UC Santa Barbara vs University of Connecticut (UConn)

Nestled along the sun-kissed shores of California and amidst the vibrant tapestry of New England, University of California-Santa Barbara (UCSB) and University of Connecticut (UConn) stand as beacons of academic excellence. While both institutions share a commitment to providing a transformative educational experience, they offer distinct opportunities and environments that cater to diverse student aspirations. UCSB boasts a lower acceptance rate, a higher proportion of international students, and a focus on research-intensive programs in science, engineering, and the arts. UConn, on the other hand, offers a broader range of undergraduate majors, a larger student body, and a strong emphasis on community engagement and public service. Explore our comprehensive comparison table to discover the nuances that set these two esteemed universities apart and make an informed decision about your academic journey.
University of California-Santa Barbara logo

University of California-Santa Barbara

University of Connecticut logo

University of Connecticut

Overview

Location Santa Barbara, California Storrs, Connecticut
Campus setting Suburb: Midsize Suburb: Large
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Public Public
Calendar system Quarter Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 91.0% 92.0%
Common app member No No
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 29.2% 55.6%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $70

Graduate: $120
Undergraduate: $80

Graduate: $75
SAT range N/A 1230 - 1430
ACT range N/A 27 - 33
Students submitting SAT score 43.0%
Students submitting ACT score 7.0%
Total number of applicants 105,641 36,753
Total number of admissions given out 30,824 20,433
Admitted students who chose to enroll 4,900 3,663
Yield rate 15.9% 17.9%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Required
Recommendation letters Not required Not required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Required Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price
In state: $35,374

Out of state: $65,128
In state: $37,266

Out of state: $59,934
Average net price $17,333 $22,168
Tuition
In state: $11,442

Out of state: $41,196
In state: $15,030

Out of state: $37,698
Room & board $16,699
Room/dormitory: $7,238

Meal plan: $6,020
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

53.0%
Average amount $18,107
76.0%
Average amount $15,801
Students receiving federal student loan 11.0%
Average amount $4,576
35.0%
Average amount $5,247
Students taking out private loans 3.0%
Average amount $10,788
5.0%
Average amount $21,780

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 23,091
Men 43.8% Women 56.2%
18,567
Men 47.6% Women 52.4%
Graduate students 3,033
Men 53.2% Women 46.8%
8,309
Men 45.1% Women 54.9%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Moderate
Moderate
Out-of-state students 13.2% 35.3%
International students 13.4% 12.3%
Campus local/setting Suburb: Midsize Suburb: Large
Dormitory capacity 11,031 10,792
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from California Washington Colorado Texas New York Connecticut Mississippi New York New Jersey New Hampshire

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Engineering
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
  • Social Sciences
  • Mathematics and Statistics
  • Physical Science
  • Business
  • Health Professions
  • Engineering
  • Education
  • Mathematics and Statistics
Students to faculty ratio 17:1 15:1
Institutional accreditation Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission New England Commission on Higher Education

Outcome

Graduation rate 85.4% 83.1%
Dropout rate 14.0% 6.7%
Transferred out N/A 9.5%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $86,276
  • Year 2: $81,554
  • Year 3: $96,623
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $83,726
  • Year 2: $76,773
  • Year 3: $94,355
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $70,445
  • Year 2: $72,134
  • Year 3: $88,523
Chemical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $61,540
  • Year 2: $59,485
  • Year 3: $73,916
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $68,678
  • Year 2: $60,452
  • Year 3: $73,907
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $59,465
  • Year 2: $60,790
  • Year 3: $73,844
Applied Mathematics (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $49,765
  • Year 2: $59,536
  • Year 3: $71,984
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $54,194
  • Year 2: $52,107
  • Year 3: $71,014
Natural Resources Conservation and Research (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $51,972
  • Year 2: $57,860
  • Year 3: $70,694
Statistics (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $46,652
  • Year 2: $47,650
  • Year 3: $66,826
Dentistry (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $80,915
  • Year 2: $95,473
  • Year 3: $146,595
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $102,306
  • Year 2: $106,249
  • Year 3: $123,588
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $85,391
  • Year 2: $115,339
  • Year 3: $122,969
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $106,347
  • Year 2: $105,392
  • Year 3: $111,865
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $93,087
  • Year 2: $89,859
  • Year 3: $106,919
Engineering, General (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $92,556
  • Year 2: $89,144
  • Year 3: $95,923
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $71,033
  • Year 2: $79,473
  • Year 3: $92,299
Biomedical/Medical Engineering (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $78,037
  • Year 2: $77,715
  • Year 3: $89,989
Educational Administration and Supervision (Graduate/Professional Certificates)
  • Year 1: $78,073
  • Year 2: $86,621
  • Year 3: $88,550
Psychology, General (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $59,124
  • Year 3: $87,936

Compare Similar Colleges

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