In Pursuit of Excellence
Thank you for your work as ambassadors of UC Santa Barbara! The following page has the most up-to-date facts and achievements to help you in your advocacy. Please feel free to reference this page when you meet with others to convey the power and potential of UC Santa Barbara.
You can also download a condensed version of these facts to keep as a quick reference.
Academic Success & Leadership
UC Santa Barbara is an elite research university on the edge of the Pacific Ocean. In our dynamic environment, research and education unite to produce discoveries that lead California and the world.
No. 8
Times Higher Education Interdisciplinary Science Rankings, Worldwide, 2025
No. 12
Forbes Magazine Best Colleges Rankings, 2025
No. 12
Princeton Review Top 20 Best Career Placement Universities, 2025
No. 19
Best University for Social Mobility U.S. News & World Report, 2025
- Globally, UC Santa Barbara ranked No. 179 out of over 1,5000 global institutions, according to the 2026 QS World University Rankings
- In the 2024-2025 Nature Index, UC Santa Barbara ranks No. 37 among all U.S. research institutions. This means that UCSB is one of the top producers of high-impact science in the country, and our research is appearing in the most selective scientific journals worldwide
- Our faculty includes top recipients of the Pulitzer Prize, the Millenium Technology Prize, the National Medal of Technology and Innovation and the Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics, the National Book Award, and an Emmy Award
- UC Santa Barbara is a pioneer of diverse programs and majors, including Black studies (1968), Chicana/o studies (1969), environmental studies (1970), feminist studies (1988), and Asian American studies (1995)
- For 15 years running, UC Santa Barbara has ranked among the top two public universities in the U.S. for scientific influence (Leiden 2025). This means our researchers are publishing the breakthrough papers that other scientists rely on and cite most.
U.S. News & World Report
The U.S. News & World Report 2026 Best Colleges report included UCSB in multiple rankings:
- No. 14 public school among national universities
- No. 41 overall national university
- No. 21 best college for veterans
- No.19 best national university for social mobility
U.S. News also ranked UC Santa Barbara undergraduate programs in psychology (33), computer science (35), engineering (42) and economics (44) among the top 50 programs of their kind nationwide, along with graduate programs in materials (3), physics (9), ecology and evolutionary biology (12), chemistry (24) and sociology (36), among several others.
Opportunity & Learning
Academic excellence at UC Santa Barbara is measured by distinction and access. Students learn alongside world-class faculty in a rigorous environment designed to foster curiosity and engagement.
4.0+ GPA
for high school of 90% of enrolled freshmen
17:1 student-faculty ratio
Small class sizes and a personalized learning environment
Over 50%
of undergraduates who participate in faculty-led research
28%
The share of Pell Grant recipients enrolled
Quick Facts
These facts highlight the people, programs, and infrastructure that comprise our university.
1944
Established as a UC campus
Read more about UCSB history: ucsb.edu/about/history
200+
Majors and credentials
10
National institutes and centers
7
Natural Reserves
Learn more about the reserves here:
nrs.ucsb.edu/our-reserves
90+
Startups based on UCSB Technology
20
Division I sports
Learn more about UCSB athletics: ucsbgauchos.com
23,000 undergraduates
3,000 graduate students
1,200 faculty
1,127
acres
7+ miles
of bike path
It is also designated a Platinum-level "Bicycle Friendly University".
2.5 miles
of coastline along the Pacific Ocean
Notable News
UC Santa Barbara celebrates Nobel Prize winners
Eight UC Santa Barbara researchers and one alumna have won the Nobel Prize, including the 2025 Nobel Prize in Physics, which went to UCSB faculty John Martinis and Michel Devoret.
