About
Santa Barbara City College is a public community college located in Santa Barbara, California. The college operates multiple campuses, including Cliff Campus, Schott Campus, and Wake Campus, and serves a diverse student body with a notable focus on career and academic pathways, including online learning and extended education programs.
Graduation rate & outcomes
Completion, retention, and the equity gap between Pell and non-Pell students.
Pell equity
Non-Pell students graduate at a 14.0-point higher rate than Pell recipients.
Program outcomes
Federal Program Performance Data: how each program's graduate earnings and debt measure up under Financial Value Transparency and Gainful Employment.
Of 110 Title IV programs, 3 pass the federal Gainful Employment test and 0 fail. 107 have graduate earnings too small to publish, so they carry no pass/fail verdict.
Pass / fail distribution
- Passing3 · 2.7%
- No Data107 · 97.3%
- Failing0 · 0.0%
Severity spectrum
Tiers band programs by how far graduate earnings sit above or below the benchmark, from Critical (below −15%) through Safe (above +25%). No data means earnings were privacy-suppressed.
Earnings premium gap
Graduate earnings versus the federal benchmark, worst gaps first.
Debt vs earnings
Median completer debt against median graduate earnings, highest burden first.
Accreditation status & history
Who accredits the institution, current standing, and any past actions.
Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges
Programmatic accreditations · 2
Action history · 12
- Aug 2025Renewal of AccreditationAccreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, Inc. — May 6, 2013 Formerly: National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission · Nursing (ADNUR) - Associate degree programs
- Jun 2023Renewal of AccreditationAccrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges
- Oct 2022Renewal of AccreditationJoint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology · Radiologic Technology (RAD) - Programs for radiographers
- Jan 2022Renewal of AccreditationAccrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges
- Jan 2022Heightened Monitoring or Focused ReviewAccrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges
Tuition & cost
What families actually pay, broken down by family income.
Net price by family income
Negative values mean aid exceeds the published cost of attendance for that income band.
Federal aid volume & trends
Pell grants and federal Direct Loan volume disbursed to students, and how they've trended.
In AY 2024–25, 2,465 students received $12.8M in Pell grants, alongside $4.3M in federal Direct Loans.
Pell recipients · 5-year trend
Loan volume by type · AY 2024–25
Loan awards count each loan type a student holds, not unique borrowers; one student may carry several (e.g. subsidized and unsubsidized), so the per-type figures are the reliable detail.
Student loan default rate
The share of student borrowers who default on federal loans within three years, against the national benchmark.
Of 977 borrowers who entered repayment, 33 (3.3%) defaulted within three years — above the 2.3% national rate.
Default rate vs national, by cohort
* Cohorts 2020 and later read near 0% because the federal COVID-19 payment pause (CARES Act) suspended defaults nationwide. These years reflect a national policy, not institutional performance; the 2019 cohort is the last measured under normal repayment.
Academic programs at Santa Barbara City College
Top program areas ranked by completions.
Top program families by completions
Enrollment trends & demographics
Fall headcount, 12-month unduplicated enrollment, and student body composition.
Gender split
Race / ethnicity composition
Athletics & Title IX gender equity
How athletic participation, aid, and spending are split between men and women.
Men vs women · spending splits
Sport-by-sport · 12
Campus safety & crime statistics
Reported on-campus crimes over the last three years, including violence and hate crimes.
3-year trend
Criminal offenses by type
By location
- On campus9
- Public property2
VAWA offenses
Hate crimes by bias
No hate crimes reported.
Arrests vs disciplinary referrals
Residence-hall fires
Student-faculty ratio
Student-to-faculty ratio and instructional staff counts.
Santa Barbara City College vs Peer comparison
The peer institutions Santa Barbara City College selected for federal comparison reporting.
