UC Santa Barbara vs Binghamton University
Nestled in the vibrant city of Santa Barbara, California, and the historic town of Binghamton, New York, University of California-Santa Barbara (UCSB) and Binghamton University (BU) stand as two distinct academic powerhouses. While both institutions share a commitment to academic excellence, they offer unique experiences shaped by their diverse locations, student demographics, and academic strengths. UCSB boasts a lower acceptance rate, a larger student body, and a higher graduation rate, while BU offers a more affordable tuition and a wider range of undergraduate majors. Explore our comprehensive comparison table to discover the nuances that set these two universities apart and make an informed decision about your academic journey.
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![]() Binghamton University |
![]() University of California-Santa Barbara |
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Overview |
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Location | Vestal, New York | Santa Barbara, California |
Campus setting | Suburb: Midsize | Suburb: Midsize |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Public | Public |
Calendar system | Semester | Quarter |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 91.0% | 91.0% |
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No | No |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 44.2% | 29.2% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$50
Graduate:
$75
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Undergraduate:
$70
Graduate:
$120
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SAT range | 1310 - 1470 | N/A |
ACT range | 30 - 33 | N/A |
Students submitting SAT score | 54.0% | |
Students submitting ACT score | 13.0% | |
Total number of applicants | 39,533 | 105,641 |
Total number of admissions given out | 17,455 | 30,824 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 3,089 | 4,900 |
Yield rate | 17.7% | 15.9% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Required | Required |
Recommendation letters | Required | Not required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Required | Required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price |
In state:
$29,454
Out of state:
$45,484
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In state:
$35,374
Out of state:
$65,128
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Average net price | $17,881 | $17,333 |
Tuition |
In state:
$7,070
Out of state:
$23,100
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In state:
$11,442
Out of state:
$41,196
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Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$11,433
Meal plan:
$5,631
|
$16,699 |
Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
60.0%
Average amount $10,858 |
53.0%
Average amount $18,107 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
47.0%
Average amount $5,434 |
11.0%
Average amount $4,576 |
Students taking out private loans |
6.0%
Average amount $15,234 |
3.0%
Average amount $10,788 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
14,307
Men 48.7% Women 51.3% |
23,091
Men 43.8% Women 56.2% |
Graduate students |
3,748
Men 48.6% Women 51.4% |
3,033
Men 53.2% Women 46.8% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Low
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Moderate
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Out-of-state students | 9.0% | 13.2% |
International students | 9.0% | 13.4% |
Campus local/setting | Suburb: Midsize | Suburb: Midsize |
Dormitory capacity | 7,449 | 11,031 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | New York New Jersey Pennsylvania Connecticut Mississippi | California Washington Colorado Texas New York |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 19:1 | 17:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Middle States Commission on Higher Education | Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 83.8% | 85.4% |
Dropout rate | 3.5% | 14.0% |
Transferred out | 12.2% | N/A |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Master's Degrees)
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Mechanical Engineering (Master's Degrees)
Finance and Financial Management Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Accounting and Related Services (Master's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Management Information Systems and Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
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Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Chemical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Applied Mathematics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
Natural Resources Conservation and Research (Master's Degrees)
Statistics (Bachelor's Degrees)
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