DEEPCOLLEGES · OPS · v3.3 SCHOOLS·INDEXED 120 SOURCES IPEDS · CDS · SCORECARD LAST·SYNC 2026.04.29
CAMPUS · SANTA BARBARA, CA · PUBLIC

UC Santa Barbara

University of California-Santa Barbara
27.8%
ACCEPT
01Acceptance 02Tuition 03Transfer 04ROI 05AP Credit 06Majors 07Housing 08International

UC Santa Barbara Majors Overview: Salary, Courses & Career Outcomes

Every major at UC Santa Barbara with graduate salary, course catalog depth, and career preparation data.

#MajorUS RankUC Santa Barbara SalaryNational MedianPremiumDegrees/YearCourses
1 Computer Science $93,750 $75,000 +25% 160
2 Engineering $90,000 $72,000 +25% 239
3 Mathematics & Statistics $77,500 $62,000 +25% 612
4 Business $68,750 $55,000 +25% 47
5 Physical Sciences $60,000 $48,000 +25% 343
6 Social Sciences $56,250 $45,000 +25% 1,758
7 Biological Sciences $52,500 $42,000 +25% 723
8 Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies $52,500 $42,000 +25% 137
9 Communication & Journalism $50,000 $40,000 +25% 566
10 Natural Resources & Conservation $50,000 $40,000 +25% 321
11 History $50,000 $40,000 +25% 142
12 Foreign Languages & Linguistics $47,500 $38,000 +25% 164
13 Philosophy & Religious Studies $47,500 $38,000 +25% 100
14 Area/Ethnic/Cultural Studies $47,500 $38,000 +25% 86
15 Psychology $45,000 $36,000 +25% 643
16 English Language & Literature $45,000 $36,000 +25% 175
17 Visual & Performing Arts $42,500 $34,000 +25% 346

Career Path Match at UC Santa Barbara 🎖️ DeepColleges Exclusive

How many courses at UC Santa Barbara align with each career direction. More relevant courses mean better preparation for your target career.

AI / Machine Learning 3
Game Development & Design 3
UX / Product Design 3
FinTech & Blockchain 3
Quantum Computing 3
AR / VR / Spatial Computing 3
Data Science & Analytics 2
Robotics & Autonomous Systems 2
Bioinformatics & Computational Biology 2
Aerospace Engineering 2
Clean Energy & Sustainability Engineering 2
Environmental Engineering 2
Space Industry & NewSpace 2
Actuarial Science & Insurance 2
Marketing & Brand Strategy 2
ESG & Impact Investing 2
Marine & Ocean Science 2
International Relations & Diplomacy 2
Neuroscience & Brain Research 2
Film & Video Production 2
Software Engineering 1
Cybersecurity 1
Cloud Computing & DevOps 1
Digital Health & Telemedicine 1
Biomedical Engineering 1
Civil Engineering & Infrastructure 1
Chemical & Materials Engineering 1
Electrical & Hardware Engineering 1
Mechanical & Manufacturing Engineering 1
Mathematics & Pure Research 1
Investment Banking & Finance 1
Management Consulting & Strategy 1
Entrepreneurship & Startups 1
Accounting & Audit 1
Supply Chain & Logistics 1
Real Estate & Development 1
Pharmacy & Drug Development 1
Chemistry & Pharmaceutical Research 1
Physics & Astrophysics 1
Climate & Earth Science 1
Pre-Law / Legal Studies 1
Public Policy & Government 1
Economics & Economic Research 1
Sociology & Anthropology 1
Pre-Med / Clinical Medicine 1
Public Health & Epidemiology 1
Biotechnology & Genetics 1
Journalism & Media 1
Linguistics & Translation 1
Mental Health & Clinical Psychology 1
Psychology Research (Non-Clinical) 1
Graphic & Visual Design 1
Music Industry & Production 1
Fashion & Luxury Industry 1

Highest & Lowest ROI Majors at UC Santa Barbara

Highest-Earning Majors

Computer Science
$93,750/yr
Engineering
$90,000/yr
Mathematics & Statistics
$77,500/yr

Lowest-Earning Majors

Visual & Performing Arts
$42,500/yr
English Language & Literature
$45,000/yr
Psychology
$45,000/yr

Popular Majors at UC Santa Barbara

The most popular fields of study, ranked by the number of degrees awarded.

Social Sciences
27.1%
Biological Sciences
10.5%
Mathematics/Statistics
9.4%
Psychology
9.2%
Communication
8.8%
Best Majors at UC Santa Barbara →

UC Santa Barbara Majors FAQs

What are the most popular majors at UC Santa Barbara?
UC Santa Barbara's most popular majors by share of degrees awarded are: Social Sciences (27.1%), Biological Sciences (10.5%), Mathematics/Statistics (9.4%). The full ranking by graduate salary is in the table above.
Which major at UC Santa Barbara pays the most?
The highest-earning major at UC Santa Barbara is Computer Science, with a median 4-year-out salary of $93,750 — well above the school-wide median of $74,915.
Are some majors at UC Santa Barbara harder to get into than others?
Yes. UC Santa Barbara's overall acceptance rate is 27.8%, but selective programs (computer science, business, engineering, nursing) often admit at lower rates than the school-wide average. Check program-specific admission stats where available.
Should I pick my major based on salary at UC Santa Barbara?
Salary should be one factor, not the only one. Major choice impacts earnings (engineering and CS typically lead) but career fit, course interest, and graduation-rate within the major also matter. The salary table above shows the median pay by program at UC Santa Barbara.
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More About UC Santa Barbara

UC Santa Barbara Acceptance Rate UC Santa Barbara Tuition & Cost Transfer to UC Santa Barbara UC Santa Barbara Salary & ROI UC Santa Barbara AP Credit Best Majors at UC Santa Barbara UC Santa Barbara Housing International at UC Santa Barbara

Other Colleges in CA

Caltech
3.1% accept · Pasadena
Stanford University
3.9% accept · Stanford
Pomona College
6.8% accept · Claremont
UCLA
9.0% accept · Los Angeles
USC
10.0% accept · Los Angeles
Claremont McKenna College
11.1% accept · Claremont

Data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, IPEDS. UC Santa Barbara is not affiliated with DeepColleges.