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Real costs by school · Santa Barbara, CA · Public

What University of California-Santa Barbara actually costs at your income.

At University of California-Santa Barbara, families earning $75,000–$110,000 paid an average of $17,136 per year — the published cost of attendance is $41,573. (Federal College Scorecard data, July 2026 refresh.)

Every income band — the federal numbers (Public-school prices below reflect what in-state families reported paying; out-of-state families typically pay more.)

Household incomeAvg net price / yr≈ four years*
Under $30k$9,231 / yr$38,909
$30–48k$9,992 / yr$42,116
$48–75k$12,588 / yr$53,058
$75–110k$17,136 / yr$72,228
Over $110k$31,863 / yr$134,303

*Four-year figures grow each year's price by 3.5% — the same method College Compass uses in a family's plan. "Net price" is what families actually paid after grants and scholarships, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education — not a calculator's estimate. Federal reporting groups every income above $110k into one band; families well above it often pay closer to the full cost.

After graduation — federal data

Graduates earning, 10 yrs out (median)$74,915
Graduate in four years — the rate you're budgeting on70%
Six-year graduation rate87%
Typical graduate's own federal debt$13,993

Earnings and completion from federal reporting — not the school's own placement survey.

These are averages. Your family isn't average.
College Compass runs University of California-Santa Barbara against your student's real GPA, your real income band, and your actual high school — admit odds with the math shown, merit likelihood, and the season's deadlines. First three schools free.

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