UC admission requirements are pretty strict. With the acceptance rates at UC schools dropping, it’s more difficult to get accepted than ever before. However, the good news is that UCSB has an easier way for transfer students to get into ucsb.
Sophomores and Juniors should know that the UCSB English department is a easiest major to get into. With a popular major such as, Psychology for example it is hard to get accepted into to many colleges, but colleges know that English majors are always in demand for jobs. Looking for more information regarding Easiest Major to get into UCSB, ucsb transfer acceptance rate by major & ucsb transfer requirements.
Check us on collegelearners for more information regarding ucsb business major, least impacted majors at ucsb to ucsd transfer acceptance rate by major & ucsb transfer requirements.
The University of California Santa Barbara is one of the best colleges in the nation. It is located right on a beach, and has more than 30,000 students. But not every major you could ever want to study there is accessible. Which UCSB major is most accessible?
Not sure which is the easiest major to get into UCSB? Learn why going to school in Santa Barbara may be the right choice for everyone, from farmers to zoologists. If you’re looking for a major that’s guaranteed to get you into UCSB, we have it for you. First, we factor in the college’s reputation as a whole (not just its individual department). Then we look at prerequisites to see how demanding or non-demanding they are. Then using our unique algorithm, we rate each program based on its rigor and recommend only the easiest major to get into UCSB.
The most recent information is given on easiest major to get into ucsb, ucsb acceptance rate by major and easiest major to get into uc davis in the article below in a most precise, concise and understandable way. Read on to get more details.
You will also discover related posts on easiest major to get into uci, easiest major to get into ucsd & easiest major to get into uc santa cruz on collegelearners.
Our acceptance rate information for all majors is already compiled by collegelearners.com! While keeping in mind that admissions rates can and do change, the list below shows the data from collegelearners.com as of 3/26/2019 for UCs acceptance rates by major.
| MAJOR | MID-RANGE GPA | ADMIT RATE | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Actuarial Science | 3.49 – 3.89 | 37% |
| 2. | Art History | 3.22 – 3.50 | 30% |
| 3. | Comparative Studies – Language, Society, Culture | 3.26 – 3.64 | 34% |
| 4. | Statistical Science | 3.43 – 3.81 | 28% |
| 5. | Geography | 3.32 – 3.76 | 31% |
| 6. | Mathematics | 3.39 – 3.84 | 31% |
| 7. | Financial Mathematics and Statistics | 3.48 – 3.80 | 21% |
| 8. | Mathematical Sciences | 3.38 – 3.76 | 33% |
| 9. | English | 3.34 – 3.81 | 40% |
| 10. | Feminist Studies | 3.33 – 3.60 | 41% |

| MAJOR | MID-RANGE GPA | ADMIT RATE | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Social Ecology | 3.07 – 3.63 | 24% | |
| Comparative LIterature | 3.29 – 3.72 | 28% | |
| Global Cultures | 3.31 – 3.62 | 26% | |
| International Studies | 3.25 – 3.71 | 28% | |
| English | 3.33 – 3.79 | 34% | |
| History | 3.34 – 3.82 | 24% | |
| Philosophy | 3.26 – 3.73 | 26% | |
| Psychology and Social Behavior | 3.25 – 3.73 | 26% | |
| Public Health Policy | 3.25 – 3.70 | 31% | |
| Anthropology | 3.20 – 3.64 | 26% |
| MJAOR | MID-RANGE GPA | ADMIT RATE | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Women’s Stduies | 3.20 – 3.65 | 23% |
| 2. | Entomology | 3.11 – 3.88 | 29% |
| 3. | Managerial Economics | 3.30 – 3.76 | 25% |
| 4. | Art History | 3.28 – 3.71 | 20% |
| 5. | Comparative Literature | 3.32 – 3.85 | 29% |
| 6. | Science and Technology Studies | 3.26 – 3.50 | 27% |
| 7. | Economics | 3.37 – 3.82 | 24% |
| 8. | Sociology/Organizational Studies | 3.35 – 3.78 | 24% |
| 9. | Chicano Studies | 3.07 – 3.37 | 20% |
| 10. | Technocultural Studies* | 3.60 – 3.69 | 25% |
*Technocultural Studies may still be listed by its former name Cinema and Digital Media on Assist.
Last year UC Santa Barbara’s acceptance rate was 32.64. However, check out how the acceptance rate has changed over time.
| 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance Rate | N/A | N/A | 32.64 % |
As you can see, UC Santa Barbara is a little easier to get into than last year.
Acceptance rate alone does not indicate your likelihood for getting into UCSB – it’s a very high level understanding of the true competition. Use the acceptance rate as a general guide for curating a list of 10-15 schools that fall into different ranges of competitiveness. Then, use the below data to get a deeper understanding of how your application will compare to the rest of the pool.

UC Santa Barbara’s average GPA is 3.15. UC Santa Barbara does require GPA. UC Santa Barbara is currently selective. However, be aware that oftentimes schools in this GPA range are increasing their selectivity in hope of increasing “prestige”. We can’t read the minds of UCSB application readers, but they likely want to increase the average GPA from 3.15 to 3.31 this year – to play it safe, we recommend striving for the 3.31 GPA.

