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of California Santa Barbara is located in Santa Barbara, CA (Midsize Suburban setting); University of California Merced is in Merced, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• University of California Santa Barbara is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of California Merced is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of California Santa Barbara 17:1; University of California Merced 20:1.

Cost details

• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of California Santa Barbara are 5.4% lower than at University of California Merced ($20,279 vs. $21,445).
• Out-of-state tuition is 1.6% higher at UCSB than at University of California Merced (about $791 more per year; $50,614 vs. $49,823).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of California Merced than at University of California Santa Barbara (89% vs. 53%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Merced students is 10.5% larger than aid received by University of California Santa Barbara students ($27,292 vs. $24,695).

Admissions details

• Typical ACT composite is 10 points higher at UCSB than at UC Merced (31 vs. 21, midpoint estimate).
• SAT or ACT scores are test-free at both UCSB and UC Merced.
• Typical fall application deadline: UCSB Nov 30, 2026; UC Merced Nov 30, 2026.
• Enrolled first-year students at UCSB average a 3.82 high school GPA, 0.27 higher than at UC Merced (3.55).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 13.8% at UCSB vs. 7.2% at UC Merced.

Loans and repayment

• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Santa Barbara graduates have a $3,448 lower median loan debt than UC Merced graduates ($16,451 vs. $19,899).
• Among borrowers, UCSB graduates have an estimated $35 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UC Merced graduates ($170 vs. $205).
• More UCSB graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UC Merced students, three years after graduation (73% vs. 64%).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.