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University of California Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, CA 93106 United States |
#67 in Best Global Universities (tie)
Summary
The University of California—Santa Barbara, or UCSB, is a public university that traces its roots back to 1891. The school became part of the University of California system in 1944. The West Coast university's campus overlooks the Pacific Ocean and is about 100 miles northwest of Los Angeles. In a recent year, the institution enrolled more than 20,000 students, and upward of 85 percent of them were studying at the undergraduate level. Top countries of origin for UCSB's international students that year included China, India and South Korea. Non-California residents pay a supplemental tuition at UCSB. University housing is available and guaranteed for four years for new freshmen undergrads and for two years for transfer students.
UCSB has five colleges and schools – creative studies, engineering, letters and science, environmental science and management, and education – as well as a graduate division. In all, the institution offers more than 200 majors, degrees and credentials. The university follows a quarter-based academic calendar, and English is the primary language of instruction. UCSB has around a dozen national research institutes and centers on its campus, including the Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics, the Materials Research Laboratory and the Institute for Collaborative Biotechnologies, which the U.S. Army supports. More than 50 percent of the university's undergraduate students conduct research, some through programs such as the Faculty Research Assistance Program, which pairs students with UCSB researchers in their fields of interest and allows them to earn credit for their work.
More from This School
Rankings
University of California Santa Barbara is ranked #67 in Best Global Universities. Schools are ranked according to their performance across a set of widely accepted indicators of excellence. Read more about how we rank schools.
Global Universities Rankings
Subject Rankings
- #89in Arts and Humanities
- #218in Biology and Biochemistry (tie)
- #59in Chemistry
- #104in Computer Science
- #94in Condensed Matter Physics (tie)
- #179in Economics and Business (tie)
- #69in Education and Educational Research (tie)
- #209in Electrical and Electronic Engineering (tie)
- #178in Engineering (tie)
- #20in Environment/Ecology
- #71in Geosciences
- #84in Materials Science (tie)
- #324in Mathematics (tie)
- #95in Meteorology and Atmospheric Sciences (tie)
- #150in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (tie)
- #315in Neuroscience and Behavior
- #17in Optics
- #148in Physical Chemistry
- #22in Physics
- #191in Plant and Animal Science
- #44in Polymer Science
- #131in Psychiatry/Psychology
- #130in Social Sciences and Public Health (tie)
- #30in Space Science
- #78in Water Resources
2022-2023 Indicator Rankings
Thirteen indicators were used to calculate this institution's overall Best Global Universities rank. Here is a breakdown of how this institution ranked relative to other schools for each indicator.
Global score
73.3
Global research reputation
#62
Regional research reputation
#36
Publications
#290
Books
#158
Conferences
#227
Normalized citation impact
#95
Total citations
#204
Number of publications that are among the 10% most cited
#195
Percentage of total publications that are among the 10% most cited
#39
International collaboration - relative to country
#148
International collaboration
#718
Number of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited
#166
Percentage of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited
#80
Arts and Humanities overall score
59.9
Arts and Humanities global research reputation
#70
Arts and Humanities regional research reputation
#26
Arts and Humanities publications
#110
Arts and Humanities books
#138
Arts and Humanities normalized citation impact
#176
Arts and Humanities total citations
#121
Arts and Humanities number of publications that are among the 10% most cited
#125
Arts and Humanities percentage of total publications that are among the 10% most cited
#172
Arts and Humanities international collaboration - relative to country
#7
Arts and Humanities international collaboration
#115
Biology and Biochemistry overall score
42.7
Biology and Biochemistry global research reputation
#153
Biology and Biochemistry regional research reputation
#58
Biology and Biochemistry publications
#527
Biology and Biochemistry normalized citation impact
#132
Biology and Biochemistry total citations
#396
Biology and Biochemistry number of publications that are among the 10% most cited
#294
Biology and Biochemistry percentage of total publications that are among the 10% most cited
#28
Biology and Biochemistry international collaboration - relative to country
#87
Biology and Biochemistry international collaboration
#297
Biology and Biochemistry number of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited
#253
Biology and Biochemistry percentage of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited
#73
Chemistry overall score
74.6
Chemistry global research reputation
#36
Chemistry regional research reputation
#20
Chemistry publications
#267
Chemistry normalized citation impact
#51
Chemistry total citations
#140
Chemistry number of publications that are among the 10% most cited
#126
Chemistry percentage of total publications that are among the 10% most cited
#61
Chemistry international collaboration - relative to country
#206
