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College Comparison

UC Santa Barbara vs Middlebury College: Which is Better?

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

School

UC Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, CA

School

Middlebury College

Middlebury, VT

Head-to-Head Stats

MetricUC Santa BarbaraMiddlebury
Acceptance Rate27.8%10.4%wins
SAT Range (25th–75th)N/A1430–1550wins
ACT Range (25th–75th)N/A33–34
Tuition (Out-of-State)$45,742wins$65,280
Avg Net Price$13,825wins$25,934
Median Earnings (10 yr)$74,915$76,310wins
Graduation Rate85.3%92.6%wins
Retention Rate91.9%93.6%wins
Student–Faculty Ratio17:19:1wins
Total Enrollment23,205wins2,785

Verdict

Based on the data above, Middlebury edges out UC Santa Barbara on 6 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.

UC Santa Barbara Strengths

  • Tuition (Out-of-State): $45,742
  • Avg Net Price: $13,825
  • Total Enrollment: 23,205

Middlebury Strengths

  • Acceptance Rate: 10.4%
  • SAT Range (25th–75th): 1430–1550
  • Median Earnings (10 yr): $76,310
  • Graduation Rate: 92.6%

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