5 Videos,

17 Photos

University of California, Santa Barbara Rankings 2026

Q: What is the University of California Santa Barbara ranking in Times Higher Education rankings?

According to the Times Higher Education (THE), the University of California Santa Barbara ranks at #67 under the category of “World University Rankings 2025”. Moreover, the UC Santa Barbara popular programs are also ranked by THE such as Arts and Humanities at #84, Computer Science #62, Engineering #47, Life Science #101-125, and more. Students can check the table listed below for the parameters that are evaluated by THE while ranking UC Santa Barbara: Parameters Score Achieved Overall 72.7 Teaching 49.6 Research Environment 65.5 Research Quality 96.7 Industry 96.8 International Outlook 81.9

Santa Barbara, California, USA

3.9 /5

(13 Reviews)

1.7k Student Q&A

Shiksha popularity ranking

#123 in World

#32 in USA

View ranking details

1055 acre campus
Estd. 1891

Talk to Expert

UC Santa Barbara Ranking

Table of contents

University of California, Santa Barbara Ranking
University of California, Santa Barbara Course Ranking
University of California Santa Barbara US News & World Report Rankings 2025
University of California Santa Barbara QS Rankings 2025
University of California Santa Barbara THE (Times Higher Education) Ranking 2025
UC Santa Barbara ARWU (Shanghai Ranking) Ranking 2025
UC Santa Barbara Student Reviews

UC Santa Barbara
University of California, Santa Barbara Ranking

University of California, Santa Barbara is one of USA’s top-rated universities. Known for its wide range of courses and its teaching pedagogy, the university’s reputation reflects in its rankings from various renowned ranking bodies.

If you look at the University of California, Santa Barbara ranking for 2025, it stands at #117 globally and #31 nationally, by Shiksha Popularity Ranking. These rankings stood at #100 and #32, respectively, in 2024.

As for the university’s rank by QS, it is observed that it has moved from #179 in 2026 to now #178 in 2025. Additionally, THE (Times Higher Education) has also ranked the university at #67, in 2025.

Check out the table below showing 3-year trend of University of California, Santa Barbara ranking globally:

Ranking Body	2023	2024	2025	2026
QS	Not Ranked	163	178	179
THE	64	69	67	Not Ranked
US News	67	89	91	Not Ranked

#32

Country level

Shiksha Popularity Rank

World rank by different ranking providers

Shiksha

#123

ARWU Ranking

#70

THE Ranking

#72

US News Ranking

#91

QS Ranking

#179

Explore yearly ranking trends accroadian Down Icon

Commonly asked questions
On University Evaluation

Q: What is the ranking of University of California Santa Barbara globally?

The University of California Santa Barbara is among the top universities in USA for continuing higher education. When it comes to ranking, UC Santa Barbara is one of the top-ranked universities in the world. According to Shiksha Popularity Rankings, the University of California Santa Barbara has an overall ranking of #29 in USA. Check the table listed below for UC Santa Barbara ranking by top ranking publisher all over the world:

Ranking Publishers	Rank
Shiksha Popularity Rankings	#29 in USA and #43 in MS in USA
US News & World Report 2025	#39
Times Higher Education 2025	#67
QS World University Rankings 2025	#178
ARWU (Shanghai Ranking 2024)	#64

UC Santa Barbara
University of California, Santa Barbara Course Ranking

University of California, Santa Barbara courses are well renowned worldwide and popular among international students, including those from India.

Some of the courses offered by this university are also ranked globally and nationally by some of the top ranking bodies. The courses offered are from the field of Engineering, Law, Medicine and Health Sciences, Science and Humanities and Social Sciences. In fact in 2025, University of California, Santa Barbara has been ranked by Shiksha Popularity World Ranking and QS at global level for Engineering courses. These rankings stood at #79 and #158, respectively, in 2025. Shiksha Popularity Ranking shows a declined trend when compared to 2024 ranking that is #68.

For students interested in Law courses, university’s top courses in this category are ranked at #347 globally. This ranking is given by Shiksha Popularity World Ranking for the year 2025, showcasing a declined trend from 2024 rank of #330.

