UCSB Acceptance Rate and SAT/ACT Scores

University of California-Santa Barbara Admission Requirements and Statistics

[updated for 2024-2025 admission data]

How hard is UCSB to get into?

This page provides the latest information on University of California-Santa Barbara (UCSB)'s admission process, acceptance rate, and student profile. UCSB's acceptance rate is 32.97% for 2024-2025 admission. A total of 110,259 students applied and 36,347 were admitted to the school. Its acceptance rate is relatively low, making it somewhat difficult to get into UCSB.

To apply to UCSB, personal statement (or essay) is required to submit. The SAT and ACT score is not considered for admission at University of California-Santa Barbara.

UCSB's acceptance rate places 16th out of 118 California colleges with competitive admission.
UCSB's yield rate is 13.78%, which is significantly lower by 27.25 percentage points (approximately 66.4% lower) compared to similar colleges with acceptance rates between 30% and 40% (average yield: 41.03%). You can compare colleges with similar acceptance rates to UCSB at colleges with acceptance rates between 30% and 40%.

Admission Statistics

For the academic year 2024-25, UCSB's acceptance rate is 32.97% and the yield (also known as enrollment rate) is 13.78%. 50,112 men and 60,147 women applied to UCSB and 14,725 men and 21,622 women students were accepted.

Among them, 1,918 men and 3,090 women were enrolled in UCSB. You can explore the UCSB's admission rates and SAT score trends over the past decade, including year-by-year data and analysis, by visiting Admission Trends page.

Acceptance Rate and Admission Statistics at UCSB
	Total	Men	Women	Another Gender	Gender Unknown
Applicants	110,259	50,112	60,147	0	0
Admitted	36,347	14,725	21,622	0	0
Enrolled	5,008	1,918	3,090	0	0
Acceptance Rate	32.97%	29.38%	35.95%	-	-
Yield	13.78%	13.03%	14.29%	-	-

Data source: IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) (Last update: December 11, 2024)

University of California-Santa Barbara 2025 Acceptance Rate By Gender chart

First-year Enrollment by Gender and Enrolled Type

For the academic year 2024-25, total 5,008 first-year students enrolled in UCSB. The proportion of full-time students is 99.60% and part-time students is 0.40%.

By gender, the proportion of men students is 38.30% and women students is 61.70%.

The following table shows the first-year students by gender and enrolled type at UCSB.

First-Year Students by Gender and Enrolled Type at UCSB
	Total	Men	Women
Total	5,008	1,918	3,090
Full-time	4,988	1,911	3,077
Part-time	20	7	13

Data source: IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) (Last update: December 11, 2024)

Application Requirements

It requires to submit High School GPA, High School Record (or Transcript), Completion of College Preparatory Program, English Proficiency Test, and Personal statement or essay to its applicants.

The SAT and ACT test score is not considered in admission process at UCSB. The english proficiency test is required .

The next table summarizes the application requirements to apply University of California-Santa Barbara.

For more admission information such as minimum GPA and deadlines, see its online application page .

UCSB Admission Requirements
High School GPA	Required
High School Rank	Not Considered
High School Record (or Transcript)	Required
Completion of College Preparatory Program	Required
Recommendations	Not Considered
Formal Demonstration of Competencies	Not Considered
SAT / ACT	Not Considered
English Proficiency Test	Required
Other Test (Wonderlic,WISC-III,etc)	Not Considered
Work experience	Not Considered
Personal statement or essay	Required
Legacy status	Not Considered

General Admissions Information

The following provides general admission information for applying to UCSB:

Open Admission Policy: No
Undergraduate Application Fees: -
Graduate Application Fees: -
Admission Information: www.admissions.ucsb.edu/
Online Application: admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/apply-now.html
Calendar System: Quarter
Course for High School Students: Not Offered
Credits Accepted: Advanced placement (AP) Credits
Degree Offered: Bachelor, Post-Bachelor Certificate, Master, Doctoral (Research)

Get Admission Information

What is the acceptance rate at the UCSB?

UCSB is moderately competitive, with an acceptance rate of 32.97%.

What SAT or ACT scores are required for admission to UCSB?

UCSB does not require or recommend SAT or ACT scores for admission. However, some programs may have different requirements.

Does UCSB require essays or personal statements?

Yes, UCSB requires applicants to submit a personal essay or statement as part of the application.

Are recommendation letters required for UCSB admission?

UCSB does not require or recommend a recommendation letter for admission. However, it may be required for certain programs or scholarships.

Is there an application fee?

UCSB does not require an application fee for undergraduate or graduate admission.

Do I need to submit my high school transcript?

Yes, UCSB requires applicants to submit high school GPA, high school record or transcript as part of the admission process.

Are there any specific admission requirements for international students?

Yes, UCSB requires international applicants to submit an English proficiency test (like TOEFL or IELTS) as part of the application.

What is SAT code and ACT code for UCSB?

The institutional SAT and ACT codes for UCSB are not available. Please check the official admissions website for the most up-to-date information.