Number of Applicants 93,457
UCSB Acceptance Rate 29.6%


Requirements
Beginning with the 2020-21 admissions cycle, all of the UC schools, including UC Santa Barbara, will no longer require ACT scores for admission. For applicants who submit scores, note that UC Santa Barbara does not consider the optional ACT writing section. UCSB does not superscore ACT results; your highest combined score from a single test administration will be considered.
During the 2018-19 admissions cycle, UC Santa Barbara had an acceptance rate of 29.6%. This means that for every 100 students who applied, 29 students were admitted, making UCSB’s admissions process highly competitive. The acceptance rate to UCSB varies by major, with the majority of students being admitted into their majors. Students should look at the school-wide acceptance rate and compare it with their major to determine if they have a good chance of getting in. On the other hand, based on population statistics about prospective students, you can get a better idea of how many people are applying for your major and even predict how selective UCSB is going to be for that specific major.
Admissions Chances
University of California, Santa Barbara, which accepts just under one-third of applicants, has a selective admissions process with above average grades and standardized test scores. However, UC Santa Barbara, like all of the University of California schools, has holistic admissions and is test-optional, so the admissions officers are evaluating students on more than numerical data. As part of the application, students are required to write four short personal insight essays. Since UCSB is a part of the University of California system, students can easily apply to multiple schools in that system with one application. Students who show special talent or have a compelling story to tell will often get a close look even if their grades and test scores are a bit below the norm. Impressive extracurricular activities and strong essays are all important parts of a successful application to UCSB.

Keep in mind that California residents who apply must have a GPA of 3.0 or better with no grade lower than a C in 15 college preparatory “a-g” courses. For non-residents, your GPA must be 3.4 or better. Local students from participating high schools may also qualify if they are in the top 9% of their class.
Due to the selective nature of UCSB, the university has a comprehensive freshman selection process. A number of art, music, and writing programs within the College of Creative Studies at UCSB require an audition or portfolio submission. The University of California, Santa Barbara, along with all the other UC schools, does not accept letters of recommendation, unless they are specifically requested. Admission interviews are not offered by the university.
All students, regardless of the institution they are transferring from, are held to the same requirements listed below. You have until the end of the spring term prior to transfer to meet the following requirements.
1. A seven-course pattern requirement, earning a grade of C or better in each course:
2. Complete 60 semester or 90 quarter units of UC-transferable college credit with a grade point average of at least 2.4 for California residents and at least 2.8 for nonresidents (no more than 14 semester or 21 quarter units may be taken Pass/Not Pass*). A selective GPA for most majors is a 3.4 and above.
UC Santa Barbara requires that you either take the SAT or ACT. See the table below for how UC Santa Barbara’s accepted students have performed on both tests. You may be wondering how many test scores should you submit. Generally, don’t freak out about taking the test too often. Industry consensus is that you can submit up to 6 tests as a reasonable limit.

UC Santa Barbara’s average SAT score is 1255 – this is the sum of the math and reading portions of the SAT (the 1600 scale). Check out the below table for a deeper look into how students performed – it’s also very interesting to look at the average test score over time. The trend over time helps give insight into whether UC Santa Barbara is getting more or less competitive.
| 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile | Average | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Math | 570 | 730 | 650 |
| Reading | 550 | 660 | 605 |
| 2019 Total | 1120 | 1390 | 1255 |
| 2018 Total | – | – | – |
| 2017 Total | – | – | – |
UC Santa Barbara’s average SAT score is 1255. To be a competitive applicant for UC Santa Barbara your SAT score should come close to the average. If you’re closer to the 1120, you’re likely going to have a tougher time getting accepted. To consider UC Santa Barbara a “target” school (one that you are likely to get into) you should aim for a score of 1390.
UC Santa Barbara’s average ACT score is 72. To be a competitive applicant for UC Santa Barbara your ACT score should come close to the average. If you’re closer to the 79, you’re likely going to have a tougher time getting accepted. To consider UC Santa Barbara a “target” school (one that you have a good chance of getting into) you should aim for a score of 65.
| 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile | Average | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Math | 26 | – | 26 |
| Reading | 26 | 33 | 29 |
| Writing | 27 | 32 | 29 |
| 2019 Total | 79 | 65 | 72 |
| 2018 Total | – | – | – |
| 2017 Total | – | – | – |
As you can see from the data above, UC Santa Barbara is difficult to get into. Not only should you be aiming for a 3.15 but also SAT scores around 1255.
Now you know where you need to be for getting into UC Santa Barbara from a grade and test score perspective. Let’s quickly outline what else you’ll need to provide for your application to get reviewed, and then we’ll move onto the most important section: differentiating your app.
| Recommendations | Status |
|---|---|
| School Rank | Required |
| GPA | Required |
| School Record | Required |
Follow these steps to maximize your chances of getting into UCSB. Everything you read above will help prepare you for what you need to achieve to have a shot at UCSB, but these steps will take you even further in applying that knowledge and differentiating your application.