Santa Barbara City College

  • Santa Barbara City College is a comprehensive community college serving the south coast of Santa Barbara County. Established in 1909, SBCC is renowned as one of the leading two-year community college in California - and the nation. The college has a wide range of associate degree and certificate programs, as well as transfer programs that provide the first two years of study toward the baccalaureate degree. Students are attracted to SBCC by virtue of its outstanding faculty, small classes, state-of-the-art facilities and numerous student services.

School Highlights

Santa Barbara City College serves 12,525 students (43% of students are full-time).
The college's student:teacher ratio of 12:1 is lower than the state community college average of 21:1.
Minority enrollment is 60% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the state average of 74%.

Quick Stats (2024)

  • Enrollment: 12,525 students
  • In-state tuition: $1,374
  • Out-state tuition: $6,836
  • Student:teacher ratio: 12:1
  • Minority enrollment: 60%
  • Source: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)

School Overview

The teacher population of 1,041 teachers has stayed relatively flat over five years.
Santa Barbara City College
(CA) Community College Avg.
Carnegie Classification
Associates Colleges
Associates Colleges
Institution Level
At least 2 but less than 4 years
At least 2 but less than 4 years
Institution Control
Public
Public
Total Faculty
1,041 staff
312 staff
This chart display total faculty of Santa Barbara City College and community college average number of faculty in CA by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.

Student Body

The student population of Santa Barbara City College has declined by 11% over five years.
The student:teacher ratio of 12:1 has decreased from 14:1 over five years.
The Santa Barbara City College diversity score of 0.71 is equal to the state average of 0.71. The school's diversity has stayed relatively flat over five years.
Total Enrollment
12,525 students
7,900 students
This chart display the total enrollment of Santa Barbara City College and community college average number of enrollment of CA by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Student : Teacher Ratio
12:1
21:1
This chart display the student staff ratio of Santa Barbara City College and community college average student staff ratio of CA by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
# Full-Time Students
5,400 students
1,661 students
This chart display the total number of Full-time students enrollment of Santa Barbara City College and average number of community college Full-time students enrollment of CA by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
# Part-Time Students
7,125 students
6,239 students
This chart display the total number of Part-time students enrollment of Santa Barbara City College and average number of community college Part-time students enrollment of CA by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
This chart display the Full-time students and Part-time students enrollment breakdown of Santa Barbara City College.
This chart display community college average Full-Time students and Part-Time students enrollment breakdown of CA.
# Enrollment Undergraduate
102 students
302 students
# Full-Time Undergraduate Students
5,400 students
1,646 students
This chart display the total number of Full-time undergraduate students enrollment of Santa Barbara City College and average number of community college Full-time undergraduate  students enrollment of CA by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
# Full-Time Graduate Students
n/a
54 students
# Part-Time Undergraduate Students
7,125 students
6,288 students
# Part-Time Graduate Students
n/a
10 students
Total Dormitory Capacity
n/a
140 students
% American Indian/Alaskan
n/a
n/a
This chart display the percentage of American Indian/Alaskan students in Santa Barbara City College and the percentage of American Indian/Alaskan community college students in CA by year, with the latest 2017-18 school year data.
% Asian
5%
13%
This chart display the percentage of Asian students in Santa Barbara City College and the percentage of Asian community college students in CA by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
% Hispanic
34%
45%
This chart display the percentage of Hispanic students in Santa Barbara City College and the percentage of Hispanic community college students in CA by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
% Black
2%
5%
This chart display the percentage of Black students in Santa Barbara City College and the percentage of Black community college students in CA by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
% White
40%
26%
This chart display the percentage of White students in Santa Barbara City College and the percentage of White community college students in CA by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
% Two or more races
5%
4%
This chart display the percentage of Two or more races students in Santa Barbara City College and the percentage of Two or more races community college students in CA by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
% Non Resident races
10%
3%
This chart display the percentage of Non Resident students in Santa Barbara City College and the percentage of Non Resident community college students in CA by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
% Unknown races
4%
4%
This chart display the percentage breakdown of students of all ethnic groups in Santa Barbara City College.
This chart display the percentage breakdown of students of all ethnic groups in CA.
Diversity Score
0.71
0.71
This chart display the diversity score of Santa Barbara City College and the community college average diversity score of CA by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
College Completion Rate (Students who graduate in less than 4 years)
42%
35%
This chart display completion rates for First-Time of Full-time students of Santa Barbara City College and community college average completion rates for First-Time of Full-time students of CA by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
College Completion Rate (Students who graduate in 4 years or more than 4 years)
n/a
1.92%
Average Graduate Earnings (10 Years)
$39,300
$34,700
This chart display average graduate earnings (10 Years) of Santa Barbara City College and community college average graduate earnings (10 Years) of CA by year, disaggregated by student subgroups with the latest 2012-13 school year data.

