University of California-San Diego vs University of California-Santa Barbara
University of California-San Diego is a public university in La Jolla, CA. University of California-Santa Barbara is a public university in Santa Barbara, CA. University of California-San Diego admits about 27% of applicants and University of California-Santa Barbara about 33%, making University of California-San Diego the harder of the two to get into. Students pay an average of about $12,470 a year at University of California-San Diego after aid, and about $16,109 at University of California-Santa Barbara. About 87% of students graduate at University of California-San Diego, compared with 84% at University of California-Santa Barbara. Ten years after enrolling, University of California-San Diego alumni earn a median of about $84,943, against $74,915 for University of California-Santa Barbara.
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Net price is the average across aided students (U.S. College Scorecard). Your actual cost and admission odds depend on your profile. Take the free Matchmaker for your own numbers.
- Is University of California-San Diego or University of California-Santa Barbara harder to get into?
- University of California-San Diego is harder to get into. It admits about 27% of applicants, compared with 33% at University of California-Santa Barbara. Your own odds and price depend on your profile, so take Blueprint's free Matchmaker to see your numbers at both.
- Which is cheaper, University of California-San Diego or University of California-Santa Barbara?
- University of California-San Diego is cheaper on average. Students pay about $12,470 a year after grants and scholarships, against about $16,109 at University of California-Santa Barbara. Your own odds and price depend on your profile, so take Blueprint's free Matchmaker to see your numbers at both.
- What is the full cost of attendance at University of California-San Diego and University of California-Santa Barbara?
- Before aid, University of California-San Diego costs about $38,701 a year and University of California-Santa Barbara about $41,573. That is the sticker price; most students pay less once grants and scholarships are applied.
- Which is cheaper for a family earning under $30,000, University of California-San Diego or University of California-Santa Barbara?
- University of California-San Diego. Families earning under $30,000 a year pay about $7,525 there, against about $9,231 at University of California-Santa Barbara. Aid is income-tested, so this can differ from the average price and from the sticker price.
- Which is bigger, University of California-San Diego or University of California-Santa Barbara?
- University of California-San Diego is the larger of the two, with about 34,948 undergraduates against 23,113 at University of California-Santa Barbara.
- Does University of California-San Diego or University of California-Santa Barbara have a better graduation rate?
- University of California-San Diego has the higher graduation rate, at about 87% against 84% at University of California-Santa Barbara.
- Do graduates of University of California-San Diego or University of California-Santa Barbara earn more?
- University of California-San Diego alumni earn more on average: a median of about $84,943 ten years after enrolling, against about $74,915 for University of California-Santa Barbara. Earnings vary far more by major than by school.
- Do University of California-San Diego and University of California-Santa Barbara require SAT or ACT scores?
- University of California-San Diego is test blind and does not consider SAT or ACT scores at all. University of California-Santa Barbara is test blind and does not consider SAT or ACT scores at all.
- What SAT scores do University of California-San Diego and University of California-Santa Barbara look for?
- The middle 50% of admitted students score 1270–1480 at University of California-San Diego and 1230–1460 at University of California-Santa Barbara. A quarter of admitted students scored below those ranges.
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