Santa Barbara, CA · Private University
Is UC Santa Barbara Worth It?
ROI analysis based on real earnings and cost data
Key Numbers
10-Year Earnings
$74,915
median, 10 years after enrollment
In-State Tuition
$14,965
per year
Out-of-State Tuition
$45,742
per year
Total 4-Year Cost
$182,968
tuition only (4 years)
ROI Ratio
1.64x
earnings ÷ annual tuition
Payback Period
4.6 yrs
years to recoup total cost
Graduation Rate
85.3%
6-year graduation rate
Median Debt
$13,993
at graduation
Avg Net Price
$13,825
after aid & scholarships
Earnings vs. Annual Cost
10-year median earnings compared to annual tuition
University of California-Santa Barbara graduates earn $29,915 more than the national median of workers with any education level.
What You'd Actually Pay
Average net price after grants and scholarships, by family income
Source: IPEDS net price data. Actual costs vary based on individual financial circumstances.
Highest-Earning Majors
Top programs at University of California-Santa Barbara ranked by graduate earnings
62 graduates
29 graduates
40 graduates
72 graduates
301 graduates
Earnings shown are 4-year post-graduation medians where available, otherwise 1-year medians.
ROI by Major at University of California-Santa Barbara
All available majors ranked by graduate earnings — your major matters as much as your school.
Your major matters more than your school
At University of California-Santa Barbara, the gap between the highest-earning major (Computer Science: $118,830) and the lowest (Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft: $37,108) is $81,722/yr — bigger than the difference between many schools.
| Major | Earnings | ROI |
|---|---|---|
| Computer ScienceBest ROI | $118,830 | 2.6x |
| Computer Engineering | $114,658 | 2.5x |
| Pharmacology and Toxicology | $97,773 | 2.1x |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | $90,796 | 2.0x |
| Mechanical Engineering | $90,072 | 2.0x |
| Physics | $88,722 | 1.9x |
| Economics | $88,311 | 1.9x |
| Chemical Engineering | $87,132 | 1.9x |
| Applied Mathematics | $86,227 | 1.9x |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | $86,107 | 1.9x |
| Statistics | $81,375 | 1.8x |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | $71,720 | 1.6x |
| Chemistry | $64,903 | 1.4x |
| Mathematics | $64,574 | 1.4x |
| Political Science and Government | $62,470 | 1.4x |
| Communication and Media Studies | $61,114 | 1.3x |
| Biology, General | $57,735 | 1.3x |
| Geography and Cartography | $57,435 | 1.3x |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | $57,262 | 1.3x |
| Microbiological Sciences and Immunology | $55,657 | 1.2x |
| Research and Experimental Psychology | $53,297 | 1.2x |
| International/Global Studies | $52,229 | 1.1x |
| Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services | $51,160 | 1.1x |
| Sociology | $50,703 | 1.1x |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $49,027 | 1.1x |
| Anthropology | $48,435 | 1.1x |
| Philosophy | $48,289 | 1.1x |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | $47,214 | 1.0x |
| History | $47,117 | 1.0x |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies | $46,808 | 1.0x |
| English Language and Literature, General | $46,505 | 1.0x |
| Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology | $44,113 | 1.0x |
| Zoology/Animal Biology | $41,245 | 0.9x |
| Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences | $40,765 | 0.9x |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and StagecraftLowest | $37,108 | 0.8x |
Earnings are 4-year post-graduation medians where available, otherwise 5-year or 1-year. ROI = earnings ÷ annual tuition.
The Bottom Line
University of California-Santa Barbara offers solid financial returns relative to its cost. Graduates earn $74,915 10 years after starting — $29,915 above the national median of $45,000. The investment pays for itself in roughly 4.6 years — faster than most colleges.
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Earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Tuition data from IPEDS. ROI calculations are for informational purposes only and reflect median outcomes.