Is University of California-Santa Barbara worth it?
University of California-Santa Barbara is a public, four-year institution in Santa Barbara, California (midsize suburb). It awarded 7,459 degrees and certificates in 2024, most often in econometrics and quantitative economics, sociology and communication.
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Federal data
Federal context for University of California-Santa Barbara
Published by the federal government for federally aided students. It does not say which employers hire graduates.
Median earnings 1 year after
$38,259
Median earnings 4 years after
$70,323
Median earnings 10 years after
$74,915
Average net price
$16,109
Completion rate
83%
Completions (2024)
7,459
Years to pay back
under 1 year
Students (undergrad)
23,113
Median earnings after completing, by program
| Program | Credential | Median earnings, 1yr | Median earnings, 4yr | Graduates counted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sociology | Bachelor's | $34,372 | $60,013 | 601 |
| Research and Experimental Psychology | Bachelor's | $34,431 | $66,171 | 409 |
| Communication and Media Studies | Bachelor's | $46,598 | $72,976 | 380 |
| Economics | Bachelor's | $66,334 | $98,178 | 301 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | Bachelor's | $33,759 | $63,628 | 253 |
| Political Science and Government | Bachelor's | $39,404 | $70,384 | 208 |
| Biology, General | Bachelor's | $33,486 | $64,520 | 194 |
| International/Globalization Studies | Bachelor's | $33,553 | $66,127 | 191 |
| English Language and Literature, General | Bachelor's | $24,099 | $59,334 | 138 |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | Bachelor's | $28,608 | $49,893 | 136 |
| Anthropology | Bachelor's | $31,420 | $56,238 | 114 |
| History | Bachelor's | $29,749 | $59,342 | 113 |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies | Bachelor's | $32,341 | $59,004 | 110 |
| Education, General | Master's | $63,765 | $75,874 | 100 |
| Statistics | Bachelor's | $55,110 | $90,778 | 88 |
Source: College Scorecard, June 2026 release, and IPEDS. Earnings cover federally aided students only, so they do not cover every graduate.
Awards conferred, by program
| Program | Award level | Awards |
|---|---|---|
| Econometrics and Quantitative Economics | Bachelor's | 667 |
| Sociology, General | Bachelor's | 605 |
| Communication, General | Bachelor's | 597 |
| Experimental Psychology | Bachelor's | 503 |
| Biology/Biological Sciences, General | Bachelor's | 377 |
| Statistics, General | Bachelor's | 338 |
| Environmental Studies | Bachelor's | 331 |
| Political Science and Government, General | Bachelor's | 285 |
| Film/Cinema/Media Studies | Bachelor's | 196 |
| Computer Science | Bachelor's | 168 |
Similar schools
Other public four year schools in California
Same state, same sector, nearest by completions.
Bakersfield College
Bakersfield, CA
21%
completion rate
7,123
completions
Graduate data being added
See the pageUniversity of California-Riverside
Riverside, CA
76%
completion rate
6,808
completions
Graduate data being added
See the pageCalifornia State University-Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA
53%
completion rate
6,654
completions
Graduate data being added
See the pageFor school staff
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Sources: federal figures for University of California-Santa Barbara. Federal figures from College Scorecard and IPEDS. Occupation pay from Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS for California. Counts under 10 are not published.
Updated September 18, 2026 · Methodology · Report a problem with this page