University of California - Santa Barbara SAT & ACT Scores
UC Santa Barbara publishes no SAT or ACT score range, since test scores play no part in its admission decisions. If you are applying for fall 2027, you do not need the SAT or ACT, and UCSB will not use scores you send. For the fall 2025 entering class, UCSB admitted 38.2% of its 110,187 first-year applicants.
Scores don't count at University of California - Santa Barbara
Admission decisions here rest on your grades, courses, essays and activities. A chances estimate weighs exactly those.
Is University of California - Santa Barbara test-optional?
The rule for students applying now, for fall 2027 entry.
UC Santa Barbara does not use SAT or ACT scores in admission decisions or scholarship selection; scores may be used for course placement after you enroll.
Checked October 29, 2026 on University of California - Santa Barbara's admissions site . Policies can change each cycle.
Policy timeline
- Fall 2021 entryTest-blind policy begins
- Fall 2027 applicantsTest-blind
UCSB follows the University of California's test-free policy, in place since applicants for fall 2021. Its admissions site says UCSB will not use SAT or ACT scores in admission decisions or in its scholarship selection process. You can still send scores, but only after you submit your application, and they are not used in selection. If you are admitted and choose to enroll, UCSB may use exam scores for course placement.
University of California - Santa Barbara SAT scores
University of California - Santa Barbara doesn't use the SAT in admissions, so it publishes no admitted-student range.
With the SAT out of the admission review, UCSB's 2025–26 Common Data Set leaves its SAT fields empty. There is no median, no middle-half range and no count of students who submitted.
So there is no SAT number to aim for here. A strong score will not help your UCSB application, and a weak one will not hurt it. If you are taking the SAT for colleges that use it, you can treat UCSB as a school where only your coursework, grades and UC application answers count.
Take full-length Digital SAT practice tests free, with an explanation on every question and a score report that shows what to fix.
University of California - Santa Barbara ACT scores
The ACT isn't considered either.
ACT scores are handled the same way. UCSB does not use them for admission or scholarships, so it has no ACT range for admitted or enrolled students.
If your list is all UC campuses, you can skip the ACT for admission purposes. If other colleges ask for scores, plan for them separately, knowing your ACT result will not count toward your UCSB decision.
Take full-length ACT practice tests free, with a worked explanation on every question and a score report that shows what to fix.
University of California - Santa Barbara acceptance rate
Moderately competitive: 38.2% of first-year applicants were admitted (fall 2025 entering class).
Each dot is 1 in 100 applicants.
- First-year applicants110,187
- Admitted42,093
- Acceptance rate38.2%
- Testing for fall 2027Test-blind
Early application plans: No Early Decision or Early Action; first-year applicants apply through the UC Application.
Fall 2025 entering class. Source: University of California - Santa Barbara 2025–26 Common Data Set.
UCSB does not offer Early Decision or Early Action. First-year applicants apply through the UC Application.
What to aim for
UCSB has no SAT or ACT target. The school admitted 42,093 students from 110,187 applicants for the fall 2025 entering class, and none of those decisions used test scores.
Your preparation for UCSB should go into your high school courses and grades and into your UC application, including the personal insight questions. Scores you take for other colleges can still be reported after you apply and may be used for course placement if you enroll, but they will not change whether UCSB admits you.
How University of California - Santa Barbara compares
Schools with a similar acceptance rate.
| School | Admit rate | Median SAT | SAT middle 50% | ACT middle 50% | Testing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign | 36.6% | 1442 | 1390–1520 | 31–34 | Test-optional |
| William & Mary | 37% | 1450 | 1390–1520 | 32–34 | Test-optional |
| Binghamton University | 37.3% | 1410 | 1320–1480 | 31–34 | Test-optional |
| University of California - Santa Barbara | 38.2% | — | — | — | Test-blind |
| North Carolina State University | 39.5% | 1390 | 1310–1440 | 25–32 | Test-optional |
| University of South Florida | 40.7% | 1250 | 1160–1340 | 25–29 | Required |
Frequently asked questions
Is University of California - Santa Barbara test-optional?
For students applying for fall 2027 entry: UC Santa Barbara does not use SAT or ACT scores in admission decisions or scholarship selection; scores may be used for course placement after you enroll.
What SAT score do you need for University of California - Santa Barbara?
None. University of California - Santa Barbara does not consider SAT or ACT scores in admission decisions, so there is no score to aim for and no admitted-student SAT range is published.
What is University of California - Santa Barbara's acceptance rate?
University of California - Santa Barbara admitted 38.2% of first-year applicants for the fall 2025 entering class (42,093 of 110,187), which makes it moderately competitive.
What are your chances at University of California - Santa Barbara?
Scores are one part. Add your GPA, courses, activities and recommendations for a free reach, target or likely estimate.