The below table highlights how some popular University of California, Santa Barbara courses perform as part of the latest Shiksha Popularity Rankings 2025:

Course Category	2023	2024	2025
Engineering	#53	#68	#79
Law	#331	#330	#347
Medicine & Health Sciences	#180	#245	#287
Science	#34	#66	#70
Humanities & Social Sciences	#66	#85	#108

Search for courses/specializations

Showing 3 Courses

#45

Shiksha popularity ranking

Shiksha

#45

ARWU

#13

US News

#14

#25

THE

#47

Explore yearly ranking trends accroadian Down Icon

Specializations in MS Program

Physics

Shiksha

ARWU

#13

#25

Explore yearly ranking trends accroadian Down Icon

Chemical Engineering

Shiksha

#15

US News

#14

Explore yearly ranking trends accroadian Down Icon

#41

Shiksha popularity ranking

M.Arch

Shiksha

#41

#201

Explore yearly ranking trends accroadian Down Icon

#44

Shiksha popularity ranking

M.A.

Shiksha

#44

#46

ARWU

#76

THE

#84

Explore yearly ranking trends accroadian Down Icon

Specializations in M.A. Program

Politics

Shiksha

#69

#301

Explore yearly ranking trends accroadian Down Icon

University of California Santa Barbara US News & World Report Rankings 2025

UC Santa Barbara ranks at #40 in 2026 edition of National Universities category. Additionally, in the world rankings, this university ranks at #91 in 2025.

Ranked by	2024	2025	2026
Global Universities	89	91	– / –
National University	35	39	40
Chemical Engineering PG	13	14	– / –
Electrical Engineering PG	26	27	– / –
Mechanical Engineering PG	27	24	– / –

University of California Santa Barbara Vs Other Universities: US News & World Report Comparison

UC Santa Barbara comparison with the other universities is given below:

University Name	2023	2024	2025
UC Santa Barbara	#32	#35	#39
UIUC	#41	#35	#33
UC Los Angeles	#20	#NA	#15
UC Riverside	#89	#76	#76

US News & World Report is renowned for offering a large variety of ranking all over the world. Some major rankings by US News & World Report include National, Global, Regional and subject-based rankings. Also, the ranking publisher checks various factors such as publications, conferences, number of publications among the 10% most cited, books, etc. The University of California Santa Barbara has received an overall score of 79. Check the table listed below to know more about U.S. News & World Report ranking criteria they considered while determining rankings of University of California Santa Barbara:

Parameter	Score/Rank
Overall Score	#79
Top Public School	#13
Best Value Schools	#200
Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs	#35
Economics	#43
Best Colleges for Veterans	#20
Top Performers on Social Mobility	#20
Average 6-year graduation rate (21%)	85%
6-year graduation rate of students who received a Pell Grant (5.5%)	82%
6-year graduation rate of students who did not receive a Pell Grant (5.5%)	87%
Student-Faculty Ratio (3%)	17:1

Also check: US News Best College Rankings Methodology

Commonly asked questions
On UC Santa Barbara US News & World Report Ranking

Q: Where does the University of California Santa Barbara rank globally?

The University of California Santa Barbara is among the top universities for continuing higher education in USA. According to US News & World Report, the University of California Santa Barbara ranks at #39 under the “Best National Universities 2025”. Also, UC Santa Barbara ranks at #13 in the “Top Public School” and #200 in “Best Value Schools”. Moreover, the University of California Santa Barbara more ranking by US News & World Report is listed below:

Particulars	Rank
Overall Score	79
Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs	#35
Economics	#43
Best Colleges for Veterans	#20
Top Performers on Social Mobility	#20

Q: Does the University of California Santa Barbara rank better than the UC Los Angeles?

The University of California Santa Barbara and UC Los Angeles both are some of the best universities in USA. According to US News & World Report, the University of California Santa Barbara ranks at #39 and the UC Los Angeles ranks at #15 under the category of “Best National Universities 2025”. Check the table listed below for UC Santa Barbara and UC Los Angeles ranking over the past years:

Year	University of California Santa Barbara	UC Los Angeles
2023	32	20
2024	35	NA
2025	39	15

University of California Santa Barbara QS Rankings 2025

QS World Rankings are being published since 2004 and it is the yearly assessment of the rankings of the universities in the world. Ranking #179 in 2026, UC Santa Barbara shows a decline by one spot in the QS world rankings when compared with its 2025 rank which was #178.

