Community College Library · Ventura and Santa Barbara · Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara City College to UC: Honors Program and International Students
Santa Barbara City College sits on the Santa Barbara coast, offers an Honors Program, and is a member of the UCLA Transfer Alliance Program. It accepts many forms of English proficiency evidence, but local housing is scarce and should be arranged months in advance.
- Book a community college transfer consultation
- Semester calendar
- UCLA Transfer Alliance Program member
- Honors Program
- 990 admitted to UC in 2024-25 ↓
- International tuition and fees per unit
- $449 (Fall 2026 through Spring 2027)
- Deadlines for new applicants outside the U.S.
- Fall: June 1; spring: November 15
- English requirement (selected tests)
- TOEFL iBT 60, IELTS 5.5, Duolingo 90; secondary school transcripts and other evidence are also accepted
- Proof of funds
- $31,266 (two semesters: Fall 2026 and Spring 2027)
- Honors certificate completion
- At least 15 honors units and an honors course GPA of at least 3.2
- UCLA Fall 2025 transfer profile
- 611 applicants, 20% admit rate, GPA 3.69 to 3.97
SBCC to UC: ten years of transfer data
- UC applicants, 2024-25
- 1,223
- Admitted to UC
- 990
- Admit rate
- 80.9%
- Change in applicants since 2015-16
- +17%
- UC applicants
- Admitted
- Admit rate
- 2025-26 fall only
According to the UC Information Center, 1,223 Santa Barbara City College students applied to UC in 2024-25, and 990 were admitted to at least one campus, 80.9% of applicants; 791 enrolled at UC. The campuses that admitted the most students that year were UC Santa Barbara (794), UC San Diego (319), UC Santa Cruz (273). Compared with 1,045 applicants in 2015-16, that is an increase of 17%. For 2025-26, only fall data are available so far: 1,223 applied and 988 were admitted, which cannot be compared directly with the earlier full-year figures.
UC campus comparison, 2024-25
| Campus | Applicants | Admitted | Admit rate | Enrolled | Average GPA of admitted students | Ten-year admissions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UC systemwide | 1,223 | 990 | 80.9% | 791 | 3.52 | |
| UC Santa Barbara | 1,066 | 794 | 74.5% | 486 | 3.55 | |
| UC San Diego | 507 | 319 | 62.9% | 68 | 3.56 | |
| UC Santa Cruz | 411 | 273 | 66.4% | 41 | 3.43 | |
| UC Davis | 311 | 205 | 65.9% | 33 | 3.57 | |
| UCLA | 599 | 145 | 24.2% | 80 | 3.81 | |
| UC Irvine | 348 | 126 | 36.2% | 21 | 3.65 | |
| UC Berkeley | 444 | 116 | 26.1% | 55 | 3.71 | |
| UC Riverside | 149 | 84 | 56.4% | 5 | 3.36 | |
| UC Merced | 51 | 34 | 66.7% | — | 3.26 |
Admit rates are calculated from student counts. UC does not publish categories with fewer than five students; these appear as "—" in the table. GPA is the UC-calculated GPA in transferable courses. Campus names link to the corresponding transfer guides. Source: UC Infocenter · Admissions by source school (visualizedata.ucop.edu, AdmissionsDataTable transfer view), retrieved 2026-09-27.
Santa Barbara City College (SBCC) is a community college on the semester system, located on the coast of the City of Santa Barbara. After completing transfer coursework here, students can apply to transfer to the University of California (UC). SBCC admits international students on F-1 visas, offers an Honors Program, and is a member of the UCLA Transfer Alliance Program (TAP). The college accepts many forms of English proficiency evidence, so students without a TOEFL score also have a path to admission. Local housing is scarce, and housing costs are a key factor to consider when choosing SBCC. The data section below shows how SBCC students have transferred to each UC campus.
Transfer support and honors programs
Honors Program: completion requirements
- Applications are accepted on a rolling basis throughout the year and require a transcript and an argumentative writing sample
- Admission: for high school graduates, an unweighted GPA of 3.2 with no grade below C in academic subjects; for college students with 12 or more units completed, a GPA of 3.2
- The honors certificate requires at least 18 units, including no fewer than 15 units of honors courses
- Complete at least one additional 3-unit Cal-GETC general education course
- Cumulative honors course GPA of at least 3.2
Thresholds come from the official websites of the college, UCLA, and UC Irvine. The actual average admit GPA is UC Information Center data for SBCC students in 2024-25; an average is not an admission cutoff. Further reading: UCLA Transfer Alliance Program, How transfer GPA is calculated.
UCLA Transfer Alliance Program (TAP)SBCC appears on the official UCLA member list; the UCLA transfer profile lists the college as Santa Barbara College. Beginning in May 2026, students who attend a community college for only one year cannot receive TAP certification.
Transfer CenterThe University Transfer Center offers transfer exploration, academic planning, and application support, arranges appointments with admission representatives, hosts workshops and the SBCC transfer fair, and provides counseling on Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG) programs.
