UCSB Acceptance Rate for the Classes of 2023-2027

Do you want to know the UCSB acceptance rate for freshmen and transfer applicants and the lowest GPA the university accepts for admission? You are at the right place.

For Fall 2023 the acceptance rate was 27.9% due to the increased number of applications it received. Yes, UC Santa Barbara got over 110,000 applications for the class of 2027.

I will also explain the factors used by the admission committee at UCSB when selecting the best applicants. So you may want to read this article to the end.

Let’s get into it.

UCSB acceptance rate 2023

The UCSB acceptance rate for the class of 2027 is 27.9% because the university admits about 30,000 freshman applicants yearly.

In 2023, UC Santa Barbara received 110,876 applications from applicants and admitted about 30,914 applicants, an overall acceptance rate of 27.9%.

Class of	Acceptance Rate
2027	27.9%
2026	25.9%
2025	29.2%
2024	36.6%
2023	29.6%

Compared to the admission stats for 2022, the number of applications decreased by 5%, and the acceptance rate increased by more than 2%. UC Barbara received a total of 105,647 applications for the class of 2026.

UCSB’s acceptance rate for out-of-state applicants is 38.7%, and 34.6% for international applicants. The admit rate for non-residents has been improving in the last five years.

The University of California, Santa Barbara’s acceptance rate for transfer applicants is 60.4%. This implies that out of every 1000 applicants, 600 are offered a chance to study at UCSB.

What GPA do you need to get into UCSB?

A minimum GPA of 3.0 for California residents and 3.4 for out-of-state and foreign applicants are required for undergraduate admissions as freshman applicants. A GPA of 2.4 for California residents and 2.8 for non-California residents is required for transfer students.

Whether you are applying as a freshman or transfer student, the lowest grade you should have on your school transcripts is a ‘C’. Try to get as many As and Bs as possible to increase your chances of getting into UC Santa Barbara.

Only the grades earned in your 10th and 11th grades in high school are used to calculate your preliminary GPA. Your UC GPA will be calculated at the end of the fall term you apply. To become a competitive applicant, you must have a weighted GPA of 4.21. Transfer students don’t need a GPA as high as that to get into the University of California Santa Barbara.

Just like other UCs, the University of California Santa Barbara is test-blind. This means that SAT and ACT scores are not used in admission decisions. Even though submitting your ACT or SAT scores is optional, those who have them do. Admitted freshman students have an average SAT score of 1460 and an average ACT score of 30.

Is UCSB hard to get into?

Getting into UCSB is hard, especially when you are an out-of-state applicant or international student. If you are not a legal resident of California at the time of application, gaining admission into UC Santa Barbara may be a little tough.

Also, your major can make a significant difference in your application. For example, getting into UCSB to study computer science is harder than aspiring for actuarial science.

Some colleges, like the College of Engineering, admit by major. On the other hand, the College of Letters and Science does not admit by major and is also the least competitive college at UC Santa Barbara.

I am unsure if you already know this, but transferring to UCSB is easier than applying as a freshman applicant. Attend any accredited community college in California, maintain an above-average GPA while meeting other requirements, and boom! You are in.

UC Santa Barbara is more competitive and selective than some UCs. A good example is UC San Diego which has a higher acceptance rate than UCSB.

How to Get into UC Santa Barbara

The University of California Santa Barbara admission committee uses several holistic factors to select students who are eligible for admission. They majorly select those who are more competitive than the minimum admission requirements.

The three major things they look for in applicants are subject requirements, grade point requirements, and personal life accomplishments. Don’t worry; I will explain every one of them shortly. Below are some of the requirements for admission as a freshman applicant:

1. Exceptional performance in one or more specific subject areas.
2. Unusual talents, achievements, and awards in a particular field.
3. Academic accomplishments in light of your life experiences and special circumstances.
4. Location of your secondary school and residence.
5. Completion of special projects undertaken in the context of your high school curriculum.
6. Outstanding work in one or more special projects in any academic field.
7. Academic grade point average in all concluded A-G courses.
8. Quality of your senior-year program.
9. Recent marked progress in academic performance.
10. Quality of your academic performance relative to the educational opportunities available in your high school.
11. Identification by UC as being ranked in the top 9 percent of your high school class at the end of your junior year.
12. Performance in academic courses past the minimum A-G requirements.
13. Number of and performance in UC-approved honors, Advanced Placement, and International Baccalaureate Higher Level.

Now, for transfer students:

1. Completion of a UC Transfer Pathway or an AA degree for transfer offered by a California community college.
2. Participation in academically selective honors courses.
3. Completion of a specified pattern or several courses that meet breadth.
4. Your grade point average in all transferable courses – especially in a UC Transfer Pathway.
5. Academic feats in light of your life experiences and special circumstances.
6. Location of the college and your residence.
7. Completion of special projects undertaken in the context of your college curriculum.
8. Completing a specified pattern or several courses that provide continuity with upper-division courses in the student’s major.
9. Special talents, accomplishments, and awards in a particular field.

Apart from the general selection criteria outlined above, different colleges have special admission requirements. You must pass the audition if you are applying to a music performance or dance major.

Make sure you select a second-choice major outside the college you chose as your first choice. If you are not selected for your first-choice major, you will be reviewed for your second-choice major. This applies to the College of Engineering and the College of Creative Studies.

In summary, what matters when getting into UC Santa Barbara are your GPA, extracurricular activities, essay or personal statement, residence, class rank, and taking advanced courses. Now you know the UCSB acceptance rate and its admission requirements.

Resource:

• Applying to UC Santa Barbara (ucsb.edu)