UCSB vs. OU

University of California Santa Barbara and University of Oklahoma Norman Campus side by side on admissions, cost, and outcomes, from public data.

University of California Santa Barbara
University of Oklahoma Norman Campus

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: UCSB (33% admitted vs 76.6%). Typical SAT 1350 vs 1240.
  • Cheaper after aid: UCSB. Average net price is $17,658 vs $18,574 at OU.
  • Graduation: UCSB 80% vs OU 67%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: UCSB $59,000 vs OU $59,300 (median).
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Key differences

University of California Santa Barbara University of Oklahoma Norman Campus
Acceptance rate
UCSB more selective
UCSB33%
OU76.6%
SAT range (middle 50%)
UCSB higher
UCSB1230-1460
OU1140-1330
Average net price
UCSB $916 less
UCSB$17,658
OU$18,574
In-state tuition
OU $6,617 less
UCSB$16,414
OU$9,797
Out-of-state tuition
OU $23,237 less
UCSB$50,614
OU$27,377
Graduation rate
UCSB +13 pts
UCSB80%
OU67%
Median earnings (10 years)
OU +$300
UCSB$59,000
OU$59,300

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • UCSB 110,259
  • OU 24,893
  • Admitted
  • UCSB 36,347
  • OU 19,069
  • Acceptance rate
  • UCSB 33%
  • OU 76.6%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • UCSB 13.8%
  • OU 29.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UCSB 1350
  • OU 1240
  • Typical ACT score
  • UCSB 31
  • OU 26
  • Average high school GPA
  • UCSB 3.82
  • OU 3.66
  • Typical high school grades
  • UCSB A-
  • OU A-
  • Admissions standards
  • UCSB Exceptional
  • OU Difficult
  • Applicant competition
  • UCSB High
  • OU
  • SAT range
  • UCSB 1230-1460
  • OU 1140-1330
  • ACT range
  • UCSB 28-34
  • OU 23-29
  • Submit test scores
  • UCSB Test-free
  • OU Test optional
  • Application deadline
  • UCSB Nov 30, 2026
  • OU Feb 1, 2027
  • Tuition (in state)
  • UCSB $16,414
  • OU $9,797
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • UCSB $50,614
  • OU $27,377
  • Room & board
  • UCSB $20,279
  • OU $13,630
  • Average net price
  • UCSB $17,658
  • OU $18,574
  • Average grant aid
  • UCSB $24,695
  • OU $11,356
  • % receiving grant aid
  • UCSB 53%
  • OU 99%
  • Graduation rate
  • UCSB 80%
  • OU 67%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • UCSB $59,000
  • OU $59,300
  • Making student loan payments
  • UCSB 73%
  • OU 68%
  • Median student loan debt
  • UCSB $16,451
  • OU $20,000
  • Median loan payment
  • UCSB $170
  • OU $206
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • UCSB 17:1
  • OU 18:1
  • Popular majors
  • UCSB
    • Social Sciences (20%)
    • Business (11%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Biology (7%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • OU
    • Business (20%)
    • General Studies (13%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Engineering (8%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)
  • Location
  • UCSB Santa Barbara, CA
  • OU Norman, OK
  • Setting
  • UCSB Midsize Suburban
  • OU Small Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • UCSB 26,133
  • OU 30,851
  • Type
  • UCSB Public 4 Year
  • OU Public 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • UCSB #112
  • OU #245

Comparable Facts

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

University of Oklahoma Norman Campus is larger than UCSB based on total student enrollment (30,851 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); University of Oklahoma Norman Campus is in Norman, OK (Small Suburban setting).
  • University of California Santa Barbara is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Oklahoma Norman Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of California Santa Barbara 17:1; University of Oklahoma Norman Campus 18:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Oklahoma Norman Campus are 32.8% lower than at University of California Santa Barbara ($13,630 vs. $20,279).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 84.9% higher at UCSB than at University of Oklahoma Norman Campus (about $23,237 more per year; $50,614 vs. $27,377).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Oklahoma Norman Campus than at University of California Santa Barbara (99% vs. 53%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Santa Barbara students is 117.5% larger than aid received by University of Oklahoma Norman Campus students ($24,695 vs. $11,356).

Admissions details

  • Typical ACT composite is 5 points higher at UCSB than at OU (31 vs. 26, midpoint estimate).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test-free at UCSB, test optional at OU.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UCSB Nov 30, 2026; OU Feb 1, 2027.
  • Enrolled first-year students at UCSB average a 3.82 high school GPA, 0.16 higher than at OU (3.66).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 13.8% at UCSB vs. 29.3% at OU.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Santa Barbara graduates have a $3,549 lower median loan debt than OU graduates ($16,451 vs. $20,000).
  • Among borrowers, UCSB graduates have an estimated $36 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than OU graduates ($170 vs. $206).
  • More UCSB graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former OU students, three years after graduation (73% vs. 68%).

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

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