UC Santa Barbara vs UT Dallas
Envision yourself immersed in the vibrant college towns of Santa Barbara, California, and Richardson, Texas, home to the prestigious University of California-Santa Barbara (UCSB) and The University of Texas at Dallas (UTD), respectively. While both universities share a commitment to academic excellence, they offer distinct experiences shaped by their unique locations, student demographics, and academic strengths. UCSB boasts a higher acceptance rate, attracting a diverse student body from across the globe, while UTD maintains a smaller, more intimate learning environment. Explore their contrasting popular majors, from UCSB's focus on environmental studies and UTD's emphasis on engineering and computer science. Delve into the comparison table to uncover further disparities in graduation rates, tuition fees, and the vibrant campus life each university offers. Discover which institution aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences, setting the stage for an enriching and transformative college journey.
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![]() The University of Texas at Dallas |
![]() University of California-Santa Barbara |
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Overview |
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Location | Richardson, Texas | Santa Barbara, California |
Campus setting | City: 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 | 88.0% | 91.0% |
![]() |
Yes | No |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 87.2% | 29.2% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$50
Graduate:
$50
|
Undergraduate:
$70
Graduate:
$120
|
SAT range | N/A | N/A |
ACT range | N/A | N/A |
Students submitting SAT score | ||
Students submitting ACT score | ||
Total number of applicants | 18,838 | 105,641 |
Total number of admissions given out | 16,429 | 30,824 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 4,042 | 4,900 |
Yield rate | 24.6% | 15.9% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Not required | Required |
Recommendation letters | Not 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:
$32,526
Out of state:
$57,738
|
In state:
$35,374
Out of state:
$65,128
|
Average net price | $12,924 | $17,333 |
Tuition |
In state:
$14,564
Out of state:
$39,776
|
In state:
$11,442
Out of state:
$41,196
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Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$7,970
Meal plan:
$4,172
|
$16,699 |
Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
66.0%
Average amount $15,140 |
53.0%
Average amount $18,107 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
24.0%
Average amount $5,079 |
11.0%
Average amount $4,576 |
Students taking out private loans |
3.0%
Average amount $15,398 |
3.0%
Average amount $10,788 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
21,446
Men 56.6% Women 43.4% |
23,091
Men 43.8% Women 56.2% |
Graduate students |
8,250
Men 55.8% Women 44.2% |
3,033
Men 53.2% Women 46.8% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Moderate
|
Moderate
|
Out-of-state students | 6.0% | 13.2% |
International students | 16.5% | 13.4% |
Campus local/setting | City: Midsize | Suburb: Midsize |
Dormitory capacity | 5,543 | 11,031 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | Texas California Illinois North Carolina Louisiana | 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 | 26:1 | 17:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges | Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 71.7% | 85.4% |
Dropout rate | 10.7% | 14.0% |
Transferred out | 15.6% | N/A |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Master's Degrees)
Computer Engineering (Master's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods (Master's Degrees)
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Information Science/Studies (Master's Degrees)
Marketing (Master's Degrees)
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Accounting and Related Services (Master'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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