UCSB vs. USD

Comparable Facts

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

University of California Santa Barbara is larger than USD based on total student enrollment (26,133 students vs. 9,714 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of California Santa Barbara is located in Santa Barbara, CA (Midsize Suburban setting); University of San Diego is in San Diego, CA (Large City setting).
• University of California Santa Barbara is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of San Diego is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of California Santa Barbara 17:1; University of San Diego 13:1.

UCSB vs. USD Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UCSB or USD? 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 USD ($17,658 vs. $37,918).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of San Diego are 1.8% lower than at University of California Santa Barbara ($19,918 vs. $20,279).
• University of San Diego is 262.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than UCSB (about $43,072 more per year; $59,486.00 vs. $16,414.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 17.5% higher at USD than at University of California Santa Barbara (about $8,872 more per year; $59,486.00 vs. $50,614.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of San Diego than at University of California Santa Barbara (84% vs. 53%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of San Diego students is 65.9% larger than aid received by University of California Santa Barbara students ($40,965 vs. $24,695).

UCSB vs. USD Admissions comparison

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

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Santa Barbara 1230/1460.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Santa Barbara 28/34.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UCSB - Test-free; USD - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: UCSB Nov 30, 2026; USD Dec 15, 2026.
• Accepted freshman USD students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (3.95) than students at UCSB (3.82).
• USD has a higher acceptance rate (52.4%) than UCSB (33%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 13.8% at UCSB vs. 12.4% at USD.

UCSB vs. USD Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UCSB and USD? 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 University of San Diego's (75%).
• Graduates from University of San Diego earn a median of about $11,200 more per year than UCSB graduates about ten years after starting college ($70,200 vs. $59,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Santa Barbara graduates have a $6,453 lower median loan debt than USD graduates ($16,451 vs. $22,904).
• Among borrowers, UCSB graduates have an estimated $66 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than USD graduates ($170 vs. $236).
• More USD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UCSB students, three years after graduation. (78% 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.