The University of California, Santa Barbara provides a vibrant setting that values research and human interaction to foster scholarly ambition, innovation, and discoveries that can have significant social and economic impact. Considering UC Santa Barbara’s acceptance rate can help you understand the university’s selectivity and prepare a stronger application if you are an international student who wants to be part of this intellectual community.
After all, the university offers exceptional opportunities for undergraduate and graduate study across many areas. For more information on UC Santa Barbara, keep reading!
University of California, Santa Barbara Acceptance Rate
The University of California, Santa Barbara, is a leading research institution that also provides a comprehensive liberal arts learning experience. According to UC Admissions’ fall 2025 first-year admit data, UC Santa Barbara received 110,178 applications, admitted 42,170 students, and had an overall admit rate of 38.3%.
More than 110,000 students applied in the latest first-year admission cycle, so the campus remains competitive. However, UC notes that admit data should be used only as a general guide to selectivity and not as a predictor of any applicant’s chance of admission.
Preparing for the University of California, Santa Barbara
When deciding whether to attend the University of California, Santa Barbara, international applicants must take into account the application process, cost of attendance, scholarships, and financial documentation requirements in addition to the acceptance rate. We’ll discuss a few of these aspects here:
Admission Requirements
If students, whether domestic or international, understand the specific requirements, including academic criteria, language proficiency standards, and required documents, they can plan and prepare well. For undergraduate applicants who need to demonstrate English proficiency, UC accepts several options, including IELTS, TOEFL, and the Duolingo English Test. Graduate applicants should also check the requirements of the specific UCSB department or program to which they are applying, since requirements may vary by program.
Tuition Fees
The cost of attending UC Santa Barbara varies by student level, residency status, housing choice, and personal expenses. For 2026–2027, UCSB’s undergraduate cost-of-attendance budget for students living in university residence halls lists a total of $50,946 for California residents and $90,216 for nonresidents. Graduate costs also vary; for regular academic graduate students in on-campus housing, UCSB lists 2026–2027 totals of $55,857 for residents and $70,959 for nonresidents. To better prepare for expenses at UC Santa Barbara, students should organize their budgets and carefully review the university’s current cost-of-attendance pages.
Scholarships
UC Santa Barbara offers scholarships to support student success, and the university states that students have received millions in scholarships thanks to donor support. However, international students should note that financial aid and scholarships for them are very limited. As a public university in California, UCSB primarily awards financial aid to U.S. residents, and international students are generally responsible for securing private funding to cover the cost of attendance. International students can review UCSB’s international student financial resources, including limited emergency or hardship-based opportunities, but they should not rely on scholarships as their main funding plan.
Despite its competitive acceptance rate, it can still be worth applying to the University of California, Santa Barbara, especially if the university offers the academic program and research environment you are looking for. International students should plan carefully for nonresident costs and limited financial aid options before applying. Now that you have learned more about the university and how to prepare for one of its programs, you can take the next steps toward your goals at UC Santa Barbara.
We hope this article on UC Santa Barbara’s acceptance rate was informative and helpful. To learn more about studying in the United States, check out our Guide to Studying in the USA and the Available Courses for International Students.
