University of California, Santa Barbara acceptance rate, scores and deadlines
Source: Common Data Set 2025–26 · deadlines from UC Santa Barbara's admissions site.
Acceptance rate
UC Santa Barbara acceptance rate by year
42,093 of 110,187 applicants admitted for Fall 2025, against 33.0% for Fall 2024.
Show the numbers
| Entering class | Applied | Admitted | Rate | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall 2025 | 110,187 | 42,093 | 38.2% | Common Data Set |
| Fall 2024 | 110,259 | 36,347 | 33.0% | IPEDS |
| Fall 2023 | 110,871 | 30,804 | 27.8% | IPEDS |
| Fall 2022 | 110,995 | 28,688 | 25.9% | IPEDS |
| Fall 2021 | 105,641 | 30,824 | 29.2% | IPEDS |
| Fall 2020 | 90,961 | 33,384 | 36.7% | IPEDS |
| Fall 2019 | 93,446 | 27,626 | 29.6% | IPEDS |
| Fall 2018 | 92,306 | 29,726 | 32.2% | IPEDS |
| Fall 2017 | 81,824 | 26,846 | 32.8% | IPEDS |
| Fall 2016 | 77,112 | 27,581 | 35.8% | IPEDS |
| Fall 2015 | 70,536 | 23,026 | 32.6% | IPEDS |
2026–27 applications
UC Santa Barbara deadlines for 2026–27
Apply with UC Application. Checked October 24, 2026 on UC Santa Barbara's admissions site. Dates can change; confirm them there before you submit.
- Regular decision Apply by Decisions Mid-March
Scores and GPA
Test scores and GPA at UC Santa Barbara
Scores are for enrolled students who sent them, not for everyone admitted.
UC Santa Barbara is test-blind: scores it lists are not used in admission decisions.
- 4.087.8%
- 3.75–3.999.0%
- 3.50–3.742.6%
- 3.25–3.490.3%
- 3.00–3.240.2%
- 2.50–2.990.1%
What counts
What UC Santa Barbara weighs
From section C7 of UC Santa Barbara's Common Data Set 2025–26.
Very important
- GPA
- Essays
Important
- Course rigor
Considered
- Activities
- Talent or ability
- Character
- First-generation status
- Where you live
- State residency
- Volunteer work
- Work experience
Not considered
- Class rank
- Test scores
- Recommendations
- Interview
- Alumni relation
- Religious affiliation
- Demonstrated interest
Waitlist
UC Santa Barbara waitlist
25,713 students were offered a place on the waitlist for Fall 2025, 18,022 accepted it, and 9,603 were admitted from it (53.3% of those who stayed on).
Cost
What UC Santa Barbara costs
From the College Scorecard. For your own estimate, use UC Santa Barbara's net price calculator.
Compare
Colleges with a similar acceptance rate
Close to UC Santa Barbara's 38.2%, from the same official data.
FAQ
Questions about UC Santa Barbara admissions
What is UC Santa Barbara's acceptance rate?
UC Santa Barbara admitted 42,093 of 110,187 first-year applicants for Fall 2025, an acceptance rate of 38.2%. That is up from 33.0% for Fall 2024. Source: Common Data Set 2025–26.
Is UC Santa Barbara test-optional for 2026–27?
UC Santa Barbara is test-blind for 2026–27: it does not consider SAT or ACT scores in admission.
When are UC Santa Barbara's application deadlines for 2026–27?
Regular decision: November 30, 2026. Check UC Santa Barbara's admissions site before you apply, as dates can change.
Where the numbers come from
Sources
- University of California, Santa Barbara Common Data Set 2025–26
- College Scorecard (U.S. Department of Education), IPEDS admissions 2015–2024
- UC Santa Barbara first-year admissions, checked October 24, 2026
Odds are estimates from public data, shown as a range. An estimate, not a guarantee.
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