University of California, Santa Barbara
Region: Northern America
Country/Region: United States
Found Year: 1909
Address: University of California
Introduction

In just six decades as a campus of the University of California, UC Santa Barbara has become internationally recognized as a leading center for teaching and research, distinguished by its interdisciplinary programs and a commitment to innovation. Once a small, independent teachers college, UCSB today is an integral part of the ten-campus University of California system. With an enrollment of approximately 21,500 students, some 18,500 of them undergraduates, and a faculty of nearly 1,100, UCSB is a campus of cutting-edge intellectual activity that spans the academic spectrum. UC Santa Barbara offers more than 200 majors, degrees, and credentials through three colleges (Creative Studies, Engineering, and Letters and Science) and two professional schools (the Bren School of Environmental Science and Management and the Gevirtz Graduate School of Education). UCSB has a tradition of emphasizing both undergraduate and graduate programs in a friendly and collegial environment in which students, staff, and faculty members from diverse backgrounds and perspectives explore and learn together. In 1995, UCSB was elected to the prestigious 62-member Association of American Universities, placing it in the top 2 percent of all colleges and universities in North America. The campus is now home to twelve national research centers, nine of them supported by the National Science Foundation. The quality and stature of undergraduate programs are highly ranked. U.S. News & World Report includes UC Santa Barbara among the top 50 National universities in the country and ranks it number ten among all public institutions. Twice in recent years, UCSB was named one of the “hottest colleges” in the country by the popular Newsweek guide to colleges. “If there’s a more beautiful campus than this one at the edge of the Pacific, we haven’t seen it,” said Newsweek. The faculty now includes six winners of Nobel Prizes (in chemistry, economics, and physics). All were awarded since 1998. UCSB's faculty also includes scores of elected members or fellows of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science, as well as winners of the National Humanities Medal, National Medal of Science, Fields Medal, Millennium Technology Prize, and dozens of Fulbright and Guggenheim fellowships. Located on the coast approximately 100 miles northwest of Los Angeles, the 1,055-acre campus is bordered by the Pacific Ocean and the Santa Ynez Mountains. The campus has 7.8 million square feet of buildings occupying a picturesque palm- and eucalyptus-lined promontory overlooking the Pacific. The expanding physical plant includes new buildings for engineering, humanities, social sciences, sciences, and recreation. The University houses more than 8,000 students in residence halls and apartments located on the Main and Storke campuses and in University-owned facilities in Isla Vista; most of the rest live in the adjacent bustling student community of Isla Vista. Cultural and recreational opportunities abound in the nearby cities of Goleta and Santa Barbara, which together form a vibrant and welcoming community with a deep concern for history, the arts, and the environment. For additional information, please visit UCSB’s website at www.ucsb.edu.

Academic Ranking of World Universities
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Academic Ranking of World Universities
The Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU) is recognized as the precursor of global university rankings and the most trustworthy one. ARWU presents the world's top 1000 research universities annually based on transparent methodology and objective third-party data.
57
2022
63
2023
64
2024
Global Ranking of Academic Subjects
All Subjects
Subject
Rank
Best Ranked Subjects
Subject Rank
Metallurgical Engineering
12
Communication
12
Physics
15
Electrical & Electronic Engineering
19
Chemical Engineering
24
Automation & Control
30
Ecology
43
Oceanography
49
Key Statistics
26143
Total Enrollment
3772(14.4%)
International Students
23145
Undergraduate Enrollment
2805(12.1%)
International Students
2998
Graduate Enrollment
967(32.3%)
International Students
Programs
Undergraduate Programs
Anthropology- Cultural Anthropology
Anthropology- Physical Anthropology
Aquatic Biology
Art
Art History- Architecture and Environment
Art History- Non-Western Art
Art- Book Arts
Art- Painting
Art- Sculpture
Asian American Studies
Asian Studies
Biochemistry
Biochemistry-Molecular Biology
Biological Sciences, EEMB
Biological Sciences, MCDB
Biology
Biopsychology
Black Studies
Business Economics- Accounting
Cell and Developmental Biology
Chemical Engineering
Chemistry
Chemistry/Biochemistry
Chicana and Chicano Studies
Chinese- Classical Chinese
Chinese- Mandarin Chinese
Classics- Archaeology
Classics- Civilization
Classics- Language and Literature
Communication
Comparative Literature- Foreign Language
Comparative Literature- Interdisciplinary
Computer Engineering
Computer Science
Computer Science