A larger shape on any axis means this institution outperforms its peers on that dimension. For acceptance rate and net price, lower raw values are inverted so "more selective" and "more affordable" appear larger.
| Carnegie | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SubjectSanta Barbara City College | 34% | — | 12,334 | $10,029 | Community College |
| — | — | 11,720 | $9,376 | Community College | |
| — | — | 18,095 | $17,225 | Community College | |
| — | — | 21,859 | $693 | Community College | |
| — | — | 22,460 | $5,743 | Community College | |
| — | — | 10,429 | $3,800 | Community College | |
| — | — | 14,494 | $29 | Community College | |
| — | — | 12,926 | $13,306 | Community College | |
| — | — | 12,275 | $5,240 | Community College | |
| — | — | 20,123 | $4,907 | Community College | |
| — | — | 14,494 | $5,699 | Community College | |
| — | — | 17,228 | $6,142 | Community College | |
| — | — | 21,664 | $5,170 | Community College | |
| — | — | 25,567 | $4,154 | Community College | |
| — | — | 19,521 | $8,090 | Community College | |
| — | 90.8% | 17,437 | $10,102 | Community College | |
| — | — | 12,075 | $7,461 | Community College | |
| — | — | 14,440 | $2,755 | Community College | |
| — | — | 24,985 | $5,001 | Community College | |
| — | — | 12,472 | $4,260 | Community College | |
| — | — | 13,523 | $8,165 | Community College | |
| — | — | 14,583 | $742 | Community College | |
| — | — | 12,301 | $5,736 | Community College | |
| — | — | 17,096 | $4,754 | Community College | |
| — | — | 24,597 | $3,123 | Community College | |
| — | — | 21,730 | $4,026 | Community College | |
| — | — | 20,986 | $10,893 | Community College | |
| — | — | 19,973 | $4,882 | Community College | |
| — | — | 43,928 | $6,073 | Community College | |
| — | — | 24,609 | $6,935 | Community College | |
| Peer group median | 34% | 90.8% | 17,333 | $5,470 |
Institutions like Santa Barbara City College
Explore the federal data for institutions in Santa Barbara City College's comparison group.
- Community CollegeNew Jersey
Bergen Community College
Grad rate—Admit rate—Enrollment11,720Net price$9,376View data - Community CollegeTexas
Blinn College District
Grad rate—Admit rate—Enrollment18,095Net price$17,225View data - Community CollegeCalifornia
Cerritos College
Grad rate—Admit rate—Enrollment21,859Net price$693View data - Community CollegeCalifornia
Chaffey College
Grad rate—Admit rate—Enrollment22,460Net price$5,743View data - Community CollegeCalifornia
Citrus College
Grad rate—Admit rate—Enrollment10,429Net price$3,800View data - Community CollegeCalifornia
College of the Sequoias
Grad rate—Admit rate—Enrollment14,494Net price$29View data - Community CollegePennsylvania
Community College of Philadelphia
Grad rate—Admit rate—Enrollment12,926Net price$13,306View data - Community CollegeRhode Island
Community College of Rhode Island
Grad rate—Admit rate—Enrollment12,275Net price$5,240View data - Community CollegeNew York
CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College
Grad rate—Admit rate—Enrollment20,123Net price$4,907View data - Community CollegeNew York
CUNY LaGuardia Community College
Grad rate—Admit rate—Enrollment14,494Net price$5,699View data - Community CollegeCalifornia
Diablo Valley College
Grad rate—Admit rate—Enrollment17,228Net price$6,142View data - Community CollegeCalifornia
El Camino Community College District
Grad rate—Admit rate—Enrollment21,664Net price$5,170View data - Community CollegeTexas
El Paso Community College
Grad rate—Admit rate—Enrollment25,567Net price$4,154View data - Community CollegeCalifornia
Fullerton College
Grad rate—Admit rate—Enrollment19,521Net price$8,090View data - Community CollegeGeorgia
Georgia State University-Perimeter College
Grad rate—Admit rate90.8%Enrollment17,437Net price$10,102View data - Community CollegeCalifornia
Glendale Community College
Grad rate—Admit rate—Enrollment12,075Net price$7,461View data - Community CollegeCalifornia
Grossmont College
Grad rate—Admit rate—Enrollment14,440Net price$2,755View data - Community CollegeCalifornia
Long Beach City College
Grad rate—Admit rate—Enrollment24,985Net price$5,001View data - Community CollegeCalifornia
Merced College
Grad rate—Admit rate—Enrollment12,472Net price$4,260View data - Community CollegeMissouri
Metropolitan Community College-Kansas City
Grad rate—Admit rate—Enrollment13,523Net price$8,165View data - Community CollegeCalifornia
Moorpark College
