University of California, Santa Barbara

In 2022, tuition for full-time students at UC Santa Barbara was $13,752 a year for in-state students and $46,326 a year for out-of-state students.

Usually, colleges raise tuition about 3% each year.

If this information makes going to college seem daunting, remember, the "sticker price" of tuition does not mean much if you plan to use financial aid to help pay for college. Many students find the actual cost of college is a lot less than the total tuition after grants, scholarships, and tuition discounts kick in. Additionally, student loans can make theprice of collegemore manageable until you've finishing school and found a job.

Tuition for international students at University of California, Santa Barbara is $46,326 per year.

University of California, Santa Barbara meets 82.8% of the demonstrated financial need for undergraduates. The average financial aid package for a full-time, first-year student at University of California, Santa Barbara is around $26,996 a year.

Graduates in the class of 2023 had an average of $17,242 in student loans per borrower.

In-state vs. Out-of-state Tuition at University of California, Santa Barbara

University of California, Santa Barbara is a public, state institution, so it offers a reduced tuition rate of $13,752 for in-state students who attend full-time.Non-California residents can expect to pay 46,326 per year for tuition.

Public colleges and universities receive funding from the state government. Public insitutions often offer reduced tuition for students who are residents of that state.

Attending an insitution where you qualify for the reduced tuition offered to state residentscan save on the overall cost of college. Take the time to confirm your state's eligibility criteria for in-state residency. Each state has different requirements to qualify as in-state resident. In many states, students must have lived in the state for 12 months before starting school to qualify for in-state tuition. There may be additional requirements too, depending on the state you and your parents currently live in.

Explore other California colleges

Do International Students Pay More to Go to University of California, Santa Barbara?

University of California, Santa Barbara has the same tuition for international students as for those from out of state.

International students at University of California, Santa Barbara can expect to pay around $46,326 per year, before any scholarships, grants or other financial aid.

Students from outside of the U.S. are not eligible for federal financial aid, but may be eligible for private or University of California, Santa Barbara-specific grants, scholarships, and other funding opportunities.

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University of California, Santa Barbara Living Expenses, Fees, and More

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Tuition is not the only cost of attending college; room and board, books, transportation and fees are also costs it consider when estimating the cost of attendance for college. Let's take a look at what impacts these costs, and what to expect at University of California, Santa Barbara.

House and Food Costs at University of California, Santa Barbara

Room and board at University of California, Santa Barbara costs $18,276 a year. This number covers the cost of living in dorms or other on-campus housing, and a meal plan that allows you to eat all or some of your meals the University of California, Santa Barbara's on-campus cafeterias and dining facilities.

Meal-plan costs can depend on how many meals are included in the plan you choose.

Cost of Books at University of California, Santa Barbara

The cost of books often surprises first-year college students. The actual cost of books and supplies depends on the courses you take and what kinds of books and materials they require. To save money, many students choose to use books from the library or buy used textbooks and materials.

Annual Fees

Most schools charge some yearly fees to help cover the cost of facilties, like the computer labs and libraries, athletic facilities, and more.

Keep in mind, there could also be optional fees associated with participating in certain activities, like joining a fraternity or sorority, or participating in sports or other extracurriculars. Most colleges have ways for students with demonstrated need to find ways to lower or eliminate these fees.

The Cost of Transportation at University of California, Santa Barbara

The cost of getting around in college depends on a few key factors. Will you drive, fly, or take public transportation to school? Will you need to pay to park on-campus? Is the campus easy to get around on foot? Do you plan to bring a car or are you planning to use public transportation? All of these factors can drastically impact your transportation budget. At University of California, Santa Barbara, freshman are allowed to park on campus.

A school's location can also have a big effect on transportation costs. Small, rural schools may be easier to get around, but the cost of getting to campus may be higher. On the flip side, transportation in an urban area could be costly, but there may be more trains, busses and low-cost flight options to actually get to school. The University of California, Santa Barbara campus is located in a suburb in California.

Other Costs

When creating a budget for college, be sure to consider personal expenses, like going out to eat or see shows, furnishing your living space, and things like haircuts, clothes and, yes, even toilet paper and shampoo.

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Financial Breakdown for University of California, Santa Barbara

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Now, let’s go over all of the costs we've covered, to get a better idea of what is really costs to go to University of California, Santa Barbara.

How Much Does University of California, Santa Barbara Cost?

What will the cost of attending University of California, Santa Barbara be? Here is a breakdown of tuition and expenses.