Computer Science- Computational Biology
Computer Science- Computational Economics
Computer Science- Computational Geography
Dance
Ecology and Evolution
Economics
Economics-Mathematics
Electrical Engineering
English
Environmental Studies
Film and Media Studies
Financial Mathematics and Statistics
French
Geography- Geographic Information Science
Geological Sciences- Earth Systems
Geological Sciences- Geographic Information Science
Geological Sciences- Paleobiology
Geological Scienceswith optional emphasis in Science Education
Geophysics
German
Global Studies
History
History of Public Policy
Hydrologic Sciences and Policy- Biology and Ecology
Hydrologic Sciences and Policy- Physical & Chemical Policy
Interdisciplinary Studies
Italian Studies
Japanese
Latin American and Iberian Studies
Linguistics- Chinese
Linguistics- English
Linguistics- French
Linguistics- German
Linguistics- Japanese
Linguistics- Slavic
Linguistics- Sociocultural Linguistics
Linguistics- Spanish
Literature
Mathematical Sciences
Mathematics
Mathematics
Mathematics
Mechanical Engineering
Medieval Studies
Microbiology
Middle East Studies
Music- Accompanying
Music- Bassoon
Music- Cello
Music- Clarinet
Music- Composition
Music- Double Bass
Music- Ethnomusicology
Music- Flute
Music- French Horn
Music- Guitar
Music- Oboe
Music- Percussion
Music- Piano
Music- Trombone
Music- Trumpet
Music- Tuba
Music- Viola
Music- Violin
Music- Voice
Music-Composition
Pharmacology
Philosophy- Core Philosophy
Philosophy- Ethics and Public Policy
Physical Geography
Physics
Physics
Physiology
Political Science- International Relations
Political Science- Public Service
Portuguese
Psychological & Brain Sciences
Religious Studies
Renaissance Studies
Slavic Languages and Literatures
Sociology
Spanish
Speech and Hearing Sciences
Statistical Science
Statistical Science- Actuarial Statistics
Statistical Science- Applied Statistics
Statistical Science- Probability and Statistics
Theater- Acting
Theater- Directing
Theater- Dramatic Literature, Theory, and Theatre History
Theater- Playwriting
Theater- Theatre Design and Technology
Women's Studies
Zoology
Graduate Programs
Anthropology with optional emphases Ph.D. in: Global Studies
Anthropology with optional emphases Ph.D. in: Human Development
Anthropology with optional emphases Ph.D. in: Quantitative Methods in the Social Sciences
Anthropology with optional emphases Ph.D. in: Technology and Society
Anthropology with optional emphases Ph.D. in: Women's Studies
Applied Mathematics
Art History with optional Ph.D.emphases in: European Medieval Studies
Art History with optional Ph.D.emphases in: Women's Studies
Art Studio
Asian Studies with optional emphasis in: East Asian Languages and Cultural Studies
Biochemistry-Molecular Biology with optional Ph.D. emphasis in: Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Biochemistry-Molecular Biology with optional Ph.D. emphasis in: Bioengineering and Biomaterials
Chemical Engineering M.S., Ph.D.- Computational Science and Engineering
Chemistry
Chicano Studies
Classics with emphases in: Ancient History
Classics with emphases in: Literature and Theory
Communication
Communication with optional Ph.D. emphases in: Human Development
Communication with optional Ph.D. emphases in: Quantitative Methods in the Social Sciences
Communication with optional Ph.D. emphases in: Technology and Society
Comparative Literature with optional Ph.D. emphases in: East Asian Literatures
Comparative Literature with optional Ph.D. emphases in: Women's Studies
Computer Science M.S., Ph.D.- Computational Science and Engineering
Computer Science M.S., Ph.D.- Technology & Society
Counseling Psychology
Counseling Psychology M.A.
Counseling, Clinical, and School Psychology Ph.D. with emphases in: Clinical Psychology
Counseling, Clinical, and School Psychology Ph.D. with emphases in: Counseling Psychology
Counseling, Clinical, and School Psychology Ph.D. with emphases in: School Psychology
Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology
Economics with optional M.A. emphasis in: Business Economics
Economics with optional M.A. emphasis in: Education
Education Leadership
Education with emphases in: Child and Adolescent Development
Education with emphases in: Cultural Perspectives of Education
Education with emphases in: Educational Leadership and Organizations
Education with emphases in: Research Methodology
Education with emphases in: School Psychology
Education with emphases in: Special Education, Disabilities and Risk Studies
Education with emphases in: Teaching
Electrical and Computer Engineering M.S., Ph.D.- Communications, Control, and Signal Processing
Electrical and Computer Engineering M.S., Ph.D.- Computational Science and Engineering
Electrical and Computer Engineering M.S., Ph.D.- Computer Engineering
Electrical and Computer Engineering M.S., Ph.D.- Electronics and Photonics
Engineering
English with optional Ph.D. emphases in: European Medieval Studies
English with optional Ph.D. emphases in: Global Studies
English with optional Ph.D. emphases in: Technology and Society
English with optional Ph.D. emphases in: Women's Studies
Environmental Science and Management Ph.D.
