University of California-Santa Barbara Financial Aid Overview

University of California-Santa Barbara Cost

In-State Cost of Attendance:

Out-of-State Cost of Attendance:

Since UC-Santa Barbara is a public university, there are different costs for in-state students and out-of-state students. The sticker price at UC-Santa Barbara is $36,949.00 for in-state students in California, and $66,703.00 for out-of-state students. This sticker price includes costs for tuition, books and supplies, room and board, and other miscellaneous expenses.

This net price includes the total cost of attendance, including tuition, room, board, and other fees. For students at UC-Santa Barbara, the average net price is $16,252.00.

University of California-Santa Barbara Net Price

The sticker cost of University of California-Santa Barbara is not actually what students will pay. Depending on factors such as student and parent finances, the actual cost can be lower. This price that takes financial aid into account is also known as a “net price.”

University of California-Santa Barbara Financial Aid

Pell Grants at University of California-Santa Barbara

33% of students at University of California-Santa Barbara receive Pell Grants, which are awarded to undergraduate students with demonstrated financial need (students who have a bachelor’s or professional degree are not eligible). Pell Grants are awarded by the federal government and do not need to be repaid. To apply for a Pell Grant, students will need to submit their FAFSA. If you are awarded a Pell Grant, you’ll see it listed in your financial aid award letter if you are accepted to University of California-Santa Barbara.

You can learn more about Pell Grant eligibility here.

Outside Scholarships

University of California-Santa Barbara Student Debt

Student Loan Stats:

In addition to scholarships and financial aid, student loans are another way that students can pay for college. However, unlike other types of aid, student loans need to be repaid. This is why it’s so important to know how much student loan debt you are taking out.

28% percent of University of California-Santa Barbara students take out federal student loans. The average student at University of California-Santa Barbara takes out in student loan debt, which winds up being a $144.95 payment per month. The important thing to remember about these numbers is that they only include federal student loans and not private student loans.

Parent PLUS loans are another type of student loan that families may use to pay for college. While Parent PLUS Loans are offered by the federal government, they are not included in the above federal student loan metrics because they are not technically taken out by students. The median amount of Parent PLUS loan debt at UC-Santa Barbara is $25,136.00. Between 5% and 10% percent of parents of University of California-Santa Barbara students will take out these Parent PLUS Loans.

If you want to learn more about Parent PLUS Loans, you can check out the pros and cons of borrowing them.

Is UC-Santa Barbara Worth it?

College is an investment, which is why it is important to assess the return on your education. To understand your return on investment or ROI, you will need to first understand what that investment will look like financially.

By completing the net price calculator, you will have a good sense of how much UC-Santa Barbara will cost you. This will also give you a sense of how much debt you can expect to graduate with.

Once you have a sense of your investment, you can think about your “return” or what you will get out of an education at University of California-Santa Barbara. In other words, what types of outcomes can you expect?

The important factors to consider when thinking about outcomes are the graduation rate of the institution, as well as your expected earnings.

Here’s how UC-Santa Barbara stacks up:

• 6-year graduation rate: 75.55
• Median earnings (10 years after graduation): $66,491.00

Note that the average earnings will vary by both major and intended career, so this is not a perfect metric, but should serve as a good starting point.

University of California-Santa Barbara Financial Aid Resources

If you are looking for more information about financial aid and scholarships at UC-Santa Barbara or have questions that are specific to your personal situation, we recommend that you reach out directly to the financial aid office!