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UCSD UCI UCLA UCSC Cal Poly UC Davis Stanford UW-Seattle UC Berkeley NYU San Diego State Pomona| University of California Santa Barbara | University of Southern California | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
UCSB | USC | ||
| Location | Santa Barbara, CA | Los Angeles, CA | ||
| Setting | Midsize Suburban | Large City | ||
| Enrollment | 26,420 | 48,945 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #109 | #34 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | ucsb.edu | usc.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
UCSB | USC | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $11,564 | $63,468 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $41,636 | $63,468 | ||
| Room & Board | $16,883 | $17,436 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $16,874 | $36,808 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $20,389 | $45,262 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 53% | 71% |
Admission |
UCSB | USC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 110,995 | 69,062 | ||
| Admitted | 28,688 | 8,304 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 25.8% | 12% | ||
| Enrolled % | 17.3% | 41.2% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.82 | 3.83 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Exceptional | Elite | ||
| Applicant Competition | High | Very High | ||
| ACT Range | 28/34 | 32/35 | ||
| SAT Range | 1230/1460 | 1450/1550 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Nov 30, 2023 |
Academics |
UCSB | USC | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 17:1 | 9:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
UCSB | USC | ||
| Graduation Rate | 80% | 90% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $59,000 | $85,500 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 73% | 81% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $16,451 | $22,375 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $170 | $231 |
Diversity |
UCSB | USC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 45% | 46% | ||
| % Women | 55% | 54% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very High | Very High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 35% | 40% | ||
| % Black | 2% | 4% | ||
| % Hispanic | 26% | 14% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 8% | 5% | ||
| % International | 7% | 13% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 3% | 1% |
Students |
UCSB | USC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 78% | 42% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 10% | 40% | ||
Campus |
UCSB | USC | ||
| 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 Southern California is larger than than UCSB based on total student enrollment (48,945 students vs. 26,420 students)
UCSB vs. USC Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, UCSB or USC?
- University of Southern California is 448.8% more expensive to attend than UCSB for in-state tuition ($63,468.00 vs. $11,564.00)
- Out of state tuition is 52.4% higher at USC than University of California Santa Barbara ($63,468.00 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 USC ($16,874 vs. $36,808)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of California Santa Barbara are 3.3% lower than costs at University of Southern California ($16,883 vs. $17,436)
- More students receive financial grant aid at University of Southern California than University of California Santa Barbara (71% vs. 53%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by University of Southern California students is 122% larger than aid received University of California Santa Barbara ($45,262 vs. $20,389)
UCSB vs. USC Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, UCSB or USC? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between USC or UCSB .
- The average SAT score at University of Southern California (1391) is 143 points higher than at UCSB (1248)
- Incoming USC students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (32) than students at UCSB (29)
- Accepted freshman USC students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.83) than students at UCSB (3.82)
- UCSB has a higher acceptance rate (25.8%) than USC (12%)
UCSB vs. USC Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, UCSB or USC? 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 USC and UCSB.
- The graduation rate at USC is higher than University of California Santa Barbara (90% vs. 80%)
- Graduates from University of Southern California earn on average $26,500 more per year than UCSB graduates after ten years. ($85,500 vs. $59,000)
- University of California Santa Barbara students graduate with a $5,924 lower median federal student loan debt than USC graduates. ($16,451 vs. $22,375)
- UCSB graduates are paying $61 less per month on federal student loans than USC graduates. ($170 vs. $231)
- More USC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UCSB students, three years after graduation. (81% vs. 73%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/