In the Top Five

Photo Credit: Matt Perko

On Campus

U.S. News & World Report ranks UC Santa Barbara No. 5 among the country’s top public universities

In its 2022 listing of the “Top Public Schools,” U.S. News & World Report ranked UC Santa Barbara No. 5. Among the “Best National Universities,” which includes both public and private institutions, UC Santa Barbara placed No. 28.

UC Santa Barbara’s College of Engineering is ranked No. 18 among public universities on the U.S. News & World Report list of “Best Programs at Engineering Schools Whose Highest Degree is a Doctorate.”

In addition, UC Santa Barbara is ranked No. 5 among public universities — and No. 10 overall — on the magazine’s list of “Best Colleges for Veterans.” Among public universities, UC Santa Barbara placed No. 15 on the “Best Ethnic Diversity” ranking, and on the list of Top Performers on Social Mobility, the campus ranked No. 12.

UCSB Henley Gate with rising sun

Photo Credit: Matt Perko

UC Santa Barbara continues to attract the best of the best. Among prospective freshmen and undergraduate transfer students, academic qualifications and diversity remain exceptionally high. For the 2021-22 academic year, the average high school grade-point average of applicants admitted is 4.36.

“Students admitted showed tremendous resilience while adapting to different learning environments due to COVID-19,” says Admissions Director Lisa Przekop. “They showed creativity, compassion, adaptability and intellectual vitality. These students are ready to join the UC Santa Barbara community and they will make positive contributions as we learn from our experiences over the past 18 months.”

UC Santa Barbara has performed exceptionally well in other national rankings, including the Forbes annual list of America’s Top Colleges and Washington Monthly’s 2021 National University Rankings.

UC Santa Barbara was ranked top 5 Public National University