UC Santa Barbara vs. University of Southern California (USC) Overview
You’re wrestling with a tough question: “Should I go to UCSB or USC?“
UC Santa Barbara
University of Southern California (USC)
Can you get in?
Calculate Your ChancesCan you get in?
Calculate Your ChancesThis complete guide analyzes both the quantitative and qualitative differences between UC Santa Barbara and University of Southern California (USC). This comparison is particularly valuable at understanding the cultural nuances between the colleges since it uses student videos to capture the “vibes” of campus - these videos are exclusively available on CampusReel :)
Differences between UC Santa Barbara and University of Southern California (USC)
Before we get into the nitty-gritty, let’s go through a general overview of the high-level differences between UC Santa Barbara and University of Southern California (USC). The table below summarizes some of the most important statistics around competitiveness, costs, etc.
| UC Santa Barbara | University of Southern California (USC) | |
|---|---|---|
| In-state Tuition | $13,968 | $50,277 |
| Net Price | $14,767 | $29,174 |
| Average Financial Aid | $9,193 | $33,822 |
| Total Undergraduates | 20606 | 18519 |
| Average SAT Scores | 1090 - 1360 | 1270 - 1500 |
| Acceptance Rate | 33 | 18 |
| Location | 5221 Cheadle Hall | University Park |
| City Name | Santa Barbara | Los Angeles |
WARNINGS: Based on net price alone, UC Santa Barbara is the cheaper option. However, this sticker price may not adequately represent the difference in living costs between Santa Barbara and Los Angeles. UCSB is in a Mountain and USC is in a Mountain - sometimes off campus meals and housing costs can dramatically vary between schools
Is UC Santa Barbara or University of Southern California (USC) Harder to get into? Which school is easier to get into?
If you’re looking at acceptance rate alone, then University of Southern California (USC) is more difficult to get into. However, each college is looking to fill its incoming class with a variety of students with different strengths, backgrounds, etc.
Therefore, the acceptance rate alone is not a good indicator that University of Southern California (USC) is a better school or will be more difficult for you specifically to get into. On the flipside, UC Santa Barbara is easier to get into based on acceptance rate alone.
You can use the below college admissions predictor to determine your likelihood of acceptance at either school.
How Do UCSB Dorms Compare to housing Options at USC?
Both colleges provide on-campus living options. UCSB charges for on-campus living, while USC charges N/A for on-campus living. Most importantly, though, check out the video below for a sample of dorm tours at each school.
UCSB and USC student body differences
The table below helps demonstrate the student body differences as well.
| UC Santa Barbara , % | USC,% | |
|---|---|---|
| White | 34.54 | 40.129999999999995 |
| Hispanic | 25.7 | 13.8 |
| Black | 2.19 | 4.21 |
| Foreign | 7.06 | 13.4 |
| Others | 30.5 | 28.5 |
How different is the UC Santa Barbara campus compared to University of Southern California (USC) campus?
The UCSB campus is located in Santa Barbara, CA and is characterized as Suburb: Midsize (outside principal city, in urbanized area with population of at least 100,000 but less than 250,000). The USC campus is located in Los Angeles, CA and is characterized as City: Large (population of 250,000 or more).
Which school gives more financial aid?
UCSB provides $9,193 whereas USC provides an average of $33,822.
How does UCSB academics compare to USC?
When analyzing academics between UC Santa Barbara and University of Southern California (USC) we’ll look at both what current students are studying and also where they end up after graduation. After all, college should prepare you for a career! Analyzing each school’s outcomes is super valuable to understand the value of the degree.
| Majors | UCSB | USC |
|---|---|---|
| Agriculture agriculture operations and related sciences | N/A | N/A |
| Natural resources and conservation | 286 | 49 |
| Architecture and related services | N/A | 238 |
| Area ethnic cultural gender and group studies | 98 | 17 |
| Communication journalism and related programs | 327 | 423 |
| Computer and information sciences and support services | 102 | 217 |
| Communications technologies technicians and support services | N/A | N/A |
| Personal and culinary services | N/A | N/A |
| Engineering | 222 | 473 |
| Education | N/A | N/A |
| Engineering technologies and engineering related fields | N/A | N/A |
Which is better: UC Santa Barbara or University of Southern California (USC)?
We’ve compared dorm life, costs, outcomes and more to provide the most complete comparison between UCSB and USC. But, you’re smart enough to know that numbers paint a terrible picture for truly understanding what each college and community is like. And, the real answer to which school is better is: the school that’s right for you. No matter who you ask, if they know what they’re talking about, the answer is the same: the “better” school is whatever is the best fit for you personally. That’s why it’s extremely important to check out all the videos on CampusReel for each school.
How does UCSB social life compare to USC?
It’s tough to understand the nuances of social life with data alone. That’s why we’ve brought in real student videos to show how UCSB social life differs from USC.
Check here.
Check here.