Colleges Near Santa Barbara, California
Looking for information about the best colleges and universities serving Santa Barbara? Here's your guide to the top schools offering degrees to students in the area, including institutions located within 40 miles of Santa Barbara, California.
There are at least 11 colleges serving the area, including 7 private colleges and universities, 1 public college or university, and 2 community colleges offering 2-year degrees.
The Best Adult Colleges & Careers Guide provides a breakdown of the colleges serving Santa Barbara, with details about cost, enrollment, student type and degree offerings. Click here to learn more about the guide.
Santa Barbara, California Colleges by the Numbers
Associate, bachelor's, masters, and doctoral degree completions at institutions near Santa Barbara, California have been growing over the past 5 years. In 2022, students completed 13,727 doctorates at colleges and universities near Santa Barbara. That was an increase of 11% from completions reported in 2018.
Schools with Degree Completions
Est. Total Completions in 2022
Est. Completions (Last 5 Years)
Sponsored
Top School For Adults & Online Students
Franklin University is a top choice for transfer students, online learners and adults who need to balance school with busy lives. Founded in 1902 in Columbus, Ohio, Franklin's main focus has been serving adult students and tailoring education to fit their needs. Nonprofit and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org/800.621.7440), Franklin offers more than 50 bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs — all available 100% online.
Undergraduate Enrollment
4,444
Completions By Degree
1,820
Est. Online Degree Offerings
100%
Private Colleges & Universities Offering Degrees Near Santa Barbara, California
There are at least 7 schools offering degrees near Santa Barbara, California, and 7 are four-year private colleges or universities where about 5,730 undergraduate students were enrolled. In 2022, a total of 2,643 degrees were completed at private colleges and universities, including 1,854 that were offered online.
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
Franklin offers more than 50 online bachelor's degrees, master's degrees and doctoral programs in the Santa Barbara, California area. Franklin University is an institutionally accredited nonprofit 4-year school where most students attend classes part-time. Most of the students are adults and all programs completed were offered online. Bachelor's degrees are the most popular at Franklin University. In 2022, 1,011 bachelor's degrees were completed. In addition, 94 associate degrees, 676 master's degrees, and 39 doctoral degrees were earned.
Undergraduate Enrollment
4,444
Completions By Degree
1,820
Est. Online Degree Availability
100%
Completions by Program Area
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
Westmont College is an institutionally accredited nonprofit 4-year school where most students attend classes full-time. Most of the students are of traditional age and no programs completed were offered online. Bachelor's degrees are the most popular at Westmont College. In 2022, 277 bachelor's degrees were completed. In addition, 0 associate degrees, 0 master's degrees, and 0 doctoral degrees were earned.
Undergraduate Enrollment
1,238
Completions By Degree
277
Est. Online Degree Availability
0%
Completions by Program Area
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
Fielding Graduate University is an institutionally accredited nonprofit 4-year school where most students attend classes full-time. Most of the students are of traditional age and minimal programs completed were offered online. Master's degrees are the most popular at Fielding Graduate University. In 2022, 101 master's degrees were completed. In addition, 0 associate degrees, 0 bachelor's degrees, and 89 doctoral degrees were earned.
Undergraduate Enrollment
0
Completions By Degree
190
Est. Online Degree Availability
11%
Completions by Program Area
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
Antioch University-Santa Barbara is an institutionally accredited nonprofit 4-year school where most students attend classes part-time. Most of the students are a mixture of traditional and adult aged and no programs completed were offered online. Master's degrees are the most popular at Antioch University-Santa Barbara. In 2022, 69 master's degrees were completed. In addition, 0 associate degrees, 26 bachelor's degrees, and 11 doctoral degrees were earned.
Undergraduate Enrollment
48
Completions By Degree
106
Est. Online Degree Availability
0%
Completions by Program Area
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
The Colleges of Law at Ventura is an institutionally accredited nonprofit 4-year school where most students attend classes full-time. Most of the students are of traditional age and minimal programs completed were offered online. Doctoral degrees are the most popular at The Colleges of Law at Ventura. In 2022, 38 doctoral degrees were completed. In addition, 0 associate degrees, 0 bachelor's degrees, 14 master's degrees, were earned.
