University of California-Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, California · Public · 23,113 undergraduates
Of 48 programs with reported earnings, 47 leave graduates out-earning a typical California high-school graduate (about $36,976/yr) and 1 fall short. Another 101 programs did not have enough data to judge.
What families actually pay
| Family income | Net price per year |
|---|---|
| Under $30k | $9,231 |
| $30k to $48k | $9,992 |
| $48k to $75k | $12,588 |
| $75k to $110k | $17,136 |
| $110k and up | $31,863 |
| All families (average) | $16,109 |
Net price is the yearly cost after grants and scholarships, by family income (College Scorecard). Credit: TuitionTracker.
Program earnings vs a high-school graduate
| Program | Credential | Median earnings | vs HS grad | Verdict | Median debt | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sociology | Bachelor's Degree | $60,013 | +$23,037 | clears the bar | $13,500 | 0.6 yrs |
| Economics | Bachelor's Degree | $98,178 | +$61,202 | clears the bar | $13,440 | 0.2 yrs |
| Research and Experimental Psychology | Bachelor's Degree | $66,171 | +$29,195 | clears the bar | $14,500 | 0.5 yrs |
| Communication and Media Studies | Bachelor's Degree | $72,976 | +$36,000 | clears the bar | $13,000 | 0.4 yrs |
| Biology, General | Bachelor's Degree | $64,520 | +$27,544 | clears the bar | $14,500 | 0.5 yrs |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | Bachelor's Degree | $63,628 | +$26,652 | clears the bar | $16,200 | 0.6 yrs |
| Statistics | Bachelor's Degree | $90,778 | +$53,802 | clears the bar | $17,167 | 0.3 yrs |
| Political Science and Government | Bachelor's Degree | $70,384 | +$33,408 | clears the bar | $15,033 | 0.4 yrs |
| Applied Mathematics | Bachelor's Degree | $109,360 | +$72,384 | clears the bar | $17,000 | 0.2 yrs |
| International/Globalization Studies | Bachelor's Degree | $66,127 | +$29,151 | clears the bar | $14,724 | 0.5 yrs |
| English Language and Literature, General | Bachelor's Degree | $59,334 | +$22,358 | clears the bar | $16,892 | 0.8 yrs |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | Bachelor's Degree | $49,893 | +$12,917 | clears the bar | $15,000 | 1.2 yrs |
| Computer Science | Bachelor's Degree | $149,190 | +$112,214 | clears the bar | $13,500 | 0.1 yrs |
| Physics | Bachelor's Degree | $85,219 | +$48,243 | clears the bar | $15,965 | 0.3 yrs |
| History | Bachelor's Degree | $59,342 | +$22,366 | clears the bar | $14,282 | 0.6 yrs |
Showing the 15 largest programs by graduates. See all 48 on the full profile.
Access and outcomes: 28% of students receive Pell grants · 83% complete their program.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (release 2026-06-10). Earnings are median earnings of graduates measured up to four years after completing, compared to the state high-school-graduate earnings threshold. Figures describe past graduates and are never a promise. Method: methodology. Something look wrong? Report it.