University of California, Santa Barbara

University of California, Santa Barbara is very difficult to get into. The acceptance rate at University of California, Santa Barbara is 29%. Last year, 103,174 students applied to University of California, Santa Barbara and 30,039 were admitted.

If you want to apply to University of California, Santa Barbara, the deadline for Fall 2024 admissions is 11/30 and the application fee is $70.

Students who submit their applications to University of California, Santa Barbara for fall semester should anticipate a decision by March 31.

University of California, Santa Barbara Admissions Stats at a Glance

Here's an overiew of some of University of California, Santa Barbara's admissions stats.

University of California, Santa Barbara 2023	Admissions Statistics
Admissions Test Policy	Not optional
Waitlist	Yes

University of California, Santa Barbara Application Deadlines

These are the application deadlines for University of California, Santa Barbara.

Application Type	Offered	Application Deadline	Notification Deadline
Early Decision I	Info Not Available	–	–
Early Decision II	–	–	–
Early Action	No	–	–
Regular Decision	Yes	11 30	March 31

---

Considering Applying Early to University of California, Santa Barbara?

---

University of California, Santa Barbara may or may not offer early admission, however the school has not provided any application information. Check with University of California, Santa Barbara directly for more information about early applications.

➡️ Explore a list of some competetive colleges that admit significantly more applicants during early decision or early action than during regular admission.

---

More on University of California, Santa Barbara Admissions

---

How To Get Into University of California, Santa Barbara

UC Santa Barbara is a very difficult school to get into.

In 2022, UC Santa Barbara accepted 29% of all applicants, about 30,039 from 103,174 applicants.

Schools that are very difficult to get into, like UC Santa Barbara, accept fewer than 60% of all applicants. At least 50% of all admitted students have GPAs in the top 10% of their high school class and scored over 1230 on the SAT and over 26 on the ACT.

Transferring to University of California, Santa Barbara

Transfer student admissions is very difficult.

For Students Waitlisted to University of California, Santa Barbara

In 2022, University of California, Santa Barbara waitlisted 14,076 students and 9,762 accepted a place on the waitlist. Of those, 2,093 eventually were offered a spot.

What Does University of California, Santa Barbara Look For in an Applicant?

Colleges consider a range of factors when determining who to admit for their next incoming class. Each college has a different way of determining which factors are given the most weight when choose which applicants to admit, and which to deny. When assembling your list of schools to apply to, you may want to consider your strengths and any possible weaknesses in your application, and choose schools that put the most emphasis on the admissions factors where you're strong.

Admissions Factors at University of California, Santa Barbara

What does University of California, Santa Barbara consider during the admissions process? Take a look at the list below to see which factors are most important during the admissions process.

Admissions Factor	Level
Application Essay	Very Important
Academic GPA	Very Important
Rigor of Secondary School Record	Important
Character/Personal Qualities	Considered
Extracurricular Activities	Considered
Geographical Residence	Considered
State Residency	Considered
Talent/Ability	Considered
Volunteer Work	Considered
Work Experience	Considered
First Generation	Considered

Make sure to check with University of California, Santa Barbara for more information on admission factors.

University of California, Santa Barbara 2022-2023 Application Requirements

To apply to University of California, Santa Barbara, all applicants must submit the following items. Check with University of California, Santa Barbara's admissions department to confirm all application materials and requirements.

Area	Required	Recommended	Required for Some	Details (If Any)
Written Essay or Personal Statement	–	–	–	–
Interview	–	–	–	–
Transcript(S) of College Record	–	–	–	–
Transcript of High School Record	–	–	–	–
Standardized Test Scores	–	–	–	–
Statement of Good Standing From Prior Institution(S)	–	–	–	–

---

GPA and Testing

---

What GPA Do I Need To Get Into University of California, Santa Barbara?

University of California, Santa Barbara has not provided an information about GPAs of accepted students. Any questions regarding applicant expectations should be addressed directly with the school.

Out of all students that were admitted, 65% submitted a class rank. and 100% were in the top 50%.

GPAs of Admitted Students

At University of California, Santa Barbara, student GPAs fall in the following ranges.

GPA	Percent of Students
4.0 GPA	86.92%
3.75 and 3.99	8.63%
3.50 and 3.74	3.09%
3.25 and 3.49	0.95%
3.00 and 3.24	0.32%
2.50 and 2.9	0.06%
2.00 and 2.49	0.02%

This chart depicts the percentage of all enrolled, degree-seeking, first-time, first year (freshmen) students who had high school grade point average within the given ranges.

Note: Some schools choose not release this information. If you have any questions regarding missing numbers, be sure to reach out to University of California, Santa Barbara directly.

About GPAs

Your high school grade point average (GPA) is a number that highlights your high school academic performance. A weighted GPA or an unweighted GPA are the two possible GPA scores considered by colleges.

An unweighted GPA is an average of your scores from each class on a four-point scale. Unweighted GPAs range from 4.0 to under 1.0. A weighted GPA considers your average grade and the difficulty of your classes. A weighted GPA boosts your average by adding extra points for honors or Advanced Placement courses.

Standardized Test Scores

University of California, Santa Barbara does not have a test optional admissions policy. Test optional schools allow students to choose if they want to submit ACT or SAT scores with their applications or not.

More Information on Transferring to University of California, Santa Barbara

For transfer students, it is very difficult to get admitted to University of California, Santa Barbara.

For transfer students wishing to start in the fall, the deadline to apply is November 30. Applicants should hear back by March 15.

Transfer students can enroll in University of California, Santa Barbara during the following terms:

• Fall Term

---

University of California, Santa Barbara Admissions FAQs

---

Can I defer my acceptance to University of California, Santa Barbara?

❌ Students who are admitted to University of California, Santa Barbara must attend in the term they start. Deferring admissions is not encouraged. If you have a unusual circumstance, contact the admissions department.

Does University of California, Santa Barbara accept transfer credits?

✅ University of California, Santa Barbara accepts eligible transfer credits from accredited institutions.

Does University of California, Santa Barbara accept Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) credits?

✅ University of California, Santa Barbara accepts International Baccalaureate credits (IB) credits.

Do I have to submit test scores to University of California, Santa Barbara?

✅ University of California, Santa Barbara is not test optional.

What is University of California, Santa Barbara's acceptance rate?

✅ University of California, Santa Barbara's acceptance rate is 29%.

What is the early decision acceptance rate at University of California, Santa Barbara?

🟨 University of California, Santa Barbara may or may not offer early decision. The school has not provided any information on early decision including ED acceptance rates.

Want To Learn More About University of California, Santa Barbara?

Click below to find out more about the admissions requirements and deadlines, student life, academics, majors and more.

Overview

Student Life

Academics

Tuition & Aid

Visit the College Confidential forums to join the conversation about University of California, Santa Barbara

Explore other colleges in California or use the college admissions predictor to calculate your chances of getting into some of the top colleges and universities in the U.S.