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Santa Barbara Downtown (may 2012) (2) (cropped)Photo: Pierre André · CC BY-SA 4.0
Colleges in and near Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara is home to five colleges, with about 37,000 students on campus

The University of California-Santa Barbara (26,034 students on campus) and Santa Barbara City College (8,519) are inside the city. About 9% of Santa Barbara’s residents are enrolled in college, above California (8%).

Santa Barbara City CollegeWestmont CollegeUniversity of California-Santa Barbara

From the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard, June 2026; IPEDS fall 2023 enrollment) and the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, 2020–24. Straight-line distances from the center of Santa Barbara. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
6
37,832 students on campus
Nearest college
0.9 mi
Santa Barbara City College
Residents in college
9%
Above CA (8%)
Nearest community college
0.9 mi
Santa Barbara City College · $1,240 tuition
Nearest public university
7.6 mi
University of California-Santa Barbara · $16,414 in-state
Median household income
$106K
prices below start here

What stands out about college in Santa Barbara

Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.

Three colleges within 7.6 milesWestmont College admits 77% of applicants; University of California-Santa Barbara admits 33%. Together they have 35,863 students on campus.A community college 0.9 miles awaySanta Barbara City College in Santa Barbara: tuition and fees $1,240 a year for California residents.In-state price at University of California-Santa BarbaraLiving in California, the University of California-Santa Barbara charges $16,414 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $50,614. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.Students are 9% of residentsAbove California (8%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Santa Barbara

Four private colleges within 7.7 miles, one public college within 7.6 miles, and Santa Barbara City College 0.9 miles away.

5 mi10 mi15 miUniversity of California-Santa BarbaraSanta Barbara City CollegeWestmont CollegeSanta Barbara
University or collegeCommunity college
Santa Barbara City CollegeCommunity college · Public · 8,519 on campus · In Santa Barbara$11knet price34%graduate$48kearningsTuition and fees: $1,240 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Antioch University-Santa BarbaraUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 284 on campus · In Santa Barbara$52kearningsEarnings are reported for all 5 campuses that file with it.Fielding Graduate UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 803 on campus · In Santa BarbaraGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Westmont CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,310 on campus · In Santa Barbara77%admitted$29knet price70%graduate$65kearningsUniversity of California-Santa BarbaraUniversity or college · Public · 26,034 on campus · In Santa Barbara33%admitted$16knet price83%graduate$75kearningsPacifica Graduate InstituteUniversity or college · For-profit · 882 on campus · 7.7 mi · CarpinteriaGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.

Degree-granting colleges with 100 or more students on campus (fall 2023 enrollment, minus students who study only online). Admitted: share of applicants offered a place. Net price: the average a year after grants, for students on federal aid. Graduate: within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting.

What it costs

What would your family pay?

The average a year after grants, for families on federal aid, at the colleges within 15 miles. Pick your family’s income.

Family income

Starts at $75–110k, where Santa Barbara’s median household income ($106,182) falls.

Santa Barbara City CollegeIn Santa Barbara · sticker $20,394 · tuition $1,240$15,381a year
University of California-Santa BarbaraIn Santa Barbara · sticker $41,573$17,136a year
Westmont CollegeIn Santa Barbara · sticker $71,150$24,524a year

The average a year after grants and scholarships, for first-time, full-time students on federal aid, from the College Scorecard. Your own price depends on your aid package; every college has a net price calculator. For community colleges the net price counts housing and food at full cost, so tuition is shown beside it. “—”: not reported for that income.

Outcomes

Do students finish, and does it pay?

Each dot is a college within 15 miles of Santa Barbara: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.

$0$20k$40k$60k$80k0%25%50%75%100%Graduate →Santa Barbara City CollegeWestmont CollegeUniversity of California-Santa Barbara
University of California-Santa Barbara83% graduate$75k earnings$14k typical debt
Santa Barbara City College34% graduate$48k earnings$11k typical debt
Westmont College70% graduate$65k earnings$23k typical debt

Graduation: first-time, full-time students within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 years (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting, for students who got federal aid.

Majors

What students study in Santa Barbara

Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field across Santa Barbara’s 4 colleges, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.

Social sciences 21%Liberal arts 13%Psychology 8%Communication 8%Biology 7%Math & statistics 7%Everything else 36%

Biggest programs

EconomicsUniversity of California-Santa Barbara · 696 graduates a year
$98k4 yrs out
SociologyUniversity of California-Santa Barbara · 692 graduates a year
$60k4 yrs out
Research and Experimental PsychologyUniversity of California-Santa Barbara · 650 graduates a year
$66k4 yrs out
Communication and Media StudiesUniversity of California-Santa Barbara · 620 graduates a year
$73k4 yrs out
Biology, GeneralUniversity of California-Santa Barbara · 391 graduates a year
$65k4 yrs out
StatisticsUniversity of California-Santa Barbara · 355 graduates a year
$91k4 yrs out
Natural Resources Conservation and ResearchUniversity of California-Santa Barbara · 338 graduates a year
$64k4 yrs out
Political Science and GovernmentUniversity of California-Santa Barbara · 322 graduates a year
$70k4 yrs out

College Scorecard: degree shares (PCIP; each college’s six largest fields are kept, the rest count as everything else) and the field-of-study file, median earnings 4 years after graduating.

Questions about college in Santa Barbara

Is Santa Barbara a college town?

No. About 9 of every 100 Santa Barbara residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), above California (8). The largest campus in the city, the University of California-Santa Barbara, has 26,034 students on campus.

What colleges are in Santa Barbara?

The University of California-Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara City College, Westmont College, Fielding Graduate University and 1 more are inside the city.

What is the closest community college to Santa Barbara, and what does it cost?

Santa Barbara City College in Santa Barbara, 0.9 miles away. Tuition and fees are $1,240 a year for California residents; the federal net price, $11,315, counts housing and food at full cost.

How much does the University of California-Santa Barbara cost if we live in California?

Tuition and fees are $16,414 a year in-state and $50,614 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $9,231 (under $30,000 income) to $31,863 (over $110,000), housing and food included.

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Colleges: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS (Scorecard 06/10/2026 · IPEDS 2024 · fall 2023 enrollment). “On campus” is fall enrollment minus students who study only online. Distances are straight-line from the center of Santa Barbara. Residents in college, age, rent and poverty (including poverty without college students, table B14006): U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–24. Colleges are described, not graded; the College town label marks towns where 15% or more of residents are enrolled. How TownRatings describes colleges →