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Compare University of California-Santa Barbara vs University of the People

Santa Barbara, CA · Pasadena, CA

University of California-Santa BarbaraUniversity of the People
Cost
Price after aid (average)$16,109/yrNo data reported
Price after aid (family income under $30k)$9,231/yrNo data reported
Typical loan debt at graduation$13,993No data reported
Price after aid ($30k–$48k income)$9,992/yrNo data reported
Price after aid ($48k–$75k income)$12,588/yrNo data reported
Price after aid ($75k–$110k income)$17,136/yrNo data reported
Price after aid (income over $110k)$31,863/yrNo data reported
Typical loan payment after graduation$148/moNo data reported
Room & board (on campus)$20,279/yrNo data reported
Room & board (off campus)$17,047/yr$2,001/yr
Borrowers who default0%No data reported
Books & supplies$1,381/yr$0/yr
Other living costs (on campus)$6,833/yrNo data reported
Sticker price (before aid)$41,573/yrNo data reported
Tuition (in-state)$16,414/yr$1,400/yr
Tuition (out-of-state)$50,614/yr$1,400/yr
Students with Pell Grants28%0%
Students taking federal loans18%0%
Getting in
Students who get accepted33%12%
Admissions data fromFall 2023No data reported
Applications received110,871No data reported
Students accepted30,804No data reported
Students who enrolled5,043No data reported
Accepted students who enroll16%No data reported
High-school GPARequiredNo data reported
High-school transcriptRequiredNo data reported
EssayRequiredNo data reported
Recommendation lettersNot consideredNo data reported
Class rankNot consideredNo data reported
College-prep programRequiredNo data reported
Demonstrated competenciesNot consideredNo data reported
Work experienceNot consideredNo data reported
English proficiency testRequiredNo data reported
Other admission testsNot consideredNo data reported
Legacy consideredNot consideredNo data reported
SAT/ACT policyNot consideredOpen admission (everyone qualified gets in)
Graduation & earnings
Students who graduate83%34%
Freshmen who come back93%No data reported
Typical earnings 10 years in$74,915/yrNo data reported
Earnings range 10 years in$49,095–$111,078No data reported
Finish within 8 years (anywhere)88%No data reported
White students graduating84%30%
Black students graduating80%30%
Hispanic students graduating76%39%
Asian students graduating90%63%
Typical earnings 6 years in$56,852/yrNo data reported
Earn more than a HS grad81%No data reported
Graduate on time70%17%
Pell students who graduate80%No data reported
First-gen students who finish64%No data reported
Low-income students who finish62%No data reported
Students who transfer outNo data reported1%
Typical earnings 8 years in$68,092/yrNo data reported
Majors & programs
Top 3 programsSocial Sciences 27% · Psychology 12% · Mathematics & Statistics 10%Business, Management & Marketing 53% · Computer & Information Sciences 33% · Health Professions 14%
Most popular programSocial Sciences — 27% of degreesBusiness, Management & Marketing — 53% of degrees
2nd most popular programPsychology — 12% of degreesComputer & Information Sciences — 33% of degrees
3rd most popular programMathematics & Statistics — 10% of degreesHealth Professions — 14% of degrees
4th most popular programBiological & Biomedical Sciences — 10% of degreesNo data reported
5th most popular programCommunication & Journalism — 9% of degreesNo data reported
Highest-paying major (1 year out)Computer Science — $107,776/yrNo data reported
Degrees in STEM32%33%
Campus & students
Undergrad enrollment23,11322,688
Students per professor17 : 128 : 1
Graduate students2,9525,060
Average professor pay$20,677/moNo data reported
Full-time professors90%No data reported
Fully onlineNoYes — fully online
Accredited byWestern Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University CommissionNo data reported
Median family income$36,166No data reported
SettingSuburb (midsize)City (midsize)
LocationSanta Barbara, CAPasadena, CA
RegionFar WestFar West
Founded18912012
Public or privatePublicPrivate (nonprofit)
Main degree offeredBachelor's degreesBachelor's degrees
Carnegie classificationDoctoral Universities: Very High Research ActivityMaster's Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs
Main or branch campusMain campusBranch campus
International students8.8%0%
Men42%53%
Women58%47%
White students32%4.7%
Black students2%2.6%
Hispanic or Latino students27%2.7%
Asian students18%1.6%
Two or more races9.5%0.5%
Other / not reported2.9%88%
Special typeNoneNone
First-generation students42%No data reported
Part-time students1.9%34%
Students age 25+2.2%73%
Spent on teaching per student$17,118/yr$199/yr
Endowment$444.0M$1.6M
Campus life
Campus data from20232023
On-campus housingYes — dorms on campusNo — no campus housing
Beds in campus housing11,432No data reported
Required to live on campusNoNo data reported
Meal plan offeredYesNo
Meals per week19 meals/weekNo data reported
Academic calendarQuarterOther academic year
Federal designationLand-grant institutionNone
Study abroadYesNo
Undergraduate researchYesNo
ROTCYes — ArmyNo
Accepts AP creditYesYes
Accepts dual-enrollment creditYesYes
Credit for life experienceNoNo
Online classesYesYes
Whole degrees onlineNoYes
Weekend & evening classesNoYes
Teacher certificationYesNo
Academic & career counselingYesYes
Job help while you studyYesNo
Job placement for graduatesYesNo
On-campus day careYesNo
Program for students with intellectual disabilitiesNoNo
Yellow Ribbon (GI Bill) schoolYesNo
Credit for military trainingYesNo
Student veteran organizationYesNo
Tuition payment planNoNo
Guaranteed (locked) tuitionNoNo
Prepaid tuition planNoNo
Athletics
Athletics data from2024-25No data reported
College sports levelNCAA Division I without footballNo intercollegiate athletics reported
Football teamNoNo data reported
Varsity teams20No data reported
Student athletes488No data reported
Athletic scholarships$6.6MNo data reported
Athletics budget$32.8MNo data reported
Athletics revenue$32.8MNo data reported
Recruiting spend$770,104No data reported

Data: U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard 2026-06-10, EADA athletics, IPEDS admissions — each on its own survey year. Campus life: IPEDS institutional characteristics, retrieved from the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-BY 1.0). Founding year, logo, campus photo and links via Wikidata / Wikipedia. SHMACS is an independent tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any institution shown.