Verified data from IPEDS & College Scorecard

UC Irvine vs UC Santa Barbara

Irvine, CA · Santa Barbara, CA · Source: IPEDS federal database

UC IrvineUC Santa Barbara
Acceptance Rate28.6%33.0%
In-State Tuition$15,722$16,414
Out-of-State Tuition$49,922$50,614
Average Net Price$15,889$17,658
Graduation Rate87.0%83.0%
Total Enrollment37,29726,133
Student-Faculty Ratio1917

GradFax Analysis

UC Irvine accepts 28.6% of applicants. UC Santa Barbara accepts 33.0%. Tuition is close: $15,722 at UC Irvine, $16,414 at UC Santa Barbara. UC Irvine graduates 87% of students in 6 years. UC Santa Barbara graduates 83%.

Bottom Line

Both are solid options. Get the actual aid estimates from each school and compare them side by side. The averages above won't tell your specific story.

Source: IPEDS: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System

Full interactive comparison →UC Irvine profileUC Santa Barbara profile

Common Questions

Which is harder to get into, UC Irvine or UC Santa Barbara?

UC Irvine. It accepts 28.6% of applicants, per IPEDS data.

Source: IPEDS

Is UC Irvine or UC Santa Barbara more affordable?

UC Irvine, on average. After aid, students pay $15,889/year versus $17,658/year. Your number depends on your aid package.

Source: IPEDS

Which has a better graduation rate?

UC Irvine: 87% of students finish in 6 years. UC Santa Barbara is at 83%.

Source: IPEDS

Data from IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System), a federal database maintained by the U.S. Department of Education. Figures represent the most recent available academic year.