CAMPUS · SANTA BARBARA, CA · PUBLIC

UC Santa Barbara

University of California-Santa Barbara

27.8%

01Acceptance 02Tuition 03Transfer 04ROI 05AP Credit 06Majors 07Housing 08International

Sticker Price vs What You Actually Pay

28% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating UCSB enrolls a meaningful share of lower-income students.

Full Cost Breakdown

Room & Board	$18,684
Total Cost of Attendance	$41,573

What You'll Actually Pay (Net Price by Income)

After financial aid, the real cost depends on your family's income. These are average net prices for students receiving aid.

Family Income	Annual Net Price	4-Year Total
$0-30k	$9,231	$36,924
$30-48k	$9,992	$39,968
$48-75k	$12,588	$50,352
$75-110k	$17,136	$68,544
$110k+	$31,863	$127,452

Financial Aid & Student Debt at UC Santa Barbara

28.0%

Pell Grant Recipients

$13,993

Median Debt at Graduation

Is UC Santa Barbara Worth the Cost? (ROI Analysis)

$74,915

Median Earnings (10yr)

$13,993

Median Debt

5.4x

Earnings-to-Debt Ratio

A ratio above 2x generally means the investment pays off. UC Santa Barbara — 5.4x ratio is excellent — graduates earn well relative to their debt burden.

UC Santa Barbara True Cost by Family Income

28% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating UCSB enrolls a meaningful share of lower-income students.

Family Income	Annual Net Price	4-Year Total
$0-30k	$9,231	$36,924
$30-48k	$9,992	$39,968
$48-75k	$12,588	$50,352
$75-110k	$17,136	$68,544
$110k+	$31,863	$127,452

Cost Breakdown

Room & Board	$18,684
Total Cost of Attendance	$41,573

Financial Aid & Student Debt

28.0%

Pell Grant Recipients

Students from low-income families

$13,993

Median Debt at Graduation

Federal loans only

$56,852

Median Earnings (6yr)

6 years after enrollment

UC Santa Barbara Tuition & Cost FAQs

How much does UC Santa Barbara actually cost per year?

UC Santa Barbara's sticker price (cost of attendance) is $41,573/yr — that includes tuition, room and board, and fees. After financial aid, the average family pays just $16,162/yr, a 61% discount off sticker price.

Does UC Santa Barbara offer good financial aid?

28% of UC Santa Barbara students receive Pell Grants (federal need-based aid). Most US colleges including UC Santa Barbara also award institutional grants on top of federal aid — apply via FAFSA, plus the CSS Profile if UC Santa Barbara requires it.

What income bracket pays the least at UC Santa Barbara?

Families earning under $30,000/yr typically pay around $9,231/yr at UC Santa Barbara after financial aid, while families earning over $110,000/yr pay closer to $31,863/yr. The full breakdown by income bracket is in the True Cost table above.

Is UC Santa Barbara worth the cost?

UC Santa Barbara graduates earn a median of $74,915 10 years post-graduation. Against a 4-year sticker cost of about $166,292 (less for most families with aid), grads typically recoup the investment within several years of work.