2023 Total Tuition and Expenses
In-state Tuition	$13,752
Out-of-State Tuition	$46,326
Room and Board	$18,276
Other expenses	$1,596

The total estimated cost will vary depending on whether you are going to live on-campus or off-campus.

Tuition and fees may vary depending on program, course level, location, and more.

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Financial Aid at University of California, Santa Barbara

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In 2023, 10,599 of the 23,091 undergrads enrolled received financial aid. University of California, Santa Barbara meets 82.8% of the demonstrated financial need for undergraduates.

The average financial aid package for a full-time, first-year student is around $26,996 a year. Around 40% of University of California, Santa Barbara undergrads take out student loans to cover any remaining costs. University of California, Santa Barbara graduates who have student loans graduate with an average of $17,242 of student loan debt.

The average debt for each loan type varies.

Average Debt By Loan Type
Federal Loans	$15,042
State Loans	$9,079
University of California, Santa Barbara-Specific Loans	$2,338
Private Loans	$37,076

Most Common Loans for University of California, Santa Barbara Students
Federal Loans	38%
State loans	1%
Institutional Loans	8%
Private loans	2%

Most students take out institutional or government loans, because they tend to have lower interest rates and more flexible repayment options than private loans. Loans from the federal government can be subsidized or unsubsidized. Subsidized loans do not accrue interest during school, while unsubsidized loans begin accruing interest at the time the loan is issued. If students do no qualify for enough federal loans to cover the cost of tuition, some take out private loans. Parents can also take out ParentPLUS loans, which are government loans for parents who are helping their children pay for college.

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) helps colleges determine how much financial need students and their familes have, so they can offer a financial aid package that meets, or come close to meeting, their need. For more information on University of California, Santa Barbara financial aid, keep reading, or visit their financial aid website.

Scholarships at University of California, Santa Barbara

Some students may receive grants and scholarships to help pay for college. Unlike loans, scholarships and grants do not have to be paid back.

In 2023, University of California, Santa Barbara awarded 10,365 need-based scholarships to students, giving away total of $238.6 million to help students with financial need cover the cost of school. An additional $13.34 million in merit-based scholarship money was awarded to students without demonstrated financial need.

Net Cost of University of California, Santa Barbara

The net price of college is the actual cost of attending a school for one year. Net cost is calculated by subtracting any scholarships, grants or other aid that does not need to be paid back from the total cost. Student loans are not part of the calculation, because they need to be repaid.

Now that we have a sense of the total estimated costs for University of California, Santa Barbara students, we can subtract the average financial aid package to find the estimated net cost. Net cost can vary depending on a students’ need and the financial aid award received.

When considering whether a school fits your budget, it is important to consider the estimated net cost, not just the sticker price of tuition. Often, schools with the highest tuition also offer the most generous aid packages, so estimate your net cost before eliminating a school because it does fit your budget.

The average amount of financial aid received by a full-time first year student with demonstrated need at University of California, Santa Barbara was $26,996 in 2023. By substracting the average financial aid package from the estimated costs, we get a number that may make the cost of University of California, Santa Barbara seem more manageable.

Estimated Net Cost for Full-Time Students
In-State, On-Campus	$-16,972
Net In-state, Off-campus	$-9,848
Out-of-State, On-Campus	$42,598

Note: a negative number can indicate that a refund will be given to use toward other expenses such as housing, fees, and books. In such cases, be sure to reach out to the school directly for any clarification or questions.

What will attending University of California, Santa Barbara really cost you? The answer depends on several factors.

As of 2011, colleges are required to have a net price calculator on their website to help prospective students and their families understand the actual cost of attending that school, based on their financial situation. You can find the University of California, Santa Barbara's net cost calculator on their website.

University of California, Santa Barbara Tuition Payment Plans

Some students choose to use payment plans to make the cost of tuition fit more comfortably in their budget.

Students cannot pay tuition in installments. Contact the financial aid office to verify this and discuss options.

UC Santa Barbara Tuition Waivers

Schools sometimes offer tuition waivers to certain groups, to offset the cost of attending. Some schools offer tuition waivers for employees and their family members, underrepresented students, or military students. Even if you qualify for a waiver, other expenses and fees are the responsibility of the student.

Check the financial aid website for more information on payment plans and tuition waivers.

University of California, Santa Barbara's Endowment

An endowment is the total value of a school's investments, donations, and assets. Endowment is not necessarily an indicator of the quality of a school, but it can give you a sense of how much money a college can afford to invest in expanding programs, improving facilities, and supporting students.

As of 2022, the total market value of University of California, Santa Barbara's endowment was $434.1 million. The average college endowment was $905 million in 2021.

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Learn More About University of California, Santa Barbara

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