College comparison

UC Santa Barbara vs USC

A side-by-side of acceptance rate, test scores, and cost — source-cited estimates, not guarantees. Want the number that actually matters for your student? Model your admit odds at each.

Metric	UC Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA	USC Los Angeles, CA
Acceptance rateUniversity of Southern California is more selective	33%	10%
SAT (25–75)	—	1450–1550
ACT (25–75)	—	—
Undergrad enrollment	23,113	20,443
Avg net price	$16,109	$32,740
Median earnings (10 yr)USC reports higher median earnings	$74,915	$92,498
Graduation rate	83%	92%
Median debt	$13,993	$18,000
Economic mobility	3.1%	3.9%
Test policy	—	—
Type	Public	Private (nonprofit)

Quick answers

Is University of California-Santa Barbara or University of Southern California harder to get into?

University of Southern California is more selective: University of California-Santa Barbara's acceptance rate is approximately 33% and University of Southern California's is approximately 10% (estimates from public and primary sources).

What SAT score do you need for University of California-Santa Barbara vs University of Southern California?

The middle-50% SAT range is — at University of California-Santa Barbara and 1450–1550 at University of Southern California. Scores outside these bands are still admitted, especially with strong applications.

Figures are estimates compiled from public datasets (College Scorecard / IPEDS) and primary sources; verify with each institution before relying on them.

These outputs are estimates from a baseline model — not guarantees of admission, cost, or outcome.