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College Comparison

NYU vs UC Santa Barbara: Which is Better?

Side-by-side comparison of acceptance rates, SAT scores, tuition, earnings, and more, updated with the latest College Scorecard data.

School

NYU

New York, NY

School

UC Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, CA

Head-to-Head Stats

MetricNYUUC Santa Barbara
Acceptance Rate9.4%wins27.8%
SAT Range (25th–75th)1480–1570winsN/A
ACT Range (25th–75th)33–35N/A
Tuition (Out-of-State)$60,438$45,742wins
Avg Net Price$35,035$13,825wins
Median Earnings (10 yr)$82,509wins$74,915
Graduation Rate88.5%wins85.3%
Retention Rate95.5%wins91.9%
Student–Faculty Ratio8:1wins17:1
Total Enrollment29,430wins23,205

Verdict

Based on the data above, NYU edges out UC Santa Barbara on 7 of 9 measurable categories, including key factors like acceptance rate, earnings, and graduation rate. That said, the right choice depends heavily on your major, financial situation, and campus culture fit.

NYU Strengths

  • Acceptance Rate: 9.4%
  • SAT Range (25th–75th): 1480–1570
  • Median Earnings (10 yr): $82,509
  • Graduation Rate: 88.5%

UC Santa Barbara Strengths

  • Tuition (Out-of-State): $45,742
  • Avg Net Price: $13,825

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