Ranked by	2024	2025	2026
World University	163	178	179
Biological Sciences	148	141	– / –
Communication and Media Studies	36	46	– / –
Engineering and Technology	132	158	– / –
Mathematics	201	151	– / –
Mechanical Aeronautical and Manufacturing Engineering	143	146	– / –
Medicine	451	451	– / –
Pharmacy and Pharmacology	201	301	– / –
Physics and Astronomy	22	25	– / –
Politics	201	301	– / –
Sociology	201	201	– / –

University of California Santa Barbara Vs Other Universities: QS Comparison

A comparison of UC Santa Barbara with the other universities is given as follows:

University Name	2023	2024	2025
UC Santa Barbara	#149	#163	#178
UIUC	#85	#64	#69
UC Los Angeles	#44	#29	#42
UC Riverside	#453	#404	#497

QS is among the top leaders in the ranking field. In 2025, the ranking publisher has ranked more than 1,500 institutions. QS evaluates a wide range of factors when allotting ranking to top universities in the world. Some crucial factors include Sustainability, Overall, Employer Reputation, International Faculty Ratio, Academic Reputation, and more. A few more parameters that are considered by QS when evaluating rankings of top universities are listed below:

Parameter	Score
Overall	48.9
Academic Reputation	52.6
Citations per Faculty	97.8
Employment Outcomes	7.9
Employer Reputation	21.3
Faculty Student Ratio	7.7
International Faculty Ratio	75.4
International Research Network	71.2
International Student Ratio	17.2
Sustainability	28.4

Also Check: QS World University Ranking Methodology

Commonly asked questions
On UC Santa Barbara QS Ranking

Q: What is the University of California Santa Barbara QS ranking?

The University of California Santa Barbara is among the top choices of international students in USA for continuing higher studies. The University of California Santa Barbara ranks at #178 under the category of “World University Rankings 2025”. Also, UC Santa Barbara ranks at #22 under the “QS WUR Ranking by Subject”. Moreover, the university also ranks at #396 in the “QS Sustainability Ranking”. Check the table listed below for UC Santa Barbara ranking over the past 3 years:

University Name	QS World University Ranking 2023	QS World University Ranking 2024	QS World University Ranking 2025
UC Santa Barbara	#149	#163	#178

Q: Which university ranks better in the QS rankings - University of California Santa Barbara or UC Riverside?

The University of California Santa Barbara and UC Riverside are some of the most esteemed universities in USA. According to QS, the University of California Santa Barbara ranks at #178 under the category of “World University Rankings 2025”. Whereas, University of California Riverside ranks at #497 under the “World University Rankings 2025”. Check the table listed below for QS rankings of both the universities over the past years:

University Name	QS World University Ranking 2023	QS World University Ranking 2024	QS World University Ranking 2025
UC Santa Barbara	#149	#163	#178
UC Riverside	#453	#404	#497

University of California Santa Barbara THE (Times Higher Education) Ranking 2025

Times Higher Education is popularly known as THE is renowned for its “World University Rankings”. THE evaluates various factors when ranking the top universities in the world.

In 2026 Times Higher Education ranking, UC Santa Barbara ranks at #72 and in 2026, it is placed at #67.

Ranked by	2024	2025	2026
University	69	67	72
Arts and Humanities	83	84	– / –
Engineering	46	47	– / –
Life Sciences	101	101	– / –
PG Computer Science	65	62	– / –
Psychology	74	80	– / –

University of California Santa Barbara Vs Other Universities: THE Comparison

A comparison of UC Santa Barbara with the other universities with reference to Times Higher Education rankings is given as follows:

University Name	2023	2024	2025
UC Santa Barbara	#64	#69	#67
UIUC	#48	#42	#46
UC Los Angeles	#21	#18	#18
UC Riverside	#251	#251	#251

Here are some of the indicators which are considered by Times Higher Education to rank the universities:

S. No.	Ranking Parameters	Performance Indicators
1	Teaching	Reputation survey Staff-to-student-ratio Doctorate-to-bachelor’s ratio Doctorates-awarded-to-academic-staff ratio Institutional income
2	Research	Reputation survey Research income Research productivity
3	Citations	Field Weighted Citation Impact
4	International Outlook	Proportion of international students Proportion of international staff International collaboration
5	Industry Income	Research income from industry & commerce/ academic staff

Commonly asked questions
On UC Santa Barbara THE (Times Higher Education) Ranking

Q: What is the University of California Santa Barbara ranking in Times Higher Education rankings?

