Academics & admin
Campus Learning Assistance Services (CLAS)
UCSB's free campus tutoring service: content-specific tutoring for specific courses and fundamental-skills tutoring.
UCSB at a glance
23,113
undergrads
33%
of applicants admitted
93%
come back for year 2
88%
graduate
17 : 1
students per teacher
$82,568
typical pay 10 years in
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard.
What a year really costs
After grants and scholarships, by family income. Average: $16,807.
Under $30k $9,523
$30k–$48k $10,281
$48k–$75k $14,181
$75k–$110k $18,954
Over $110k $36,658
Tuition, in state
$16,989
Tuition, out of state
$54,591
Typical debt at graduation
$11,776
32% of students get a Pell Grant
Free stuff most students miss
Getting around
MTD buses (free with your student ID)
UCSB students ride ALL Santa Barbara MTD buses between Goleta and Carpinteria for FREE: tap your ACCESS student ID card on top of the farebox when…
Health & safety
Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS)
Free counseling for registered students. Call 805-893-4411 any time, 24/7, including holidays, for phone consultation.
Health & safety
CSO Safety Escort
FREE walking or biking escort from a trained student safety officer, anywhere on campus and in Isla Vista, 24/7, 365 days a year.
Eat
Dining halls, quick bites and coffee on campus.
De La Guerra Dining Commons
Dining hall De La Guerra ('DLG') is the dining commons for the Channel Islands halls near Campus Point; all-you-care-to-eat.
De La Guerra Rd
Carrillo Dining Commons
Dining hall Carrillo Dining Commons sits in Manzanita Village, minutes from the ocean bluffs, with indoor and patio seating; all-you-care-to-eat.
Carrillo Rd
Portola Dining Commons
Dining hall Portola is the largest of UCSB's dining commons, next to Santa Catalina Hall and San Joaquin Villages; all-you-care-to-eat.
Portola Rd
Takeout at Ortega Commons
Dining hall Takeout-only dining commons in the middle of campus, near the San Miguel and San Nicolas towers: grab a meal to go on weekdays.
Ortega Rd Food pantry
AS Food Bank
Food pantry FREE fresh produce, pantry staples and basic care products for currently enrolled UCSB undergraduate and graduate students.
University Center (UCen), 2nd floor, Ortega-side entrance
The Arbor
Cafe Much more than a convenience store: fresh grab & go sandwiches, salads and baked goods (vegan and vegetarian too), organic coffee and a full espresso…
The Arbor
UCen food court
Cafe The University Center's food options in one place: Panda Express and Mony's Taqueria on the 1st floor, Subway on the 2nd floor, Santorini Island…
University Center (UCen), UC Santa Barbara
Coral Tree Cafe
Cafe Made-to-order breakfast and lunch with international flavors and healthier options, plus baked goods, grab & go and a full coffee bar; big patio.
Coral Tree Cafe
Courtyard Cafe
Cafe House-made tacos plus snacks, bakery items, grab & go, coffee and espresso; Yoshinoya Japanese food is served here too. Near Parking Structure 10.
Courtyard Cafe
Root Burger
Cafe Burgers, chicken sandwiches, salads, sides and milkshakes made with local ingredients where possible, in the University Center.
University Center (UCen), UC Santa Barbara
Starbucks at the University Center
Cafe Starbucks in the UCen next to the Campus Store, with lagoon views and study-friendly seating; mobile order works here.
University Center (UCen), UC Santa Barbara
Tenaya Market & Eatery
Market Full-service neighborhood market inside San Joaquin Villages (Storke Rd & El Colegio): produce, groceries and toiletries, plus house-made pizzas…
Tenaya Market
Summit Cafe
Cafe Cafe inside the UCSB Library: grab & go sandwiches, salads, wraps, bakery items, smoothies and organic coffee.
UCSB Library, UC Santa Barbara
Miramar Food Pantry
Food pantry FREE food for registered UCSB students (undergrad or grad) earning under $17,130 a year (family income, financial aid, scholarships, TA-ships and…
Sierra Madre Villages (between Rec Room and Fitness Center)
The Store at Buchanan
Market Tiny shop between Phelps Hall, Ellison Hall and Physical Sciences: snacks, coffee and espresso, grab & go sandwiches and salads, school supplies.
