University of California-Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, California · Public · 33.0% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 90/100 · Exceptional Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
University of California-Santa Barbara scores 90 (Exceptional Value) on the CampusROI scale. With in-state tuition of $16,414 and a net price of $16,109, UCSB delivers strong outcomes at a UC price point. Average 6-year earnings of $42,800 appear modest but understate the school's value - a large share of graduates pursue graduate, professional, or medical school in the early years, suppressing the near-term earnings figure. The 5.1-year payback period and median debt of $13,993 are strong. Computer Science (162 graduates, $107,776 year-one, $149,190 year-four) and Computer Engineering (58 graduates, $91,387 year-one, $144,703 year-four) lead the ROI rankings with A-grade returns and debt-to-earnings ratios of 0.102 and 0.158 respectively. Economics (696 graduates, $66,334 year-one, $98,178 year-four) is the highest-volume strong program with an A-grade ROI. Electrical Engineering ($117,215 at year four, ROI grade A) and Chemical Engineering ($113,317 at year four, ROI grade A) also perform at the top tier. The 83.0% completion rate is above average for a large public research university. Repayment rate of 79.3% at three years is adequate.
University of California-Santa Barbara scores in the top 5% of the schools we score, with strong earnings outcomes relative to cost.
University of California-Santa Barbara
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $16,414/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $50,614/yr |
| Average net price | $16,109/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $64,436 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $74,915 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $42,800 |
| Median debt at graduation | $13,993 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $148 |
| Estimated payback period | 5.1 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 83.0% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 23,113 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $16,414/year ($50,614/year out-of-state), which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $16,109/year, or roughly $64,436 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $9,231/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $31,863/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $13,993, which works out to about $148 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($42,800) and comes to 0.33, which in our view is comfortably manageable.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $9,231 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $9,992 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $12,588 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $17,136 |
| $110,001+ | $31,863 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
The 0-30000 bracket pays $9,231 per year at UCSB - below the $10,000 threshold that California's Blue and Gold Opportunity Plan targets. Four years at $9,231 totals $36,924. CS and engineering students recover cost in under a year of working.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 48001-75000 bracket pays $12,588 and the 75001-110000 bracket pays $17,136. At $12,588-$17,136 annually, four-year all-in runs $50,352-$68,544. Against average 6-year earnings of $42,800 and a 5.1-year payback, the investment is strong for most program paths.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
The 110001-plus bracket pays $31,863 per year for in-state students, roughly $127,452 all-in over four years. For CS or engineering students, this is recovered in slightly more than one year of working. For students in humanities or social sciences, the payback extends but remains within reason given the school's completion rate and career support.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at University of California-Santa Barbara with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Economics | $98,178 | A |
| Sociology | $60,013 | B |
| Research and Experimental Psychology | $66,171 | B |
| Communication and Media Studies | $72,976 | B+ |
| Biology | $64,520 | B |
| Statistics | $90,778 | B+ |
| Natural Resources Conservation | $63,628 | C+ |
| International Relations | $70,384 | B |
| Applied Mathematics | $109,360 | B+ |
| English Language and Literature | $59,334 | D |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Computer Science
Computer Science at UCSB: 162 graduates, $107,776 year-one, $149,190 year-four, debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.102 (ROI grade A). Median debt of $11,000 against $107,776 year-one earnings is essentially irrelevant - graduates pay off debt in weeks. UCSB's CS program places into Silicon Valley tech firms and LA-area tech at rates reflecting the school's research reputation in computer science, particularly in distributed systems and programming languages.
Economics
Economics is UCSB's highest-volume strong program: 696 graduates, $66,334 year-one, $98,178 year-four, debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.204 (ROI grade A). The A grade with 696 graduates is a reliable signal - this is not a small-sample outlier. Economics graduates enter consulting, tech finance, real estate, and graduate school. The four-year trajectory to $98k reflects the California tech and finance labor market premium. Median debt of $13,516 at these earnings levels is negligible.