Tuition and Acceptance Rate

The public in-state tuition of $1,374 is less than the state average of $1,993. The in-state tuition has stayed relatively flat over four years.
The public out-state tuition of $6,836 is less than the state average of $7,120. The out-state tuition has declined by 17% over four years.
In-State Tuition Fees
$1,374
$1,993
This chart display tuition fees for an in-state student of Santa Barbara City College and the public community college average tuition fees for an in-state student of CA by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Out-State Tuition Fees
$6,836
$7,120
This chart display tuition fees for an out-of-state student of Santa Barbara City College and the public community college average tuition fees for an out-of-state student of CA by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
% Students Receiving Some Financial Aid
46%
86%
This chart display the percent of students who is receiving some financial aid in Santa Barbara City College and the percent of community college students who is receiving some financial aid in CA by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Median Debt for Graduates
$11,725
$10,500
This chart display median debt for students who have completed a certificate or degree in Santa Barbara City College and average median debt for community college students who have completed a certificate or degree in CA by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Median Debt for Dropouts
$7,116
$6,239
This chart display median debt for students who have not completed a certificate or degree in Santa Barbara City College and average median debt for community college students who have not completed a certificate or degree in CA by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Acceptance Rate
n/a
89%
Source: 2021 (or latest year available) Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)

School Notes

  • Established in 1909, SBCC is a public, co-educational two-year college which offers both academic and technical/vocational certificates and associate degrees. Known for its outstanding faculty and curriculum, SBCC is a premier California Community College and a leader in preparing students to transfer to respected universities and colleges. International students have always played an important role in the life of the college. Santa Barbara City College provides an outstanding education for the South Coast's future workforce - the health care workers, technicians, teachers, hotel/restaurant staff, and business managers that will keep our community strong. SBCC is also the home of an outstanding lifelong learning program - our continuing education classes provide lifelong learning opportunities for more than 42,000 people every year. The primary purpose of the Office of Student Life is to coordinate co-curricular student activities and specific services on campus. The staff assists individual students, student organizations, athletics, and instructional departments in coordinating activity projects, in addition to providing assistance and direction to the A.S. Student Senate.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does Santa Barbara City College cost?
Santa Barbara City College's tuition is approximately $1,374 for In-State students and $6,836 for Out-State students.

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Quick Stats (2024)

  • Enrollment: 12,525 students
  • In-state tuition: $1,374
  • Out-state tuition: $6,836
  • Student:teacher ratio: 12:1
  • Minority enrollment: 60%
  • Source: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)

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Did You Know?

For California public community colleges, the average tuition is approximately $1,993 per year for in-state students and $7,120 for out-of-state students. For private community colleges, the average yearly tuition is approximately $21,083 per year. Read more about average community college tuition costs across the country.

The average community college acceptance rate in California is 81%. Read more about national community college acceptance rates.

California community colleges have a diversity score of 0.71, which is higher than the national average of 0.70. The most diverse community college in California is Berkeley City College. Read more about community college diversity statistics in the USA.

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