Undergraduate Enrollment
0
Completions By Degree
52
Est. Online Degree Availability
27%
Completions by Program Area
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
The Colleges of Law at Santa Barbara is an institutionally accredited nonprofit 4-year school where most students attend classes full-time. Most of the students are of traditional age and no programs completed were offered online. Doctoral degrees are the most popular at The Colleges of Law at Santa Barbara. In 2022, 10 doctoral degrees were completed. In addition, 0 associate degrees, 0 bachelor's degrees, 0 master's degrees, were earned.
Undergraduate Enrollment
0
Completions By Degree
10
Est. Online Degree Availability
0%
Completions by Program Area
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
Pacifica Graduate Institute is an institutionally accredited for profit 4-year school where most students attend classes full-time. Most of the students are of traditional age and no programs completed were offered online. Master's degrees are the most popular at Pacifica Graduate Institute. In 2022, 122 master's degrees were completed. In addition, 0 associate degrees, 0 bachelor's degrees, and 66 doctoral degrees were earned.
Undergraduate Enrollment
0
Completions By Degree
188
Est. Online Degree Availability
0%
Completions by Program Area
Public Colleges & Universities Near Santa Barbara, California
There is 1 four-year public college located near Santa Barbara, California. About 23,081 students were enrolled in undergraduate programs, and about 7,735 degrees were completed at public colleges near Santa Barbara. Tuition shown reflects in-state rates.
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
University of California-Santa Barbara is an institutionally accredited public 4-year school where most students attend classes full-time. Most of the students are of traditional age and no programs completed were offered online. Bachelor's degrees are the most popular at University of California-Santa Barbara. In 2022, 6,839 bachelor's degrees were completed. In addition, 0 associate degrees, 530 master's degrees, and 366 doctoral degrees were earned.
Undergraduate Enrollment
23,081
Completions By Degree
7,735
Est. Online Degree Availability
0%
Completions by Program Area
Community Colleges Near Santa Barbara, California
There are 2 community colleges near Santa Barbara, California where students can earn 2-year associate degrees. In 2022, about 20,378 students were enrolled in undergraduate courses at community colleges near Santa Barbara, and about 5,046 associate degrees were completed.
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
Ventura College is an institutionally accredited 2-year school where most students attend classes part-time. Most of the students are of traditional age and no programs completed were offered online.
Undergraduate Enrollment
9,808
Completions By Degree
2,456
Est. Online Degree Availability
0%
Completions by Program Area
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
Santa Barbara City College is an institutionally accredited 2-year school where most students attend classes full-time. Most of the students are of traditional age and some programs completed were offered online.
Undergraduate Enrollment
10,570
Completions By Degree
2,590
Est. Online Degree Availability
48%
Completions by Program Area
Affordable Colleges Near Santa Barbara, California
Wondering what you can expect to pay for a degree near Santa Barbara, California? According to undergraduate tuition data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, the average tuition at Santa Barbara-area's 4-year nonprofit schools is $25,921. The average tuition at similar 4-year for-profit schools near Santa Barbara is N/A, while tuition at 2-year online colleges and universities is N/A.
4-Year Nonprofit
4-Year For-Profit
2-Year
Accredited Colleges Serving Santa Barbara, California
Earning a college degree is an investment — and earning a degree from an institutionally accredited university is one of the best ways to ensure your education is of high quality. Institutionally accredited universities are held to rigorous standards by state and regional bodies and undergo regular reviews to verify that their processes and academic programs meet the proper standards.
Wondering if a certain college or university offering degree programs in Santa Barbara, California is institutionally accredited? View a list of institutionally accredited colleges and universities serving Santa Barbara, California here. We've made it easy to find your school by breaking down the list by school type.
- Franklin University
- Antioch University-Santa Barbara
- Fielding Graduate University
- The Colleges of Law at Ventura
- Westmont College
- The Colleges of Law at Santa Barbara
- Ventura College
- Santa Barbara City College
- Pacifica Graduate Institute
Santa Barbara, California Job Market & Opportunities
What happens after you earn your college degree in Santa Barbara? What's the Santa Barbara, California job market outlook? Get a snapshot of jobs and careers, including annual job openings, median earnings and more.
In 2022, there were about 775,039 jobs in the Santa Barbara, California area. From 2021-2022, job growth in Santa Barbara was below the national average, at 3.2%. There were 102,996 job openings in the area. In terms of earnings, workers in Santa Barbara do better than the national average, with an average hourly pay of $21.63.