Last Updated on April 27, 2023
The University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) is a public land-grant research university in Isla Vista, California with an acceptance rate of 37%. This makes the school one of the most selective public institutions in the country. Considering applying to UCSB? Here’s all you need to know about the UCSB acceptance rate and admission requirements.
The University of California, Santa Barbara (UC Santa Barbara or UCSB) is a public land-grant research university in Isla Vista, California, a suburb of Santa Barbara, with 23,196 undergraduates and 2,983 graduate students enrolled in 2021-2022. It is part of the University of California 10-university system. Tracing its roots back to 1891 as an independent teachers’ college, UCSB joined the University of California system in 1944, and is the third-oldest undergraduate campus in the system, after UC Berkeley and UCLA.
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UCSB Acceptance Rate
The acceptance rate at the University of California at Santa Barbara (UCSB) is 37%. This means that for every 100 applicants, 37 are admitted.
The acceptance rate is the first thing to look at if you want to get in. This indicates how competitive the school is and how serious they are about their criteria.
ALSO CHECK: UCSD Acceptance Rate
UCSB has a 37% acceptance rate. Only 37 out of every 100 applications are accepted.
Furthermore, If your GPA, SAT/ACT scores, and other application requirements are met, you have a good chance of being accepted. However, even if you meet all of the other admissions requirements, you’ll have a slim chance of being accepted if your GPA or SAT/ACT scores fall short.
UCSB GPA Requirements
The average GPA at UCSB is 4.12.
Meanwhile, California resident’s freshman applicants must have at least a 3.0 GPA while non-residents must have at least a 3.4 GPA.
Other requirements:
- Letter of recommendation
- Extracurricular activities profile
- Essay
- Grades: Not lower than C for California residents. Local students from high schools are required to be in the top 9% of their class.
UCSB SAT and ACT Requirements
In order to apply to UCSB, you must take either the SAT or the ACT. More significantly, you must do well in order to submit a strong application.
The average SAT score composite at UCSB is a 1355 on the 1600 SAT scale. while The average ACT score at UCSB is 29. This score makes UCSB Moderately Competitive for ACT scores.
Despite the fact that UCSB presumably states that there is no minimum ACT score requirement, if you apply with a 26 or lower, you will have a very difficult time getting in unless you have something else really exceptional in your application. With so many applicants scoring 29 or higher, a 26 will appear intellectually inadequate.
UCSB requires you to take the SAT Essay/ACT Writing section. They’ll use this as another factor in their admissions consideration.
| SAT Range (Admitted Students) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Section | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
| ERW | 620 | 720 |
| Math | 620 | 770 |
ERW=Evidence-Based Reading and Writing
| ACT Range (Admitted Students) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Section | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
| English | 24 | 35 |
| Math | 25 | 32 |
| Composite | 25 | 33 |
Conclusion
Because this school is so rigorous, high academic results are crucial to your admissions chances. You’ll have a very good chance of getting in if you get a 1480 SAT or a 32 ACT or higher.
Completing the rest of your application for a school as selective as UCSB will also help. We’ll get into those specifics later.
However, if you apply with an SAT score of 1480 or an ACT score of 32, you will have a slim chance of being accepted. You must compete against a large number of other applicants who have great SAT/ACT scores and strong applications.