University of California-Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, CA, USA

Academics

Key Academic Stats

Highest Degree Offered
Doctorate
Total Number of Students
26,124
Total Number of Undergrads
23,091
Academic Calendar

Quarter

Non Traditional Learning
  • Online Classes
  • Online Undergrad Degrees
  • Summer Sessions
  • Combined Institution Double Degree Programs
Learning Options
  • ROTC Army
  • Study Abroad
  • Honors Program
  • Teacher Certification Offered
Student:Faculty Ratio
17:1
US National: 21:1
Classroom Sizes

2-19 Students
50%
20-39 Students
24%
40-99 Students
14%
100+ Students
10%
0
100
68%
Graduate in 4 Years US National: 28%
0
100
83%
Graduate in 6 Years US National: 52%

Faculty Overview

0
100
100%
Faculty With Terminal Degree US National: 36%
Gender
Male
Female
50%
49%
Ethnicity

African American
2%
Asian/Pacific Islander
6%
White
51%
Hispanic
19%
Multi-Racial
1%
Unknown
6%

What Students Are Saying

UCSB is ranked as the 10th best public university in the United States (US News and World Report)!! Classes here are challenging but definitely manageable!
Katy from Murrieta, CA
UCSB is ranked one of the Top Public Universities in the Nation for a reason. Working on the quarter system is no joke, by the 5th week of classes you have midterms and by the 10th you have finals. There is no time to procrastinate and screw around, you have to keep up with your work in order to prosper here. You are in charge of how much work you make for yourself throughout the quarter, so make sure to pick classes that will keep you interested enough to want to do the work. Keep in mind that each professor understands that you have other classes and responsibilities but do not go easy on you because you made it into this school for a reason. Nothing that UCSB throws at you will be too much for you.
Celine from Brentwood, CA
general education classes are usually fairly easy if you put the work in. major-related classes are, of course, tougher. the shift from high school to college is something that a lot of freshman are warned about but still don't take seriously. a few of my friends are currently on academic probation and may not be able to return for their sophomore year at ucsb. it can happen to you, especially if you don't take the classes seriously.

the quarter system itself is brutal. just fair warning. that's three rounds of finals in one year, and not to mention the constant barrage of midterms. most classes have at least two midterms, if not more. there are classes with four midterms, and a final. which means a test every two weeks of the class. so if you slip up even once during such classes, your grade will suffer.

that being said, all the professors and tas are extremely helpful. i've never encountered a professor or ta who refused to help people, either by answering questions after lecture or during office hours. it may be intimidating to approach either one of them, but if you're struggling, that's the best way to understand the material. there are also tons of campus and departmental resources for help with academics.
lauren
tbh, i have heard that this really depends on the major. engineering and hard sciences will be harder than some of the social sciences, especially if the classes are honors. but, as long as you have a balanced life, you should be golden.
jack from agoura hills, ca
Plenty of challenging assignments, but have yet to come across a situation which in which I didn't have enough time to complete course work. Plenty of extra curricular activities offered, and plenty of time to participate in them.
Benjamin from Ventura, CA