UC Santa Barbara vs Texas State
Envision yourself immersed in the vibrant college towns of Santa Barbara, California, and San Marcos, Texas, home to the University of California-Santa Barbara (UCSB) and Texas State University (TXST), respectively. While both institutions offer a wealth of opportunities, they possess distinct characteristics that may influence your academic journey. UCSB boasts a lower acceptance rate, indicating a more selective admissions process, while TXST welcomes a larger and more diverse student body. Explore their contrasting popular majors, ranging from engineering and biological sciences at UCSB to business and education at TXST. Discover the nuances in their graduation rates, reflecting the institutions' unique approaches to student support and academic rigor. Delve into the comparison table to uncover further insights into these universities' costs, campus life, and post-graduate outcomes, empowering you to make an informed decision that aligns with your aspirations and goals.
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![]() Texas State University |
![]() University of California-Santa Barbara |
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Overview |
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Location | San Marcos, Texas | Santa Barbara, California |
Campus setting | City: Small | 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 | 77.0% | 91.0% |
![]() |
Yes | No |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 70.0% | 29.2% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$75
Graduate:
$55
|
Undergraduate:
$70
Graduate:
$120
|
SAT range | 990 - 1180 | N/A |
ACT range | 18 - 25 | N/A |
Students submitting SAT score | 50.0% | |
Students submitting ACT score | 11.0% | |
Total number of applicants | 31,073 | 105,641 |
Total number of admissions given out | 21,748 | 30,824 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 6,650 | 4,900 |
Yield rate | 30.6% | 15.9% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Not required | Required |
Recommendation letters | Not required | Not required |
High school transcript | 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:
$26,275
Out of state:
$37,699
|
In state:
$35,374
Out of state:
$65,128
|
Average net price | $16,385 | $17,333 |
Tuition |
In state:
$8,606
Out of state:
$20,030
|
In state:
$11,442
Out of state:
$41,196
|
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$7,226
Meal plan:
$4,290
|
$16,699 |
Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
73.0%
Average amount $9,224 |
53.0%
Average amount $18,107 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
52.0%
Average amount $5,196 |
11.0%
Average amount $4,576 |
Students taking out private loans |
5.0%
Average amount $14,353 |
3.0%
Average amount $10,788 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
33,175
Men 40.4% Women 59.6% |
23,091
Men 43.8% Women 56.2% |
Graduate students |
4,689
Men 34.5% Women 65.5% |
3,033
Men 53.2% Women 46.8% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Moderate
|
Moderate
|
Out-of-state students | 2.1% | 13.2% |
International students | 1.5% | 13.4% |
Campus local/setting | City: Small | Suburb: Midsize |
Dormitory capacity | 6,853 | 11,031 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | Texas California Colorado Illinois Louisiana | 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 | 22:1 | 17:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges | Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 57.0% | 85.4% |
Dropout rate | 39.7% | 14.0% |
Transferred out | N/A | N/A |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (First Professional Degrees)
Construction Engineering Technologies (Bachelor's Degrees)
Industrial Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Accounting and Related Services (Master's Degrees)
Educational Administration and Supervision (Doctoral Degrees)
Computer and Information Sciences, General (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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