Santa Barbara City College campus
Santa Barbara City College logo

Santa Barbara City College

Type 2 year, Public
Campus locale City: Small
Degrees offered Undergraduate
Calendar system Semester
Student body size Medium
Student to faculty ratio 34 to 1
Students retention rate 69%
On-time graduation rate 45%

Located in Santa Barbara, California, SBCC is a public, institution that offers undergraduate degrees. The college operates on a semester-based calendar system, providing students with structured academic terms.

One of the notable aspects of Santa Barbara City College is its open admission policy. This means that all high school graduates and individuals who hold a GED qualification are eligible to apply for admission. This inclusive approach allows a wide range of students to pursue their higher education goals, regardless of their academic background.

Santa Barbara City College is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges, ensuring that the institution meets certain standards of quality and effectiveness. This accreditation also allows students to transfer credits to other accredited institutions if they choose to continue their education elsewhere.

While the on-time graduation rate at SBCC is reported to be 45%, it is essential to consider the context of this statistic. For comparison, California state's graduation rate for the 2021-2022 was 56% whereas the national average was 35%.

The student retention rate of 69% at SBCC suggests that a significant percentage of students choose to continue their studies at the institution after their first-year.


  • Accredited by: Western Association of Schools and Colleges Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges

In-State Tuition & Fees

$1,232

Cost of attendance at Santa Barbara City College in 2022 for students from California.

See how the college's in-state sticker price compares to 2 year , public colleges in the state as well as nationally.

California's average $6,749
National average $4,604

Out-of-State Tuition & Fees

$8,912

Cost of attendance at Santa Barbara City College in 2022 for the out-of-state and international students

See how the college's out-of-state sticker price compares to 2 year , public colleges in the state as well as nationally.

California's average $20,840
National average $8,757

Average Grant & Scholarships

In 2022, 46 of freshman students at Santa Barbara City College received on average $4,721 in grant and scholarships from the college, the state and/or the federal government. Below is detail stats of the aid provided to full-time, freshman students.

$4,721
Students Receiving Aid Average Amount Total Amount
Pell Grant 303 23% $4,560 $1,381,559
Other Federal Grant 303 23% $4,719 $1,429,889
State Grant/Scholarships 581 45% $2,354 $1,367,716
Institutional Grant/Scholarships 13 1% $854 $11,100
Total Grant & Scholarships 595 46% $4,721 $2,808,705

Graduation Rate

The following chart shows the graduation rate of Santa Barbara City College students who enrolled in 2018 and after. The stat covers all undergraduates registered as full-time students to study a 4-year bachelor's degree program for the first time.

The breakdown shows the graduation rate by race/ethnicity of US students. All international students are represented under one group.

As of August 31, 2021, the average graduation rate of Santa Barbara City College students is 44.7%. Female students graduated at a rate of 50.1%, whereas male students graduated at a rate of 39.2%.

44.7%

  • asian 53.7% 22 students
  • African American 32.1% 9 students
  • white 51.0% 278 students
  • unknown 24.0% 12 students
  • hispanic 41.0% 138 students
  • International Students 40.2% 136 students
  • Mixed Race 50.0% 44 students

Service Offerings

Santa Barbara City College provides the following additional services to its students
  • On-campus day care for students' children
  • Remedial services
  • Placement services for graduates
  • Academic/career counseling services
  • Employment services for students

Educational Offerings

Santa Barbara City College offers educational programs in the following categories. Check the programs section to learn more about specific programs that you are interested in.
  • Academic
  • Occupational
  • Postbaccalaureate Recreational or avocational education
  • Adult basic remedial or high school equivalent

Special Learning Opportunities

  • Weekend/evening classes
  • Study abroad

Veteran Services

  • Member of Service-members Opportunity Colleges
  • Dedicated point of contact for support services for veterans, military service-members, and their families
  • Recognized student veteran organization
  • Credit for military training