More selective than 85% of California colleges we cover. U.S. median 77%.
College Scorecard, Fall 2024 entering class
Share of students sending scores not reported.
IPEDS Admissions, Fall 2023 entering class
Called “yield.” A high yield means many admitted students choose University of California-Santa Barbara over other offers.
IPEDS Admissions, Fall 2023 entering class
Applicants, admits and enrollment
IPEDS Admissions, Fall 2023 entering class (first-time, degree-seeking undergraduates). Newer counts arrive with the next IPEDS release.
GPA and test scores of admitted students
The middle 50% of students University of California-Santa Barbara admitted. A quarter of admitted students were below the lower number and a quarter above the upper one. GPAs are weighted, as the source defines them.
| Admitted for | GPA | SAT | ACT | CLT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall 2026 | 4.05–4.27 | — | — | — |
University of California Office of the President (UC Admissions), First-year admit data, fall 2026 (one page per campus). UC GPA (A-G courses, grades 10-11, honors points capped); 108,512 applicants, 47,716 admits; UC does not consider SAT/ACT Federal ranges below describe enrolled students; use the admitted ranges to judge your chances.
University of California-Santa Barbara admissions year over year
| Entering class | Acceptance | SAT reading | SAT math | ACT | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall 2024 | 33% | — | — | — | College Scorecard |
| Fall 2023 | 28% | — | — | — | IPEDS |
Score ranges are the 25th–75th percentiles. Each year is kept as published; we add a year with every federal release.
How selective is University of California-Santa Barbara compared with other California colleges?
University of California-Santa Barbara has the 15th-lowest acceptance rate of 92 California colleges we cover. Schools around it:
| Rank | College | Acceptance | Graduation | Avg. net price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | University of California-San Diego | 27% | 86% | $12,470 |
| 12 | University of California-Irvine | 29% | 87% | $14,251 |
| 13 | California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo | 31% | 86% | $16,665 |
| 14 | California Institute of the Arts | 32% | 67% | $46,080 |
| 15 | University of California-Santa Barbara | 33% | 83% | $16,109 |
| 16 | Hope International University | 33% | 49% | $29,310 |
| 17 | Pacific Oaks College | 34% | — | — |
| 18 | San Diego State University | 36% | 76% | $15,364 |
| 19 | Scripps College | 38% | 83% | $36,294 |
College Scorecard, Fall 2024 entering class. All California colleges →
Who enrolls at University of California-Santa Barbara
College Scorecard; IPEDS
University of California-Santa Barbara admissions questions
What is the University of California-Santa Barbara acceptance rate?
University of California-Santa Barbara accepts 33% of applicants, about 1 in 3. For the Fall 2023 entering class, 30,804 of 110,871 applicants were admitted.
Does University of California-Santa Barbara require the SAT or ACT?
University of California-Santa Barbara does not consider SAT or ACT scores (test-blind), according to its federal admissions report for Fall 2023.
What GPA and SAT score do you need for University of California-Santa Barbara?
The middle 50% of students admitted to University of California-Santa Barbara for Fall 2026 had a weighted GPA of 4.05–4.27 (First-year admit data, fall 2026 (one page per campus)). Below the lower number on any measure makes University of California-Santa Barbara a reach; at or above the upper number on every measure makes it likely.
How many admitted students enroll at University of California-Santa Barbara?
16% of admitted students enrolled in Fall 2023 (5,043 of 30,804).
Is University of California-Santa Barbara getting harder to get into?
University of California-Santa Barbara accepted 33% of applicants for Fall 2024, compared with 28% for Fall 2023.
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Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS Admissions; years shown with each figure. “Colleges we cover” means colleges awarding bachelor's degrees to at least 100 undergraduates. Back to University of California-Santa Barbara overview