UCSB vs. Westmont College

Comparable Facts

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

University of California Santa Barbara is larger than Westmont College based on total student enrollment (26,133 students vs. 1,310 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of California Santa Barbara is located in Santa Barbara, CA (Midsize Suburban setting); Westmont College is in Santa Barbara, CA (Midsize Suburban setting).
• University of California Santa Barbara is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Westmont College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of California Santa Barbara 17:1; Westmont College 10:1.

Cost details

• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Westmont College are 16.4% lower than at University of California Santa Barbara ($16,960 vs. $20,279).
• Out-of-state tuition is 5.9% higher at Westmont College than at University of California Santa Barbara (about $2,970 more per year; $53,584 vs. $50,614).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Westmont College than at University of California Santa Barbara (100% vs. 53%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Westmont College students is 57.7% larger than aid received by University of California Santa Barbara students ($38,956 vs. $24,695).

Admissions details

• Typical ACT composite is 3 points higher at UCSB than at Westmont College (31 vs. 28, midpoint estimate).
• SAT or ACT scores are test-free at UCSB, test optional at Westmont College.
• Typical fall application deadline: UCSB Nov 30, 2026.
• Enrolled first-year students at UCSB average a 3.82 high school GPA, 0.23 higher than at Westmont College (3.59).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 13.8% at UCSB vs. 15.9% at Westmont College.

Loans and repayment

• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Santa Barbara graduates have a $8,672 lower median loan debt than Westmont College graduates ($16,451 vs. $25,123).
• Among borrowers, UCSB graduates have an estimated $89 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Westmont College graduates ($170 vs. $259).
• More Westmont College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UCSB students, three years after graduation (86% vs. 73%).

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