Chemistry international collaboration
#410
Chemistry number of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited
#140
Chemistry percentage of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited
#144
Computer Science overall score
60.6
Computer Science global research reputation
#101
Computer Science regional research reputation
#33
Computer Science publications
#296
Computer Science conferences
#176
Computer Science normalized citation impact
#33
Computer Science total citations
#153
Computer Science number of publications that are among the 10% most cited
#113
Computer Science percentage of total publications that are among the 10% most cited
#24
Computer Science international collaboration - relative to country
#395
Computer Science international collaboration
#403
Computer Science number of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited
#321
Computer Science percentage of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited
#444
Condensed Matter Physics overall score
53.5
Condensed Matter Physics publications
#82
Condensed Matter Physics conferences
#174
Condensed Matter Physics normalized citation impact
#107
Condensed Matter Physics total citations
#94
Condensed Matter Physics number of publications that are among the 10% most cited
#85
Condensed Matter Physics percentage of total publications that are among the 10% most cited
#100
Condensed Matter Physics international collaboration - relative to country
#255
Condensed Matter Physics international collaboration
#155
Condensed Matter Physics number of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited
#65
Condensed Matter Physics percentage of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited
#70
Economics and Business overall score
38.4
Economics and Business global research reputation
#158
Economics and Business regional research reputation
#73
Economics and Business publications
#321
Economics and Business normalized citation impact
#33
Economics and Business total citations
#202
Economics and Business number of publications that are among the 10% most cited
#214
Economics and Business percentage of total publications that are among the 10% most cited
#76
Economics and Business international collaboration - relative to country
#86
Economics and Business international collaboration
#230
Economics and Business number of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited
#122
Economics and Business percentage of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited
#37
Education and Educational Research overall score
52.1
Education and Educational Research publications
#137
Education and Educational Research conferences
#146
Education and Educational Research normalized citation impact
#23
Education and Educational Research total citations
#97
Education and Educational Research number of publications that are among the 10% most cited
#109
Education and Educational Research percentage of total publications that are among the 10% most cited
#57
Education and Educational Research international collaboration - relative to country
#17
Education and Educational Research international collaboration
#113
Education and Educational Research number of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited
#26
Education and Educational Research percentage of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited
#7
Electrical and Electronic Engineering overall score
53.0
Electrical and Electronic Engineering publications
#277
Electrical and Electronic Engineering conferences
#150
Electrical and Electronic Engineering normalized citation impact
#139
Electrical and Electronic Engineering total citations
#233
Electrical and Electronic Engineering number of publications that are among the 10% most cited
#198
Electrical and Electronic Engineering percentage of total publications that are among the 10% most cited
#113
Electrical and Electronic Engineering international collaboration - relative to country
#434
Electrical and Electronic Engineering international collaboration
#281
Electrical and Electronic Engineering number of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited
#261
Electrical and Electronic Engineering percentage of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited
#285
Engineering overall score
61.5
Engineering global research reputation
#68
Engineering regional research reputation
#34
Engineering publications
#394
Engineering conferences
#213
Engineering normalized citation impact
#196
Engineering total citations
#314
Engineering number of publications that are among the 10% most cited
#297
Engineering percentage of total publications that are among the 10% most cited
#235
Engineering international collaboration - relative to country
#423
Engineering international collaboration
#421
Engineering number of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited
#277
Engineering percentage of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited
#277
Environment/Ecology overall score
87.0
Environment/Ecology global research reputation
#24
Environment/Ecology regional research reputation
#16
Environment/Ecology publications
#95
Environment/Ecology normalized citation impact
#26
Environment/Ecology total citations
#51
Environment/Ecology number of publications that are among the 10% most cited
#60
Environment/Ecology percentage of total publications that are among the 10% most cited
#74
Environment/Ecology international collaboration - relative to country
#106
Environment/Ecology international collaboration
#326
Environment/Ecology number of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited
#24
Environment/Ecology percentage of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited
#27
Geosciences overall score
66.8
Geosciences global research reputation
#24
Geosciences regional research reputation
#13
Geosciences publications
#130
Geosciences normalized citation impact
#89
Geosciences total citations
#100
Geosciences number of publications that are among the 10% most cited
#83
Geosciences percentage of total publications that are among the 10% most cited
#57
Geosciences international collaboration - relative to country
#200
Geosciences international collaboration
#294
Geosciences number of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited
#111
Geosciences percentage of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited
#160
Materials Science overall score
66.1
Materials Science global research reputation
#18
Materials Science regional research reputation
#6
Materials Science publications
#213
Materials Science normalized citation impact
#133
Materials Science total citations
#144
Materials Science number of publications that are among the 10% most cited
#141
Materials Science percentage of total publications that are among the 10% most cited
#150
Materials Science international collaboration - relative to country
#505
Materials Science international collaboration
#351
Materials Science number of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited
#116
Materials Science percentage of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited
#123
Mathematics overall score
35.7
Mathematics global research reputation
#339
Mathematics regional research reputation
#69
Mathematics publications
#291
Mathematics normalized citation impact
#194
Mathematics total citations
#278
Mathematics number of publications that are among the 10% most cited
#294
Mathematics percentage of total publications that are among the 10% most cited
#256
Mathematics international collaboration - relative to country
#162
Mathematics international collaboration
#246
Mathematics number of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited
#202
Mathematics percentage of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited
#179
Meteorology and Atmospheric Sciences overall score
54.9
Meteorology and Atmospheric Sciences regional research reputation
#1
Meteorology and Atmospheric Sciences publications
#129
Meteorology and Atmospheric Sciences conferences
#122
Meteorology and Atmospheric Sciences normalized citation impact
#22
Meteorology and Atmospheric Sciences total citations
#97
Meteorology and Atmospheric Sciences number of publications that are among the 10% most cited
#96
Meteorology and Atmospheric Sciences percentage of total publications that are among the 10% most cited
#28
Meteorology and Atmospheric Sciences international collaboration - relative to country
#119
Meteorology and Atmospheric Sciences international collaboration
#119
Meteorology and Atmospheric Sciences number of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited
#68
Meteorology and Atmospheric Sciences percentage of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited
#27
Nanoscience and Nanotechnology overall score
41.4
Nanoscience and Nanotechnology publications
#155
Nanoscience and Nanotechnology conferences
#235
Nanoscience and Nanotechnology normalized citation impact
#156
Nanoscience and Nanotechnology total citations
#148
Nanoscience and Nanotechnology number of publications that are among the 10% most cited
#153
Nanoscience and Nanotechnology percentage of total publications that are among the 10% most cited
#170
Nanoscience and Nanotechnology international collaboration - relative to country
#174
Nanoscience and Nanotechnology international collaboration
#160
Nanoscience and Nanotechnology number of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited
#132
Nanoscience and Nanotechnology percentage of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited
#131
Neuroscience and Behavior overall score
28.0
Neuroscience and Behavior global research reputation
#185
Neuroscience and Behavior regional research reputation
#43
Neuroscience and Behavior publications
#458
Neuroscience and Behavior normalized citation impact
#187
Neuroscience and Behavior total citations
#403
Neuroscience and Behavior number of publications that are among the 10% most cited
#363
Neuroscience and Behavior percentage of total publications that are among the 10% most cited
#180
Neuroscience and Behavior international collaboration - relative to country
#335
Neuroscience and Behavior international collaboration
#356
Neuroscience and Behavior number of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited
#378
Neuroscience and Behavior percentage of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited
#290
Optics overall score
80.6
Optics publications
#120
Optics conferences
#57
Optics normalized citation impact
#7
Optics total citations
#50
Optics number of publications that are among the 10% most cited
#35
Optics percentage of total publications that are among the 10% most cited
#4
Optics international collaboration - relative to country
#96
Optics international collaboration
#113
Optics number of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited
#28
Optics percentage of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited
#17
Physical Chemistry overall score
58.3
Physical Chemistry publications
#174
Physical Chemistry conferences
#274
Physical Chemistry normalized citation impact
#209
Physical Chemistry total citations
#158
Physical Chemistry number of publications that are among the 10% most cited