Computer Engineering
Computer Engineering (58 graduates) earns $91,387 year-one and $144,703 year-four with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.158 (ROI grade A). Median debt of $14,410 at $91k year-one. The four-year trajectory matches the CS program closely, reflecting shared career paths in Bay Area and LA tech sectors. UCSB's ECE department has a strong research presence that supports these outcomes.
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (74 graduates) earns $49,100 year-one and $90,694 year-four with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.193 (ROI grade A). Year-one earnings of $49k are below the technical programs, reflecting a population that includes graduate school entrants and research assistants. The jump to $90,694 at year four shows those who stayed in industry or completed master's degrees catching up. Median debt of $9,500 is extremely low.
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods
Management Sciences (47 graduates) earns $66,099 year-one and $96,078 year-four with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.168 (ROI grade A). Median debt of $11,128 at these earnings is negligible. This program captures quantitatively oriented business students who blend economics, statistics, and operations research - a profile well-suited to tech and consulting roles in California.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 75.3% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 79.3% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 76.0% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 80.0% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How University of California-Santa Barbara’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 33.0% |
| Enrollment | 23,113 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 27.9% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $20,677 |
At 33.0%, UCSB is moderately selective. Competitive programs within UCSB (CS, engineering, biochemistry) have higher internal hurdles than the institutional average.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of California-Santa Barbara (this school) | 90 | $16,109 | $74,915 |
| California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo | 96 | $16,665 | $90,768 |
| University of Georgia | 88 | $13,936 | $68,726 |
| North Carolina State University at Raleigh | 87 | $17,303 | $68,758 |
| Clemson University | 86 | $22,253 | $71,513 |
| California State University-Bakersfield | 75 | $5,652 | $59,009 |
Head-to-Head ROI Comparisons
See University of California-Santa Barbara side by side with similar schools on ROI, cost, earnings, and debt.
Who Thrives Here
UCSB admits 33.0% of applicants and does not report SAT or ACT ranges separately. At 23,113 enrolled, it is a mid-large research university on California's coast in Goleta. The Pell grant rate of 27.9% reflects UC's relatively generous financial aid for lower-income students. UCSB's strength is in STEM: the engineering, CS, physics, chemistry, and biological sciences programs have national research reputations. The campus culture leans active, outdoor, and collaborative. Students planning graduate school in sciences or professional school (law, medicine) are well-served; those seeking immediate high-paying employment will find CS and engineering the clearest paths.
The Verdict: The Investment Pays Off
If you're asking whether University of California-Santa Barbara is worth it, the short answer is yes - it's one of the strongest money decisions in higher education. Four years here run about $64,436 after aid, and the typical graduate earns $74,915 ten years out. That earnings head start covers the cost in roughly 5.1 years, well ahead of most schools.
What it has going for it: a strong earnings premium over high school graduates, its 83.0% graduation rate, manageable debt relative to earnings.
Median debt of $13,993 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $42,800 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.33, under the 1.0 point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings. Your major matters a lot here: graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
University of California-Santa Barbara: Common Questions
Is University of California-Santa Barbara worth it?
In our view, yes - for most students University of California-Santa Barbara pays off. It scores 90/100 on our ROI scale. You'd pay about $16,109 a year after aid ($64,436 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $74,915 ten years after enrollment, so the cost takes roughly 5.1 years to earn back.
How much does University of California-Santa Barbara cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $16,109 a year, or roughly $64,436 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do University of California-Santa Barbara graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $74,915 ten years after enrolling, roughly $33,115 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off University of California-Santa Barbara?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 5.1 years for University of California-Santa Barbara. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do University of California-Santa Barbara graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $13,993, against average earnings of $42,800 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.33. In our view that is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
What is the graduation rate at University of California-Santa Barbara?
The six-year graduation rate is 83.0%, at or above the 64% national average for four-year schools (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.