UC Santa Barbara vs CSU-FC
Nestled in the vibrant coastal town of Santa Barbara, California, and the scenic foothills of Fort Collins, Colorado, the University of California-Santa Barbara (UCSB) and Colorado State University-Fort Collins (CSU) stand as two distinct beacons of higher education. While both institutions share a commitment to academic excellence and student success, they offer unique experiences shaped by their diverse locations, academic strengths, and student demographics. With UCSB boasting a lower acceptance rate, a higher proportion of international students, and a focus on research-intensive programs, it contrasts with CSU's more accessible admissions, larger student body, and emphasis on hands-on learning. Explore our comprehensive comparison table to delve into the details and discover which university aligns best with your aspirations and goals.
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![]() Colorado State University-Fort Collins |
![]() University of California-Santa Barbara |
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Overview |
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Location | Fort Collins, Colorado | Santa Barbara, California |
Campus setting | City: Midsize | Suburb: Midsize |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Public | Public |
Calendar system | Semester | Quarter |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 86.0% | 91.0% |
![]() |
Yes | No |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 89.6% | 29.2% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$50
Graduate:
$60
|
Undergraduate:
$70
Graduate:
$120
|
SAT range | 1080 - 1290 | N/A |
ACT range | 23 - 29 | N/A |
Students submitting SAT score | 38.0% | |
Students submitting ACT score | 17.0% | |
Total number of applicants | 31,586 | 105,641 |
Total number of admissions given out | 28,314 | 30,824 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 5,197 | 4,900 |
Yield rate | 18.4% | 15.9% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Required | Required |
Recommendation letters | Required | Not required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Required | Required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price |
In state:
$27,174
Out of state:
$46,456
|
In state:
$35,374
Out of state:
$65,128
|
Average net price | $18,320 | $17,333 |
Tuition |
In state:
$9,709
Out of state:
$28,991
|
In state:
$11,442
Out of state:
$41,196
|
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$6,186
Meal plan:
$6,830
|
$16,699 |
Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
70.0%
Average amount $10,034 |
53.0%
Average amount $18,107 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
36.0%
Average amount $5,018 |
11.0%
Average amount $4,576 |
Students taking out private loans |
7.0%
Average amount $19,976 |
3.0%
Average amount $10,788 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
24,954
Men 45.6% Women 54.4% |
23,091
Men 43.8% Women 56.2% |
Graduate students |
7,632
Men 43.7% Women 56.3% |
3,033
Men 53.2% Women 46.8% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Low
|
Moderate
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Out-of-state students | 34.3% | 13.2% |
International students | 4.8% | 13.4% |
Campus local/setting | City: Midsize | Suburb: Midsize |
Dormitory capacity | 8,300 | 11,031 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | Colorado California Texas Illinois Washington | California Washington Colorado Texas New York |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 17:1 | 17:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Higher Learning Commission | Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 69.1% | 85.4% |
Dropout rate | 18.5% | 14.0% |
Transferred out | 10.4% | N/A |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Business/Commerce, General (Master's Degrees)
Engineering, General (Master's Degrees)
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Chemistry (Doctoral Degrees)
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Veterinary Medicine (First Professional Degrees)
Information Science/Studies (Master's Degrees)
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Biomedical/Medical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
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Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Chemical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Applied Mathematics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
Natural Resources Conservation and Research (Master's Degrees)
Statistics (Bachelor's Degrees)
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