UC Santa Barbara vs University of Nevada-Reno (UNR)

Nestled along the scenic California coast and amidst the vibrant city of Reno, University of California-Santa Barbara (UCSB) and University of Nevada-Reno (UNR) stand as two distinct academic havens, each offering a unique educational experience. While both institutions share a commitment to academic excellence, they differ in several key aspects, including acceptance rates, popular majors, student body demographics, and graduation rates. This side-by-side comparison delves into these differences, providing valuable insights for prospective students seeking the ideal fit for their academic aspirations and personal preferences. Explore the comprehensive table below to discover which university aligns best with your goals and aspirations, considering factors such as acceptance rates, popular majors, student body diversity, and graduation outcomes.
University of California-Santa Barbara logo

University of California-Santa Barbara

University of Nevada-Reno logo

University of Nevada-Reno

Overview

Location Santa Barbara, California Reno, Nevada
Campus setting Suburb: Midsize City: Large
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Public Public
Calendar system Quarter Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 91.0% 78.0%
Common app member No Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 29.2% 88.2%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $70

Graduate: $120
Undergraduate: $60

Graduate: $60
SAT range N/A 1060 - 1270
ACT range N/A 20 - 26
Students submitting SAT score 12.0%
Students submitting ACT score 60.0%
Total number of applicants 105,641 9,421
Total number of admissions given out 30,824 8,306
Admitted students who chose to enroll 4,900 3,412
Yield rate 15.9% 41.1%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Required
Recommendation letters Not required Not required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Required Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price
In state: $35,374

Out of state: $65,128
In state: $26,796

Out of state: $42,888
Average net price $17,333 $16,398
Tuition
In state: $11,442

Out of state: $41,196
In state: $7,470

Out of state: $23,562
Room & board $16,699
Room/dormitory: $5,850

Meal plan: $5,792
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

53.0%
Average amount $18,107
86.0%
Average amount $7,232
Students receiving federal student loan 11.0%
Average amount $4,576
29.0%
Average amount $5,001
Students taking out private loans 3.0%
Average amount $10,788
4.0%
Average amount $12,013

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 23,091
Men 43.8% Women 56.2%
17,025
Men 47.1% Women 52.9%
Graduate students 3,033
Men 53.2% Women 46.8%
4,009
Men 39.3% Women 60.7%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Moderate
Moderate
Out-of-state students 13.2% 26.1%
International students 13.4% 2.8%
Campus local/setting Suburb: Midsize City: Large
Dormitory capacity 11,031 3,524
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from California Washington Colorado Texas New York Nevada California Hawaii Oregon Washington

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Engineering
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
  • Social Sciences
  • Mathematics and Statistics
  • Physical Science
  • Health Professions
  • Engineering
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
  • Public Administration and Social Service
  • Social Sciences
Students to faculty ratio 17:1 17:1
Institutional accreditation Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities

Outcome

Graduation rate 85.4% 62.7%
Dropout rate 14.0% 34.1%
Transferred out N/A N/A
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $86,276
  • Year 2: $81,554
  • Year 3: $96,623
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $83,726
  • Year 2: $76,773
  • Year 3: $94,355
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $70,445
  • Year 2: $72,134
  • Year 3: $88,523
Chemical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $61,540
  • Year 2: $59,485
  • Year 3: $73,916
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $68,678
  • Year 2: $60,452
  • Year 3: $73,907
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $59,465
  • Year 2: $60,790
  • Year 3: $73,844
Applied Mathematics (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $49,765
  • Year 2: $59,536
  • Year 3: $71,984
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $54,194
  • Year 2: $52,107
  • Year 3: $71,014
Natural Resources Conservation and Research (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $51,972
  • Year 2: $57,860
  • Year 3: $70,694
Statistics (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $46,652
  • Year 2: $47,650
  • Year 3: $66,826
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $101,016
  • Year 2: $104,192
  • Year 3: $106,685
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $79,284
  • Year 3: $89,037
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $79,780
  • Year 2: $82,440
  • Year 3: $86,482
Mining and Mineral Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $69,338
  • Year 3: $82,783
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $63,402
  • Year 2: $67,473
  • Year 3: $78,990
Civil Engineering (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $60,203
  • Year 2: $66,169
  • Year 3: $77,729
Psychology, General (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $57,770
  • Year 3: $75,701
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $69,757
  • Year 2: $69,161
  • Year 3: $74,927
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $61,629
  • Year 2: $67,324
  • Year 3: $73,298
Medicine (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $56,591
  • Year 2: $57,995
  • Year 3: $71,617

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