- Acceptance rate: 33% for fall 2024
- Average net price: $15,283 a year (2022–23)
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How does your GPA compare?
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Where you standEnter your GPA
University of California Santa Barbara reported an acceptance rate of 33% for fall 2024.
Weighted GPAs above 4.0 can't be compared directly. Many colleges recalculate on their own scale, so use your unweighted GPA here.
A guide based on reported data, not a prediction. University of California Santa Barbara reviews each application.
University of California Santa Barbara GPA requirements
University of California Santa Barbara requires a high school GPA from first-year applicants, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
Federal data doesn't include GPA averages, and University of California Santa Barbara hasn't published one we could verify, so this page doesn't list an average GPA.
University of California Santa Barbara acceptance rate
University of California Santa Barbara admitted 36,347 of 110,259 first-year applicants for fall 2024, an acceptance rate of 33%, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education.
University of California Santa Barbara is a public 4-year university in Santa Barbara, California, with 23,181 undergraduates.
Admission requirements
What University of California Santa Barbara looks at when it decides on first-year applicants, as it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024:
| Admission factor | Status |
|---|---|
| High School GPAYour cumulative high school grade point average. | Required |
| High School RecordYour transcript: the courses you took and the grades you earned. | Required |
| College Preparatory ProgramCompletion of a college preparatory curriculum in high school. | Required |
| Essay or Personal StatementA personal statement or essay written for your application. | Required |
| High School Class RankYour ranking relative to other students in your graduating class. | Not considered |
| RecommendationsLetters of recommendation from teachers, counselors, or other mentors. | Not considered |
| Test ScoresSAT or ACT scores. | Not considered |
| Other TestsOther admission tests, such as the Wonderlic or WISC-III. | Not considered |
| Demonstration of CompetenciesEvidence of specific skills through portfolios, auditions, or other demonstrations. | Not considered |
| Work ExperiencePaid or volunteer work. | Not considered |
| Legacy StatusWhether a parent or other relative attended the college. | Not considered |
University of California Santa Barbara didn't report SAT or ACT scores for its fall 2024 first-year students.
AP credit
University of California Santa Barbara awards college credit for Advanced Placement (AP) exams, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for 2024–25. The college decides which exams and scores earn credit.
It doesn't award credit for life experience.
Average net price
First-time, full-time undergraduates paying in-state tuition who received grant or scholarship aid paid an average net price of $15,283 a year at University of California Santa Barbara in 2022–23, according to the U.S. Department of Education.
Net price is the full cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships.
Frequently asked questions
How selective is UCSB?
Selective: fewer than half of applicants got in. University of California Santa Barbara admitted 33% of first-year applicants for fall 2024.
How important is GPA for getting into UCSB?
A lot: University of California Santa Barbara requires high school GPA, high school record, college preparatory program and essay or personal statement. It doesn't consider high school class rank, recommendations, test scores, other tests, demonstration of competencies, work experience and legacy status. That's what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
Does UCSB require the SAT or ACT?
Check University of California Santa Barbara's admissions website for the current rule: testing policies change from year to year. University of California Santa Barbara didn't consider SAT or ACT scores, even if you sent them (test blind), according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education (fall 2024).
What GPA does UCSB look for?
University of California Santa Barbara requires a high school GPA from first-year applicants, it said in its report to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024. It hasn't published an average GPA we could verify, so we don't list one.
What percent of applicants does UCSB accept?
University of California Santa Barbara's acceptance rate was 33% for fall 2024: it admitted 36,347 of 110,259 first-year applicants, according to its filing with the U.S. Department of Education.
Is a 3.0 GPA good enough for UCSB?
GPA alone can't tell you here. University of California Santa Barbara admitted 33% of first-year applicants for fall 2024. It requires a high school GPA but hasn't published an average we could verify, so there's no admitted-student GPA to compare a 3.0 against. Your transcript and test scores are the clearer guide.
Does UCSB require an essay?
Yes. University of California Santa Barbara requires a personal statement or essay from first-year applicants, it said in its report to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
What do students pay at UCSB after grants?
First-time, full-time undergraduates paying in-state tuition who received grant or scholarship aid paid an average of $15,283 a year at University of California Santa Barbara in 2022–23, according to the U.S. Department of Education. Net price is the cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships.
Does UCSB give credit for AP exams?
Yes. University of California Santa Barbara awards college credit for Advanced Placement (AP) exams, according to its filing with the U.S. Department of Education for 2024–25. The college decides which exams and scores earn credit.
Does UCSB consider legacy status?
No. University of California Santa Barbara doesn't consider whether a parent or other relative attended, as it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
Before you apply, check UCSB's official admissions site: requirements can differ by program and change from year to year.
Sources
- College Navigator: University of California-Santa BarbaraU.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, IPEDS (2024–25 provisional data): admissions, test scores and admission factors for fall 2024, undergraduate enrollment for fall 2024, net price for 2022–23 and credit policies for 2024–25.
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Similar colleges in California
With a similar acceptance rate and size.
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