UCSB ranked 7th among nation’s public universities
UCSB, one of the top schools in the UC system, slipped slightly in the U.S. News & World Report 2019 ranking of public universities.
Last year the Gauchos placed fifth on the publication’s list of “Top 30 Public National Universities.” This year the school ranked seventh, tying with the University of Florida in Gainesville.
U.S. News & World Report rankings play an essential role in the competition among colleges and universities. Many high school students use the media company’s lists when deciding on where to apply. Among the lists compiled by the company, UCSB is consistently a top UC performer, only bested by UCLA and UC Berkeley.
For the “Best Programs at Engineering Schools Whose Highest Degree is a Doctorate” category, the public school’s rank went from 17th place to 20th. On the “Best Ethnic Diversity” list, UCSB dwindled from 14th to 16th. UCSB’s most significant dip, however, is on the lists for “Best Colleges for Veterans” (from 10th to 14th) and “Best National Universities” (from 30th to 34th).
U.S. News & World Report is not the only media company who is ranking UCSB lower than before. On Forbes’ “America’s Top Colleges” list, UCSB ticked slightly lower by one place to 20th.
UCSB, however, appears to be focusing on the positive. In a statement released Monday, the public school ignored the slip in rankings and emphasized that it saw “the most competitive admissions process in campus history” last academic year, with applicants having an average GPA of 4.3. The school also highlighted its faculty, which includes Nobel laureates, Academy Award winners, and Emmy Award winners.
In addition, a significant portion of UCSB students appear to be receiving financial aid from the government. A study conducted by international news website Business Insider found that almost 40 percent of UCSB’s students received government Pell grants, which do not have to be repaid. On this list by Business Insider, UCSB ranked 9th.
“Students are the reason all of us are here at UC Santa Barbara,” Chancellor Henry Yang told the News-Press. “As part of our vibrant and diverse academic community, our students study with award-winning professors, engage in original undergraduate research projects, and enjoy a unique learning and living environment in a spectacular location.”
For their education at UCSB, students face a sticker price tuition of about $15,000 per year if they are from California and about $45,000 if from out of state.