International student admission
Fall 2026 through Spring 2027. The two-semester estimate includes tuition and fees of $10,776, health insurance of $1,890, and estimated housing of $11,700.
International application periods
- Fall entryDeadline June 1
- Spring entryDeadline November 15
- Summer entryDeadline April 1
Students transferring from within the U.S. have later deadlines: fall, June 15; spring, December 1. Students under 18 at the start of the term may enter only in fall or spring.
English proficiency (any one)
- 60TOEFL iBT
- 5.5IELTS
- 90Duolingo
Secondary school transcripts and other evidence are also accepted. Students who do not meet the English requirement can apply to the ESL program and choose their level through self-placement after enrollment.
I-20 proof of funds$31,266Two semesters; $15,633 for one semester only.
- Applicants must be at least 17 years old at the start of the term; applicants under 18 must submit a parental consent form. SBCC does not admit students who have already completed a degree in the U.S.
- International students cannot declare majors such as nursing and related fields, cosmetology, radiologic technology, real estate, or international business.
- The application fee is $75.
Further reading: I-20 and visa, Annual budget, English and math placement.
Academic calendar and course planning
Semester calendar: fall and spring are the two main terms, and the units are already semester units, so no conversion is needed. Summer is a 10-week term. F-1 students must take at least 12 units each semester, and units beyond that are charged at $449 per unit; at the minimum load, two years yield only 48 units, so most students need to take additional courses. Students entering in summer must also complete 12 units, with no more than 3 units online. Honors courses are designed to satisfy both the college's general education and Cal-GETC requirements.
Further reading: The 7-course pattern, Cal-GETC general education courses.
Housing and transportation
- ✕On-campus housing
- The college's international student housing page states that SBCC has no on-campus housing and does not provide housing placement services.
- ✓Homestay
- The housing page lists several homestay agencies, including The Coral Group, as well as a number of student apartments and short-term accommodations. Santa Barbara has a low vacancy rate and high housing costs, and many listings are fully booked before June, so students should begin searching several months in advance.
- Transportation
- Commuting by bus from areas such as Goleta and Isla Vista usually takes 45 minutes or more. Tuition and fees include an annual transportation fee of $64.
Further reading: Housing and homestays.
EDUBUS advice
- Before applying
International students without a TOEFL score can apply with transcripts or a language school certificate, but should confirm that the intended major is not on the restricted list.
- Before enrollment
The college estimates shared housing at $1,300 per month; students entering in fall should begin contacting housing providers in the spring.
- First semester
In the UCLA Fall 2025 profile, SBCC applicants had an admit rate of 20%, and the middle GPA range of admitted students was 3.69 to 3.97. Students targeting UCLA should join the Honors Program early and plan their courses for a GPA of about 3.8.
Frequently Asked Questions
How difficult is it to transfer from Santa Barbara City College to UCLA?
The UCLA Fall 2025 transfer profile shows that 611 SBCC students applied to UCLA, with an admit rate of 20%. The 25th to 75th percentile GPA of admitted students was 3.69 to 3.97. Students who complete the Honors Program and earn TAP certification receive priority consideration, but this is not a guarantee of admission.
What is the tuition for international students at Santa Barbara City College?
The college's international student fees page shows combined tuition and fees of $449 per unit for Fall 2026 and Spring 2027. At 24 units over two semesters, the total is $10,776. The two-semester estimate including health insurance, housing, and living expenses is $31,266, which is also the minimum amount for the bank statement.
Can students apply to SBCC without a TOEFL score?
Yes. The college states that TOEFL or IELTS is not mandatory; many students can demonstrate English proficiency with secondary school transcripts, and a language school certificate is also accepted. Students applying to the ESL program do not need to submit English scores and choose their level through self-placement after enrollment.
Which majors are unavailable to international students at SBCC?
The college states that international students cannot declare majors such as nursing and related fields, cosmetology, radiologic technology, real estate, or international business. Some courses in these fields may be taken as additional coursework, but not as a declared major.
Sources and Verification Date11 official sources · Last checked September 27, 2026
- Admissions by source school, transfer data (UC Infocenter, retrieved 2026-09-27)universityofcalifornia.edu
- Cost of Studies (Santa Barbara City College International Student Program)sbcc.edu
- Steps to Apply: Full-time F-1 Student (Santa Barbara City College)sbcc.edu
- English Proficiency Requirements (Santa Barbara City College International Student Program)sbcc.edu
- Housing (Santa Barbara City College International Student Program)sbcc.edu
- Honors Program (Santa Barbara City College)sbcc.edu
- Honors, Certificate of Achievement (Santa Barbara City College Catalog)catalog.sbcc.edu
- Honors Program (SBCC University Transfer Academy)sbcc.edu
- University Transfer Center (Santa Barbara City College)sbcc.edu
- UCLA Transfer Alliance Program (UCLA Undergraduate Admission)admission.ucla.edu
- Transfer Profile by Community College (UCLA, Fall 2025)admission.ucla.edu
Campus photo: Platinummedia, 2020, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Admission rules, tuition, deadlines, and visa policies change every year. Before applying, confirm the current information published by the college and the relevant official agencies.
