Side-by-side
University of California-Merced vs University of California-Santa Barbara
The numbers that actually decide it — net price after aid, how hard each is to get into, and how many students finish — compared straight across. Net price beats sticker price every time.
Same s setting in the West, but more selective (33% vs 91%) — a stretch target if University of California-Merced is already on your list.
| University of California-Merced | University of California-Santa Barbara | |
|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 91% | 33% |
| Net price (in-state) what the average family actually pays after aid | $15,623 | $16,414 |
| Net price (out-of-state) | $49,823 | $50,614 |
| Sticker tuition (in-state) | $15,623 | $16,414 |
| Sticker tuition (out-of-state) | $49,823 | $50,614 |
| Graduation rate | 69% | 84% |
| Total enrollment | 8,372 | 23,113 |
Net price = sticker price minus the average grant aid for that school (IPEDS / Dept. of Education data). Real numbers vary by family income and student stats — verify each school's own Net Price Calculator before committing. Canonical: /compare/university-of-california-merced-vs-university-of-california-santa-barbara.