According to the Times Higher Education (THE), the University of California Santa Barbara ranks at #67 under the category of “World University Rankings 2025”. Moreover, the UC Santa Barbara popular programs are also ranked by THE such as Arts and Humanities at #84, Computer Science #62, Engineering #47, Life Science #101-125, and more. Students can check the table listed below for the parameters that are evaluated by THE while ranking UC Santa Barbara:

Parameters	Score Achieved
Overall	72.7
Teaching	49.6
Research Environment	65.5
Research Quality	96.7
Industry	96.8
International Outlook	81.9

Q: What are the criteria used by Times Higher Education (THE) for ranking the UC Santa Barbara in the world?

The University of California Santa Barbara is one of the most reputed universities in United States. UC Santa Barbara is highly appreciated by international students for offering the best academic programs. The university is one of the highest ranked universities in the world. According to THE, the University of California Santa Barbara ranks at #67 under the “World University Rankings 2025”. Furthermore, check the table listed below for the parameters that are evaluated by THE while ranking UC Santa Barbara:

Parameters	Score Achieved
Overall	72.7
Teaching	49.6
Research Environment	65.5
Research Quality	96.7
Industry	96.8
International Outlook	81.9

UC Santa Barbara
ARWU (Shanghai Ranking) Ranking 2025

Ranked by	2023	2024	2025
Universities	63	64	70
Law	201	201	– / –
Mathematics	101	101	– / –
Physics	15	13	– / –
Political Sciences	51	101	– / –
Sociology	101	76	– / –

UC Santa Barbara
Students Ratings & Reviews

3.9/5

13 Verified Reviews Info Icon

Student Views (Based on Reviews)

8% students never faced discrimination in this university

Vibe of Campus

Multi-dimensional

Fun loving

Friendly

Sporty

Internships3.3

Part time work3.2

Post study jobs4.4

Quality of faculty4.4

Student Life4.4

Value for money3.2

Public transportation4.5

Safety4.5

Indian Food4.2

Permanent Immigration3.1

Monica

B.A. in Biology - Batch of 2027

Provides a good sense of belonging here.

Tips: I was apprehensive before I got here but because of how supportive the environment was and because of the resources employed for international students, it became a lot easier to find my place. The faculty is well-versed in their courses and they push you to explore your potential and think in a critical manner which has taught me many valuable lessons and experiences. In case you need any assistance, there are student communities that are quick to help. Overall, I am quite satisfied with my experiences.

Total Monthly ExpenseUSD 3300

Prepping time for classes32 hours/Week

Expected Annual SalaryUSD 79050

Reviewed on 31 Oct 2024Read more

Anonymous

BS in Microbiology - Batch of 2024

I have had lot of experiences so far both good and bad.

Tips: One of the best things about this university is the location and the networking opportunities available. The classes are very much friendly and the campus environment in general is very friendly. The faculty and staff are very friendly and approachable. Registration and currency conversion can be tough.

Total Monthly ExpenseUSD 3500

Prepping time for classes32 hours/Week

Expected Annual SalaryUSD 84450

Reviewed on 29 Oct 2024Read more

Anonymous

Master of Technology Management - Batch of 2026

3.9

Had a good time here with great faculty.

Tips: I have had a fulfilling experience at UCSB. I've learned a lot and grown a lot as a person. Before you start your classes, get an idea of where they are located and who your professors are. Ask your guidance counselors about them. They can give you a good idea of what to expect and how to prepare.