Buchanan Hall
The Corner Store
Market Quick stop in the University Center for bulk candy and nuts, grab & go sandwiches and salads, drinks and snacks.
University Center (UCen), UC Santa BarbaraWhere to live
Residence halls, apartments and help finding a place.
Anacapa Residence Hall
Residence hall Two-story main-campus residence hall for about 600 undergraduates, a short walk from Campus Point Beach, one of Santa Barbara's most popular surf…
Anacapa Residence Hall (Bldg 547), UC Santa Barbara
Manzanita Village
Residence hall Residence hall for about 1,100 undergraduates on the bluffs above the Pacific and the campus lagoon, split across seventeen buildings so each…
Manzanita Village, UC Santa Barbara
San Miguel Residence Hall
Residence hall One of the two main-campus tower halls: about 475 undergraduates on eight floors and sixteen halls, with lagoon, ocean, mountain or campus views.
San Miguel Hall
San Nicolas Residence Hall
Residence hall Main-campus tower hall for about 525 undergraduates with views of the campus and lagoon; Campus Point Beach is a five-minute walk.
San Nicolas Hall
Santa Cruz Residence Hall
Residence hall Two-story main-campus residence hall for about 600 undergraduates near Campus Point Beach.
Santa Cruz Hall
San Rafael Residence Hall
Residence hall Main-campus residence hall for about 575 undergraduates in a tower plus clusters, next to Manzanita Village.
San Rafael Residence Hall, UC Santa Barbara
Santa Catalina Residence Hall
Residence hall UCSB's LARGEST residence hall: about 1,475 undergraduates in two towers (North Tower 11 floors, South Tower 10), with ocean and mountain views.
Santa Catalina Residence Hall (Bldg 860), UC Santa Barbara
Channel Islands Five (main-campus hall area)
Residence hall area 'Chi-5' (Channel Islands Five) is the nickname for the main-campus residence-hall area around De La Guerra Dining Commons near Campus Point.
De La Guerra Dining Commons area, UC Santa Barbara
El Dorado Apartments
Undergraduate apartment University apartments for about 140 third- and fourth-year undergraduates, built around a community pool, sundeck and BBQ area, with a classroom and…
El Dorado Apartments (Bldg 945)
Santa Ynez Apartments
Undergraduate apartment Apartment complex for about 800 third- and fourth-year undergraduates between main campus and Isla Vista, on the bus and an off-street bike path…
Santa Ynez Apartments
Westgate Apartments
Undergraduate apartment Small complex of about 60 third- and fourth-year undergraduates at the west entrance of campus, with a pool, BBQ area and a TV lounge, reachable by…
Westgate Apartments (Bldg 947)
San Joaquin Villages
Undergraduate apartment UCSB's newest undergraduate apartment complex: about 1,000 third- and fourth-year students in apartment towers and clusters, with four…
650 & 750 Storke Road (San Joaquin Villages)
Sierra Madre Villages
Undergraduate apartment Apartments for about 500 third- and fourth-year undergraduates, next to four bus lines and about a 10-minute bike ride from the middle of campus.
Sierra Madre Villages
San Clemente Villages (graduate)
Graduate apartment Graduate-student apartment complex for about 964 residents at the west entrance of campus, on the bus and off-street bike paths (about 5 minutes by…
San Clemente Villages, El Colegio Rd
Storke Family Student Housing
Family student housing Apartments for 300+ UCSB students and their families, built around big lawns and courtyards with picnic tables and BBQs throughout, plus a community…
786 Laurel Walk (Storke Family Student Housing)
West Campus Family Student Housing
Family student housing The least expensive housing option at UC Santa Barbara: apartments for about 250 students and their families around large fenced lawns, with a…
555 Storke Rd (West Campus Family Student Housing) Off campus housing
University & Community Housing Services (off-campus rentals)
Off campus housing The office to go to when you are renting off campus, in Isla Vista, Goleta or Santa Barbara.
University Center (UCen) Room 3151, UC Santa Barbara
Isla Vista: living off campus
Off campus housing Isla Vista (IV) is the beachside neighborhood right next to campus, full of student apartments and houses.
Basic needs
Food Security & Basic Needs Advising Center (SNAC)
Basic needs Walk-in peer advising for anything that gets in the way of eating, housing, technology or money.
University Center (UCen), across from the Campus StoreGet around
Shuttles, parking and accessible rides.
