University of California-Santa Barbara

University of California-Santa Barbara is a very large public R1 doctoral research university located in Santa Barbara, California, with an undergraduate enrollment of 23,113. As a Carnegie R1 doctoral research institution, it supports graduate and professional programs across a broad range of academic disciplines alongside its undergraduate curriculum, with faculty engaged in funded research programs. As a public institution primarily funded through state appropriations and federal grants, it operates within the broader California postsecondary education landscape and is regionally accredited, making its credits and degrees eligible for federal financial aid. With a 33% acceptance rate, admission is moderately selective. Admission is competitive but accessible, with 33% of applicants receiving offers each year. Net price for families earning \$48,001–$75,000 averages $12,588 per year. The highest program-level earnings outcomes are in CIP 00 — 10-year median earnings among aid recipients in these fields reach $164,651. The 4-year graduation rate is 84%, 39 percentage points above the national average of 45%. Among students who received federal financial aid, 10-year median earnings are $74,915. FIRE rates the campus free speech climate at 56/100 — a mixed record on speech protections.