College comparison

UT Austin vs UC Santa Barbara

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	UT Austin Austin, TX	UC Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA
Acceptance rateThe University of Texas at Austin is more selective	27%	33%
SAT (25–75)	1250–1510	—
ACT (25–75)	—	—
Undergrad enrollment	42,855	23,113
Avg net price	$19,857	$16,109
Median earnings (10 yr)UT Austin reports higher median earnings	$75,121	$74,915
Graduation rate	89%	83%
Median debt	$20,500	$13,993
Economic mobility	—	3.1%
Test policy	—	—
Type	Public	Public

Quick answers

Is The University of Texas at Austin or University of California-Santa Barbara harder to get into?

The University of Texas at Austin is more selective: The University of Texas at Austin's acceptance rate is approximately 27% and University of California-Santa Barbara's is approximately 33% (estimates from public and primary sources).

What SAT score do you need for The University of Texas at Austin vs University of California-Santa Barbara?

The middle-50% SAT range is 1250–1510 at The University of Texas at Austin and — at University of California-Santa Barbara. 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.