Grad rate—Admit rate—Enrollment14,583Net price$742View data - Community CollegeNew York
Nassau Community College
Grad rate—Admit rate—Enrollment12,301Net price$5,736View data - Community CollegeCalifornia
Orange Coast College
Grad rate—Admit rate—Enrollment17,096Net price$4,754View data - Community CollegeCalifornia
Pasadena City College
Grad rate—Admit rate—Enrollment24,597Net price$3,123View data - Community CollegeCalifornia
Riverside City College
Grad rate—Admit rate—Enrollment21,730Net price$4,026View data - Community CollegeCalifornia
Southwestern College
Grad rate—Admit rate—Enrollment20,986Net price$10,893View data - Community CollegeNew York
Suffolk County Community College
Grad rate—Admit rate—Enrollment19,973Net price$4,882View data - Community CollegeTexas
Tarrant County College District
Grad rate—Admit rate—Enrollment43,928Net price$6,073View data - Community CollegeNorth Carolina
Wake Technical Community College
Grad rate—Admit rate—Enrollment24,609Net price$6,935View data
Santa Barbara City College Institutional Research office
The IR team responsible for the institution's federal reporting.
The Office of Institutional Research & Planning (IR) fosters and supports a college-wide culture of inquiry and evidence to inform decision-making for mission-focused, student-centered institutional transformation.
Visit IR office page- Keller Magenau, Ph.D.Executive Director
- Melanie Rogers, M.A.Senior Researcher
- Jordan Morris, B.S.Senior Research Data Warehouse Specialist
- Nicole Oldendick, M.S.Researcher, Career Education
Reports & documents (4)
Dashboards, factbooks, data dictionaries, and other reference material published by the IR office.
- DFR reportIPEDS Data Feedback Report 20242024nces.ed.gov
- FactbookData Center - Santa Barbara City College2023The page is a centralized location for accessing Santa Barbara City College's institutional research data, including student achievement metrics, high school transitions, and other important reports such as the 2023 IPEDS Data Feedback Report and the Institutional Effectiveness Reports. The page also provides links to institutional planning and additional resources.sbcc.edu
- GlossaryOffice of Institutional Research and Planning (IRP) - Santa Barbara City CollegeThe Office of Institutional Research and Planning at Santa Barbara City College supports and promotes a data-driven culture across the college to enhance mission-focused and student-centered improvements. It plays a key role in institutional effectiveness through participatory governance, data report production, institutional planning, and administering college surveys. It further oversees institutional grant administration, accreditation processes, and maintains the college's focus on centering student voices. The Office also provides resources through a Data Center and guides on applying for institutional grants.sbcc.edu
- Strategic planSanta Barbara City College Strategic Plan2023Santa Barbara City College's 2023 Strategic Plan sets forth a roadmap for nurturing an inclusive campus climate that values equity, agility, and resilience. The plan focuses on delivering high-quality, innovative educational programs while fostering community partnerships and ensuring environmental sustainability. Key initiatives include enhancing student support services, improving fiscal responsibility, and cultivating a collaborative culture that supports diversity and equity across all levels of the college community.sbcc.edu
Grants & funding (1)
Federal grant awards and open funding opportunities awarded to this institution.
Notable alumni of Santa Barbara City College (9)
A curated list of alumni recognized for notable achievements across industries.
- Dylan AxelrodAthletics
- Ben HowlandAthletics
- Alma Martínez (footballer)Athletics
- Mansour bin Zayed Al NahyanPolitics
- Edward C. NoonanPolitics
- Chris PlanteMedia
- Elliot RodgerNotorious
- Grace TameAdvocacy
- Richard A. WalkerAcademia
Frequently asked questions about Santa Barbara City College
Quick answers to the questions most often asked about Santa Barbara City College.
What is the graduation rate at Santa Barbara City College?
How many students attend Santa Barbara City College?
What is the average net price at Santa Barbara City College?
Where is Santa Barbara City College located?
Who runs Institutional Research at Santa Barbara City College?
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