#150
Physical Chemistry percentage of total publications that are among the 10% most cited
#211
Physical Chemistry international collaboration - relative to country
#140
Physical Chemistry international collaboration
#261
Physical Chemistry number of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited
#134
Physical Chemistry percentage of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited
#158
Physics overall score
82.1
Physics global research reputation
#20
Physics regional research reputation
#10
Physics publications
#64
Physics normalized citation impact
#135
Physics total citations
#39
Physics number of publications that are among the 10% most cited
#26
Physics percentage of total publications that are among the 10% most cited
#96
Physics international collaboration - relative to country
#463
Physics international collaboration
#605
Physics number of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited
#25
Physics percentage of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited
#92
Plant and Animal Science overall score
59.7
Plant and Animal Science global research reputation
#199
Plant and Animal Science regional research reputation
#73
Plant and Animal Science publications
#333
Plant and Animal Science normalized citation impact
#54
Plant and Animal Science total citations
#204
Plant and Animal Science number of publications that are among the 10% most cited
#184
Plant and Animal Science percentage of total publications that are among the 10% most cited
#84
Plant and Animal Science international collaboration - relative to country
#161
Plant and Animal Science international collaboration
#344
Plant and Animal Science number of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited
#132
Plant and Animal Science percentage of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited
#59
Polymer Science overall score
63.8
Polymer Science publications
#170
Polymer Science conferences
#118
Polymer Science normalized citation impact
#4
Polymer Science total citations
#78
Polymer Science number of publications that are among the 10% most cited
#71
Polymer Science percentage of total publications that are among the 10% most cited
#18
Polymer Science international collaboration - relative to country
#48
Polymer Science international collaboration
#49
Polymer Science number of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited
#47
Polymer Science percentage of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited
#24
Psychiatry/Psychology overall score
49.4
Psychiatry/Psychology global research reputation
#49
Psychiatry/Psychology regional research reputation
#34
Psychiatry/Psychology publications
#230
Psychiatry/Psychology normalized citation impact
#153
Psychiatry/Psychology total citations
#216
Psychiatry/Psychology number of publications that are among the 10% most cited
#179
Psychiatry/Psychology percentage of total publications that are among the 10% most cited
#95
Psychiatry/Psychology international collaboration - relative to country
#131
Psychiatry/Psychology international collaboration
#351
Psychiatry/Psychology number of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited
#216
Psychiatry/Psychology percentage of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited
#218
Social Sciences and Public Health overall score
58.4
Social Sciences and Public Health global research reputation
#80
Social Sciences and Public Health regional research reputation
#48
Social Sciences and Public Health publications
#205
Social Sciences and Public Health normalized citation impact
#158
Social Sciences and Public Health total citations
#183
Social Sciences and Public Health number of publications that are among the 10% most cited
#161
Social Sciences and Public Health percentage of total publications that are among the 10% most cited
#105
Social Sciences and Public Health international collaboration - relative to country
#54
Social Sciences and Public Health international collaboration
#502
Social Sciences and Public Health number of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited
#151
Social Sciences and Public Health percentage of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited
#121
Space Science overall score
73.3
Space Science global research reputation
#37
Space Science regional research reputation
#25
Space Science publications
#76
Space Science normalized citation impact
#22
Space Science total citations
#43
Space Science number of publications that are among the 10% most cited
#50
Space Science percentage of total publications that are among the 10% most cited
#11
Space Science international collaboration - relative to country
#35
Space Science international collaboration
#189
Space Science number of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited
#41
Space Science percentage of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited
#32
Water Resources overall score
46.9
Water Resources regional research reputation
#1
Water Resources publications
#135
Water Resources conferences
#84
Water Resources normalized citation impact
#56
Water Resources total citations
#112
Water Resources number of publications that are among the 10% most cited
#82
Water Resources percentage of total publications that are among the 10% most cited
#27
Water Resources international collaboration - relative to country
#6
Water Resources international collaboration
#32
Water Resources number of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited
#70
Water Resources percentage of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited
#50