The Scoop
The University of California, Santa Barbara is a public research university located on a stunning coastal campus along the Pacific Ocean in Goleta, California. With approximately 26,000 students, UCSB offers strong programs in engineering, physics, marine science, and the liberal arts, and has grown into one of the top public research universities in the country. The university's research output includes multiple Nobel Prize-winning faculty.
Campus life at UCSB is uniquely shaped by its beachside location, with the adjacent community of Isla Vista creating a lively, student-centered social scene. The campus blends academic seriousness with a laid-back Southern California lifestyle, and outdoor activities — surfing, hiking, and biking — are woven into daily life. UCSB's small-town-by-the-sea setting is unlike any other major research university. Admissions are competitive, and UCSB attracts students who want rigorous academics in a beautiful, relaxed environment with a strong sense of community.
UCSB's graduates go on to strong careers in science, engineering, technology, and education, with an alumni network that extends across California and beyond. The university's Nobel Prize-winning faculty and growing research profile belie its laid-back reputation. A campus tour with a current Gaucho is the best way to understand how students balance rigorous academics with the beach lifestyle, and why UCSB's combination of intellectual strength and natural beauty is unlike anything else in higher education.
SchoolScoops offers private, student-led University of California, Santa Barbara campus tours starting at $75 for one hour or $150 for two hours. Tours are available in person or by video chat and are led by a real, verified current UC Santa Barbara student of your choice.
