UCSB Acceptance Rate
For the application year 2024, the overall acceptance rate at University of California, Santa Barbara is 28.0%, with 110,876 applicants and 30,914 accepted. The acceptance rates for Early Action (EA) and Regular Decision (RD) both stand at 28.0%, with 55,438 applicants each in both categories. The waitlist saw 15,689 students offered a place, resulting in a 61.6% acceptance rate, with the previous year recording a 35.0% rate for 5,493 accepted out of 15,689 offered. Transfer students also face a competitive process, with an acceptance rate of 61.8% for 18,421 applicants, and historically, the transfer acceptance rates have shown a consistent increase from 49% in 2021 to 61.8% in 2024. SAT scores range from a 25th percentile composite of 1230 to a 75th percentile of 1480, while the average GPA of admitted students is 4.3.
Overall Acceptance Rate
Total Applicants: 110,876
Accepted Applicants: 30,914
Regular Decision vs Early Action Acceptance Rates
Historical Acceptance Rates
The University of California, Santa Barbara has seen a notable increase in its overall acceptance rate, rising to 28.0% for the application year 2024 from 25.85% in 2023. In 2024, a total of 110,876 applicants vied for admission, with 30,914 ultimately accepted. The acceptance rate in 2021 was significantly higher at 36.7%, but it has generally been declining, with rates such as 29.56% in 2020 and 32.2% in 2019. Historical rates indicate a downward trend since the peak of 44.44% in 2014, reflecting a more competitive admission landscape over the years.
Wait List Acceptance Rate
For the application year 2024, the University of California, Santa Barbara had a wait list acceptance rate of 61.6%, with 9,670 out of 15,689 offered a spot on the wait list being accepted. This marks a significant increase from the previous year, 2023, where only 35.0% of the 15,689 offered were accepted, totaling 5,493. In contrast, in 2022, the acceptance rate was just 17.1%, with only 2,793 admissions out of 16,340 offers. This trend shows a noteworthy rebound in wait list admission rates after a dip in recent years, particularly compared to the substantial 66.2% acceptance rate in 2019.
15689
Offered a Place
9670
Admitted
61.6%
Acceptance Rate
Transfer Acceptance Rate
The University of California, Santa Barbara's transfer acceptance rate for the Class of 2028 stands at 61.8%, with 11,386 out of 18,421 applicants gaining admission. This marks a notable increase from the 60% acceptance rate in 2023 and significantly higher than the 58% in 2022. Historically, the acceptance rate has shown a strong upward trend from just 49% in 2021. Additionally, the average GPA of accepted transfer students is 3.2, indicating a competitive but accessible pathway for well-qualified applicants.
Transfer Acceptance Rate
Total Applicants: 18,421
Accepted Applicants: 11,386
Domestic vs International Acceptance Rates
Scores
GPA
4.3
SAT
1230-1480
Math: 610-770
Reading: 620-710
ACT
28-34
Math: 27-32
English: 26-34
Reading: 27-34
Science: 26-32
Acceptances by Race
| Race | Applicants |
|---|---|
| Asian American | 21% |
| White | 30% |
| Hispanic/Latino | 26% |
| Black/African American | 2% |
| American Indian/Alaskan Native | 0.1% |
| Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander | 0.1% |
| Two or more races | 7% |
| Race and/or ethnicity unknown | 2% |
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