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UCSD UC Riverside UCI Cal Poly UC Davis UCLA UW-Seattle San Jose State UC Merced San Diego State UC Berkeley SCU| University of California Santa Barbara | University of California Santa Cruz | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
UCSB | UCSC | ||
| Location | Santa Barbara, CA | Santa Cruz, CA | ||
| Setting | Midsize Suburban | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 26,420 | 19,478 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #109 | #222 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | ucsb.edu | ucsc.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
UCSB | UCSC | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $11,564 | $11,564 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $41,636 | $41,636 | ||
| Room & Board | $16,883 | $18,185 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $16,874 | $17,975 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $20,389 | $21,202 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 53% | 68% |
Admission |
UCSB | UCSC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 110,995 | 65,912 | ||
| Admitted | 28,688 | 30,926 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 25.8% | 46.9% | ||
| Enrolled % | 17.3% | 12.5% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.82 | 3.63 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Exceptional | Very High | ||
| Applicant Competition | High | Low | ||
| ACT Range | 28/34 | 25/33 | ||
| SAT Range | 1230/1460 | 1160/1360 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) | Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) | ||
| Application Deadline | Nov 30, 2023 | Nov 30, 2023 |
Academics |
UCSB | UCSC | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 17:1 | 23:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
UCSB | UCSC | ||
| Graduation Rate | 80% | 73% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $59,000 | $50,400 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 73% | 74% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $16,451 | $19,959 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $170 | $206 |
Diversity |
UCSB | UCSC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 45% | 50% | ||
| % Women | 55% | 50% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very High | Very High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 35% | 33% | ||
| % Black | 2% | 2% | ||
| % Hispanic | 26% | 31% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 8% | 7% | ||
| % International | 7% | 4% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 3% | 2% |
Students |
UCSB | UCSC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 78% | 90% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 10% | 7% | ||
Campus |
UCSB | UCSC | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- University of California Santa Barbara is larger than than UCSC based on total student enrollment (26,420 students vs. 19,478 students)
UCSB vs. UCSC Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, UCSB or UCSC?
- University of California Santa Barbara and UCSC cost the same to attend based on in-state tuition ($11,564.00 vs. $11,564.00)
- Out of state tuition is the same at UCSB as University of California Santa Cruz ($41,636.00 vs. $41,636.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of California Santa Barbara than UCSC ($16,874 vs. $17,975)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of California Santa Barbara are 7.7% lower than costs at University of California Santa Cruz ($16,883 vs. $18,185)
- More students receive financial grant aid at University of California Santa Cruz than University of California Santa Barbara (68% vs. 53%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Santa Cruz students is 4% larger than aid received University of California Santa Barbara ($21,202 vs. $20,389)
UCSB vs. UCSC Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, UCSB or UCSC? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between UCSC or UCSB .
- The average SAT score at University of California Santa Barbara (1248) is 47 points higher than at UCSC (1201)
- Incoming UCSB students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (29) than students at UCSC (28)
- Accepted freshman UCSB students have a 0.19 point higher average high school GPA (3.82) than students at UCSC (3.63)
- UCSC has a higher acceptance rate (46.9%) than UCSB (25.8%)
UCSB vs. UCSC Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, UCSB or UCSC? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between UCSC and UCSB.
- The graduation rate at UCSB is higher than University of California Santa Cruz (80% vs. 73%)
- Graduates from University of California Santa Barbara earn on average $8,600 more per year than UCSC graduates after ten years. ($59,000 vs. $50,400)
- University of California Santa Barbara students graduate with a $3,508 lower median federal student loan debt than UCSC graduates. ($16,451 vs. $19,959)
- UCSB graduates are paying $36 less per month on federal student loans than UCSC graduates. ($170 vs. $206)
- More UCSC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UCSB students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 73%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/