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Rank: 55

University of California-Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, CAhttps://www.ucsb.edu
Students come to the University of California, Santa Barbara with many expectations: to be challenged academically, to enjoy the beautiful Pacific coast scenery, and to party their socks off. From day one, students say, UCSB doesn't disappoint. Lectures can be large but professors expect students -- of which there are about 25,000 -- to quickly catch on to material. The campus is constantly abuzz, with clubs tabling outside the University Center, student protests, and vendors lined up along the miles of bike racks. The neighboring town of Isla Vista houses a majority of the students, as well as local restaurants (the most famous being late-night burrito stop Freebirds), copy shops, grocery co-ops, and every other service a college student could need. It's not uncommon for students to stay within the "I.V. Bubble", venturing out only to party downtown or perhaps catch a movie. UCSB has a solid graduation rate of about 82%, which is 12% higher than would be expected at other universities with similar students. Recent grads say their early career salaries hover around $54,800 on average, according to PayScale data -- which is about 7% higher than expected, according to Money's calculations.
CORONAVIRUS UPDATE
FALL 2020 PLAN: The university is offering a mix of virtual, in-person and hybrid courses, though it's vowing to "create a meaningful on-campus experience" for as many students as possible.
costs
Est. Full Price 2020-2021
$37,800
% of students who get any grants
62%
Est. price for students who receive aid
$17,700
Average price for low-income students
$11,200
admissions
Acceptance rate
32%
Median SAT/ACT Score
1350/30
SAT/ACT Required for Fall 2021?
no
Enrollment
23,060
Financial Aid
% of students with need who get grants
95%
% of need met
80%
% of students who get merit* grants
2%
Average merit grant
$8,090
student success
Graduation rate
82%
Average time to a degree
4.2 years
Average student debt
$15,310
Average salary within 5 years
$54,800
% earning more than $28,000
81%
key deadlines
Early decision application
N/A
Regular application
Nov 30

* Share of full-time undergraduates who had no financial need and were awarded grants.

* Full price of attendance includes on-campus room & board fees, which may not be applicable to all colleges' reopening plans this year.

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, Peterson's, PayScale.com, Money/American Institutes for Research calculations, Opportunity Insights.

coronavirus update

FALL 2020 PLAN: The university is offering a mix of virtual, in-person and hybrid courses, though it's vowing to "create a meaningful on-campus experience" for as many students as possible.

* Share of full-time undergraduates who had no financial need and were awarded grants.

* Full price of attendance includes on-campus room & board fees, which may not be applicable to all colleges' reopening plans this year.

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, Peterson's, PayScale.com, Money/American Institutes for Research calculations, Opportunity Insights.

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