Film and Media Studies
French with optional Ph.D. emphases in: Applied Linguistics
French with optional Ph.D. emphases in: European Medieval Studies
French with optional Ph.D. emphases in: Women's Studies
Geography with optional Ph.D. emphases in: Cognitive Science
Geography with optional Ph.D. emphases in: Quantitative Methods in the Social Sciences
Geological Sciences with optional emphasis in: Computational Science and Engineering
Geophysics
Germanic Languages and Literatures with optional Ph.D. emphases in: Applied Linguistics
Germanic Languages and Literatures with optional Ph.D. emphases in: Women's Studies
Global & International Studies
Hispanic Languages and Literatures with optional Ph.D. emphasis in: Applied Linguistics
Hispanic Languages and Literatures with optional Ph.D. emphasis in: European Medieval Studies
Hispanic Languages and Literatures with optional Ph.D. emphasis in: Women's Studies
History with optional Ph.D. emphases in: European Medieval Studies
History with optional Ph.D. emphases in: Global Studies
History with optional Ph.D. emphases in: Public History
History with optional Ph.D. emphases in: Technology and Society
History with optional Ph.D. emphases in: Women's Studies
Latin American and Iberian Studies
Linguistics with optional Ph.D. emphases in: Applied Linguistics
Linguistics with optional Ph.D. emphases in: Cognitive Science
Linguistics with optional Ph.D. emphases in: Human Development
Linguistics with optional Ph.D. emphases in: Language, Interaction and Social Organizations
Marine Science
Master of Environmental Science and Management M.E.S.M.
Materials M.S., Ph.D.
Mathematics with optional emphasis in: Computational Science and Engineering
Mechanical Engineering M.S., Ph.D.- Computational Science and Engineering
Media Arts and Technology M.S.- Multimedia Engineering
Media Arts and Technologywith emphases in: Electronic Music and Sound Design
Media Arts and Technologywith emphases in: Multimedia Engineering
Media Arts and Technologywith emphases in: Visual and Spatial Arts
Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology
Music with emphases in: Composition
Music with emphases in: Ethnomusicology
Music with emphases in: Musicology
Music with emphases in: Theory
Musicwith emphases in: Conducting
Musicwith emphases in: Keyboard
Musicwith emphases in: Piano Accompanying (M.M. only)
Musicwith emphases in: Strings
Musicwith emphases in: Voice
Musicwith emphases in: Woodwinds and Brass (M.M. only)
Philosophy
Physics
Political Science with optional Ph.D. emphases in: Global Studies
Political Science with optional Ph.D. emphases in: Quantitative Methods in the Social Sciences
Political Science with optional Ph.D. emphases in: Technology and Society
Portuguese
Psychological & Brain Sciences
Psychological & Brain Sciences with optional Ph.D. emphases in: Cognitive Science
Psychological & Brain Sciences with optional Ph.D. emphases in: Human Development
Psychological & Brain Sciences with optional Ph.D. emphases in: Quantitative Methods in the Social Sciences
Religious Studies with optional Ph.D. emphases in: European Medieval Studies
Religious Studies with optional Ph.D. emphases in: Global Studies
Religious Studies with optional Ph.D. emphases in: Women's Studies
Sociology with optional Ph.D. emphases in: Global Studies
Sociology with optional Ph.D. emphases in: Human Development
Sociology with optional Ph.D. emphases in: Language, Interaction, and Social Organizations
Sociology with optional Ph.D. emphases in: Quantitative Methods in the Social Sciences
Sociology with optional Ph.D. emphases in: Technology and Society
Sociology with optional Ph.D. emphases in: Women's Studies
Spanish
Spanish and Portuguese
Speech and Hearing Sciences
Statistics
Statistics and Applied Probability with optional emphases in: Mathematical and Empirical Finance
Statistics and Applied Probability with optional emphases in: Quantitative Methods in the Social Sciences
Teaching and Learning with optional Ph.D. emphases in: Applied Linguistics
Teaching and Learning with optional Ph.D. emphases in: Cognitive Science
Teaching and Learning with optional Ph.D. emphases in: Human Development
Teaching and Learning with optional Ph.D. emphases in: Language, Interaction and Social Organizations
Teaching and Learning with optional Ph.D. emphases in: Quantitative Methods in the Social Sciences
Theater with optional Ph.D. emphases in: European Medieval Studies
Theater with optional Ph.D. emphases in: Women's Studies