University of California, Santa Barbara

In 2022, tuition for full-time students at University of California, Santa Barbara was $13,104 a year for in-state students and $44,130 a year for out-of-state students.

Usually, college tuition rises about 3% year.

If these numbers feel scary, remember, the advertized cost of tuition doesn't tell the full story. Many students pay way less than the sticker price after grants, scholarships, and tuition discounts are applied. And, student loans can make theprice of collegemore manageable until after graduation.

Tuition for international students at University of California, Santa Barbara is $44,130 per year.

Does University of California, Santa Barbara Offer In-State and Out-of-State Tuition?

University of California, Santa Barbara is a public, state institution, so it offers a reduced tuition rate of $13,104 for students who qualify as state residents and attend full-time.Non-California residents can expect to pay 44,130 per year for tuition.

Public schools receive funds from the state to help them cover costs. Public, state schools can offer lower tuition for students who meet the requirements for in-state residency.

Choosing a college where you qualify for in-state residency can cut the cost of college tuition. Don't forget to verify your state's criteria for as an in-state resident. Every state has its own rules about what makes someone eligible for in-state tuition. Most states require students to have resided in the state for a certain period of time before qualifying. There may be additional requirements as well, 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?

UC 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 $44,130 per year, before any scholarships, grants or other financial aid.

Students from outside of the U.S. are not eligible for loans or grants from the U.S. government, but may qualify for private or school-specific grants, scholarships, and other funding opportunities..

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

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In addition to tuition, room and board, books, transportation and fees are also costs it consider when planning for college. Let's take a look at what impacts these costs, and what to expect at UC Santa Barbara.

Room and Board Costs at UC Santa Barbara

Room and board at UC Santa Barbara costs $16,515 a year. This covers the cost of living in dorms or other on-campus housing, plus a meal plan that allows you to eat all or some of your meals the school dining halls.

Board costs may vary depending on the numnber of meals you intend to eat on-campus

How Much Do Books Cost at UC 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.

Yearly Fees

The majority of colleges also have fees to offsets cost associated with maintaining facilties, like the computer labs and libraries, athletic facilities, and more.

Keep in mind, there could also be optional fees associated with participating in special activities, like Greek Life, or playing on an intramural sports team. Many schools have resources for students with demonstrated need to get help covering these costs.

Transportation costs

The total cost of getting around in college can really vary. Will you take a subway, car or an airplane to get to school? Is on-campus parking free, or will you need to budget for parking? Is the campus small enough that you can easily walk from class-to-class?? Do you own a car, or will you need to use busses, subways, or other modes of transportation? All of these questions can drastically impact your estimated cost of transportation. At UC Santa Barbara, freshman are allowed to park on campus.

A school's location can impact your transportation budget. Small, rural schools may be easier to get around, but the cost of getting to campus may be higher. On the other hand getting around in an urban area can be expensive, but there may be more trains, busses and low-cost flight options to actually get to school. University of California, Santa Barbarais located in a suburban setting in California.

Other Costs

When you're planning for college, don’t forget to consider the cost of things like movies, takeouts, furniture or appliances for your dorm or housing, and essentials like laundry detergent, toothpaste and toilet paper.

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The Full Cost of Attending 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 estimate of how much students can expect to shell out for UC Santa Barbara.

How Much Does UC Santa Barbara Cost?

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

2022 Total Tuition and Expenses
In-state Tuition	$13,104
Out-of-State Tuition	$44,130
Room and Board	$16,515
Other expenses	$1,440

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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University of California, Santa Barbara Financial Aid

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In 2022, 11,165 of the 23,091 undergrads enrolled received financial aid. UC Santa Barbara meets 78.1% of the demonstrated financial need for undergraduates.

The average financial aid package for a full-time, first-year student is around $24,798 a year. Around 43% of UC Santa Barbara undergrads take out student loans to cover any remaining costs. UC Santa Barbara graduates who have student loans graduate with an average of $18,508 of student loan debt.

The average debt for each loan type varies.

Average Debt By Loan Type
Federal Loans	$16,560
State Loans	$8,810
UC Santa Barbara-Specific Loans	$1,612
Private Loans	$35,058

Most Common Loans for UC Santa Barbara Students
Federal Loans	41%
State loans	1%
Institutional Loans	3%
Private loans	3%

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 UC 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 2022, UC Santa Barbara awarded 10,898 need-based scholarships to students, giving away total of $236.6 million to help students with financial need cover the cost of school. An additional $9.17 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 UC 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 UC Santa Barbara was $24,798 in 2022. By substracting the average financial aid package from the estimated costs, we get a number that may make the cost of UC Santa Barbara seem more manageable.

Estimated Net Cost for Full-Time Students
In-State, On-Campus	$-15,313
Net In-state, Off-campus	$-3,497
Out-of-State, On-Campus	$40,511

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 UC 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 make more informed decisions about the actual cost of attending that school, based on their financial situation. You can find the UC 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 waiver tuition for certain groups, to offset the cost of attending. Some colleges offer tuition waivers for faculty, staff, and their families , underrepresented students, or military students. Even with a tuition waiver, students are usually responsible for housing, meal plans, and other expenses.

UC Santa Barbara has some full or partial tuition waivers available for: - Employees or Children of Employees

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

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Learn More About University of California, Santa Barbara

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Choose one of the options below to find out more about about UC Santa Barbara:

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