Likes (Quality of faculty): I've had a good experience at UCSB. The professors and faculty are very approachable and understanding when you have concerns or significant issues. I've seen Indian-origin professors and professors from other ethnicities as well. I've had mainly positive experiences with them as they are happy to help.

Total Monthly ExpenseUSD 3675

Prepping time for classes31 hours/Week

Expected Annual SalaryUSD 85225

Reviewed on 30 Sep 2024Read more

Anonymous

BS/BA in Mathematics - Batch of 2024

3.9

Great place to learn and develop the right skills.

Tips: If you are looking to experiment and find your way in life and career, then UCSB would provide the right environment. Although the course loads are intense and classes are competitive, you will get to explore several internship and project opportunities that will develop your interest in the programs. Hence, keep an open mind and embrace every opportunity here.

Total Monthly ExpenseUSD 2875

Prepping time for classes27 hours/Week

Expected Annual SalaryUSD 85225

Reviewed on 30 Sep 2024Read more

Anonymous

BS in Ecology and Evolution - Batch of 2025

3.7

Very accepting campus and culture.

Tips: I have learned a lot from my time here in California. Studying here has made me realise that a lot of learning can take place outside classrooms as well. This prompted me to participate in sports and extracurriculars such as cultural events. All in all, I have had a pleasant and positive experience.

Total Monthly ExpenseUSD 2825

Prepping time for classes29 hours/Week

Expected Annual SalaryUSD 78275

Reviewed on 30 Sep 2024Read more

Anonymous

BS/BA in Physics - Batch of 2026

3.9

Very innovative and creative space to grow.

Tips: One of the first things to know about studying at UCSB is that the workloads and the courses can be very intense and because of the concept of relative grading followed in classes, it is extremely competitive as well. There are also a number of resources for students to help them out such as peer tutoring, mentoring, and office hours. Other than academics, there are a number of social mixers and clubs for students to socialize.

Total Monthly ExpenseUSD 3200

Prepping time for classes30 hours/Week

Expected Annual SalaryUSD 76725

Reviewed on 30 Sep 2024Read more

View All 13 Reviews

Comments

UC Santa Barbara

Student Forum

Anything you would want to ask experts?

Write here...

How safe is UC Santa Barbara?

Answered 8 months ago

The UC Santa Barbara campus is considered "pretty safe", going by reviews posted by students on Shiksha Study Abroad.

The campus achieves 4.4 stars out of a possible 5 for safety, & 6% of the students who shared their experiences never faced any discrimination over the duration of their studies.

Give

Akash Gaur

Contributor-Level 10

Are UCSB students happy?

Answered 8 months ago

Yes, based on reviews posted by students on Shiksha Study Abroad, the general consensus among the international students is of satisfaction. The Santa Barbara campus achieved an Safety rating of 4.4 out of 5, which can be deemed pretty good.

Also, 6% of the students who shared their experiences, neve

Akash Gaur

Contributor-Level 10

Which is harder to get into among University of California, Santa Barbara and University of California, Los Angeles?

Answered 8 months ago

Both UCSB & UCLA fall under the institutional umbrella of The University of California. Despite that, the universities are varying degrees of acceptance rates. Both institutions are known to be highly selective at admitting students & are only known to accept highly qualified candidates.

The UCSB acc

Akash Gaur

Contributor-Level 10

How hard is it to get into University of California? Is it worth it?

Answered 9 months ago

The University of California Santa Barbara acceptance rate is around 33%, which makes admission moderately selective for international students. It is worth it to study at UCSB because of its impressive placement opportunities for graduates. The UC Santa Barbara placement rate is around 90% and grad

Aayushi Sharma

Contributor-Level 7

What is the acceptance rate for UCSB for international students?

Answered a year ago

The University of California Santa Barbara acceptance rate decreases from 27.78% in 2023-24 to 33% in 2024-25. The university received over 110,000 applications for undergraduate admission among which around 30,000 students are admitted at the university. The below table includes the UC Santa Barbar

Chandra Shekhar

Contributor-Level 9

About the author

Loveleen Sharma

Study Abroad Expert

Loveleen is a seasoned content writer with 4+ years of experience, currently writing for Shiksha. When he is not writing and helping students, he can be found at the movies, reading fiction, and learning a new language.