MTD buses (free with your student ID)
Bus UCSB students ride ALL Santa Barbara MTD buses between Goleta and Carpinteria for FREE: tap your ACCESS student ID card on top of the farebox when…
North Hall Bus Loop, UC Santa Barbara Parking
Transportation & Parking Services (TPS)
Parking Parking at UCSB runs on ePermits: your license plate IS your permit, so register the right plate and keep it visible from the drive aisle.
6789 Navigator Way (Building 895)
A.S. Bike Shop
Bike Student-run, nonprofit bike repair shop that has served UCSB since 1975. Bring your bike in for repairs or come learn to fix it yourself.
Building 344, north of the Bus Loop, UC Santa Barbara
Bike registration, lock cuts & bike lockers
Bike Bike registration is Legally required to ride on campus.
Public Safety Building (Bldg 574), UC Santa Barbara
Campus bike paths & bike parking
Bike UCSB is a bike campus: more than 10,000 people bike to and from campus every day on a network of campus bike paths, with self-service tool and…
Main campus bike parking, UC Santa Barbara Train
Amtrak to Goleta + free campus shuttle
Train Getting home or to LA by train: the Pacific Surfliner stops at Goleta Station.
Goleta Amtrak Station, S La Patera LnMajors that pay most at UCSB
Typical pay 4 years after graduating. Top 6 of 40 bachelor's majors with published pay.
Computer Science $149,190
Computer Engineering $144,703
Electrical Engineering $117,215
Chemical Engineering $113,317
Applied Mathematics $109,360
Mechanical Engineering $104,336
Source: College Scorecard, field-of-study data.
Your UCSB checklist
5 things worth doing early
When you need help
5 things UCSB freshmen figure out too late
Watch the video1 Bad grade year one? Swap it for an NP
"Within their first three academic terms (Fall/Winter/Spring) post-matriculation, undergraduate students who were in good standing during the term in which the course was offered may, within one subsequent term, retroactively change a final letter grade of C- or lower to the P/NP grading option, resulting in a NP grade for that course." P/NP grades stay out of the GPA, but "No credit is given for courses graded NP." Courses required for your major or minor must be letter-graded.
2 Disrupt a class? You can be kicked out
"an instructor may exclude from class, either temporarily or permanently, any student whose conduct is disruptive toward the instructor or other members of the class." The instructor warns the student first, then must "Notify their department Chair for review of the matter and, in cases where the student is being permanently excluded from the class, inform the appropriate Dean".
3 Graduation honors are graded on a curve
"If all graduation requirements are met, honors are awarded by each college as approved by the Undergraduate Council. Honors are awarded to the top 20% in the following order:" The cutoffs move: "The grade-point average thresholds for the above honors categories are calculated based on the population of graduates from the preceding academic year." You also need "at least 60 letter graded units" within the University of California.
4 Turn in your work and UCSB owns it
"All material, of whatever nature, submitted by a student in satisfaction of all or any portion of a course requirement is the property of the university and is not subject to any claim on the part of the student who has submitted it." Work made outside a course has its own rule: "Any material produced by a student independent of any course requirement must be removed from university premises no later than the last day of the quarter in which the work was produced."
5 Record the lecture — Gus makes the notes, flashcards and quiz
Gus is an AI college companion built around your actual classes. Record a lecture and it writes the notes, pulls out the key topics, builds a flashcard deck, and makes a practice quiz from what was actually said. The flashcards come back on a spaced-review schedule, so the thing you missed shows up again right before you would have forgotten it. It is free to try.
One more thing
Walking is not graduating at UCSB
"All candidates for undergraduate degrees must declare their candidacy for graduation on GOLD no later than the second week in the quarter in which the degree is anticipated. Declaring candidacy on GOLD is the only way to officially graduate and receive your degree and diploma from UCSB."
UCSB Catalog — Declaring CandidacyUC Online class? It may not count
"To obtain pre-major, major, and/or General Education credit for a course taken through the Cross-Campus Enrollment program students must submit a petition AFTER they complete the course. Students will not obtain pre-major, major, or General Education credit for most courses."
UCSB Catalog — Additional Enrollment OpportunitiesGus is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by UC Santa Barbara. Tips checked against UCSB's own pages in October 2026. Campus info last updated October 2026. Stats from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Something out of date? hello@meetgus.app · All campus guides