Location
- Boston University
- Boston, MA
- University of California-Santa Barbara
- Santa Barbara, CA
Boston University vs University of California-Santa Barbara
Boston, MA · Santa Barbara, CA · largest Scorecard gap: in-state tuition
Scorecard match plate
Pair MA:CA
MIXED-SECTOR · CROSS-STATE · ACCEPT-GAP · NET-SPLIT · EARN-SPLIT · DEBT-SPLIT · COMPLETE-HIGH · GAP-TUITION
- MIXED-SECTOR Mixed sector
- CROSS-STATE MA × CA
- ACCEPT-GAP Admission gap
- NET-SPLIT Net-price split
- EARN-SPLIT Earnings split
- DEBT-SPLIT Debt split
- COMPLETE-HIGH High completion
- GAP-TUITION Largest gap · In-State Tuition
Instrument codes from this pair's College Scorecard ownership, geography, acceptance, net price, earnings, debt, and completion, plus the ENROLL-RACE · single · 2013–2023 decade-path stamp below, not a ranking or recommendation.
Decade path · College Scorecard
Both enrollments grew, different paces
ENROLL-RACE · single · 2013–2023
Undergraduate headcount rose at both Boston University and University of California-Santa Barbara across 2013–2023 on similar paces, while acceptance rates tightened on both sides, a growth-under-squeeze pattern rather than a pure size race.
- University of California-Santa Barbara: enrollment grew +19.8% over 2013–2023; fitted +397 students/yr fitted, r² 0.83.
- Boston University: enrollment grew +8.4% over 2013–2023; fitted +135 students/yr fitted, r² 0.66.
- Boston University: acceptance rate tightened -76.2% across 2013–2023 (r² 0.92).
- University of California-Santa Barbara: acceptance rate tightened -37.5% across 2013–2023 (r² 0.63).
College Scorecard institution series; dollars are nominal. Direction claims require r² ≥ 0.40 on the fitted annual slope, otherwise the page reports the observed range. Descriptive history, not a recommendation.
Scorecard metrics
Type
- Boston University
- Private Nonprofit
Undergraduate Enrollment
- Boston University
- 18,248
In-State Tuition
- Boston University
- $68,102
Acceptance Rate
- Boston University
- 11.1%
Median Debt at Graduation
- Boston University
- $23,250
Avg Net Price
- Boston University
- $24,402
Out-of-State Tuition
- Boston University
- $68,102
Median Earnings (6 yr)
- Boston University
- $65,655
Median Earnings (10 yr)
- Boston University
- $83,238
Loan Repayment Rate (Completers)
- Boston University
- 86.8%
Cards ordered by relative gap on this pair. Teal = better side.
| Metric | Boston University Boston, MA | University of California-Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Boston, MA | Santa Barbara, CA |
| Type | Private Nonprofit | Public |
| Undergraduate Enrollment | 18,248 | 23,113 |
| In-State Tuition | $68,102 | $16,414 |
| Acceptance Rate | 11.1% | 33.0% |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $23,250 | $13,993 |
| Avg Net Price | $24,402 | $16,109 |
| Out-of-State Tuition | $68,102 | $50,614 |
| Median Earnings (6 yr) | $65,655 | $56,852 |
| Median Earnings (10 yr) | $83,238 | $74,915 |
| Loan Repayment Rate (Completers) | 86.8% | 79.3% |
Largest gaps: Boston University vs University of California-Santa Barbara
- IN-STATE-TUITION University of California-Santa Barbara leads on in-state tuition ($16,414 vs $68,102 at Boston University)
- ACCEPTANCE-RATE Boston University leads on acceptance rate (11.1% vs 33.0% at University of California-Santa Barbara)
- MEDIAN-DEBT-AT-GRA University of California-Santa Barbara leads on median debt at graduation ($13,993 vs $23,250 at Boston University)
Boston University profile · University of California-Santa Barbara profile · Compare other colleges
Also on the Scorecard board
In-State Tuition and other Scorecard questions
On in-state tuition, who leads between Boston University and University of California-Santa Barbara?▼
University of California-Santa Barbara leads on in-state tuition at $16,414 versus $68,102 at Boston University. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
On acceptance rate, who leads between Boston University and University of California-Santa Barbara?▼
Boston University leads on acceptance rate at 11.1% versus 33.0% at University of California-Santa Barbara. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
On median debt at graduation, who leads between Boston University and University of California-Santa Barbara?▼
University of California-Santa Barbara leads on median debt at graduation at $13,993 versus $23,250 at Boston University. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard College Scorecard institution outcomes (earnings, completion, debt); in-state tuition focus for this pair · 2025