The University of California admitted its largest class of undergraduate students to date for the upcoming school year and admitted 17% more international students amid federal scrutiny.
UC Santa Barbara increased admissions by 11.63% from 2024 by admitting 53,259 first-time students and transfer applicants. That beats the record it set last year in admitting 47,716 undergraduate applicants, according to preliminary data.
The university also admitted a record number of international students: more than 10,000 first-time students and transfers, which is a stark increase from the 6,283 international students admitted in 2024.
The number of students admitted is always significantly higher than the number of students who actually enroll at the university. More than 47,000 undergraduates were admitted last year, and 7,118 students enrolled.
The number of students enrolled at UCSB for this year won’t be available until after the academic year begins Sept. 25.
The UC system overall admitted a record number of first-year California students with 100,947 students offered admission, a 7% increase from last year.
The increase in California residents is partially because of a funding agreement between UC and Gov. Gavin Newsom to expand California enrollment, boost graduation rates and reduce the time it takes to earn a degree.
UCSB admitted a total of 33,643 California students, nearly 24,000 of whom are first-time students, a slight decrease from the 24,445 first-time California students admitted in 2024.
There also was an increase in the number of international students admitted this year.
International student admissions had been dwindling since 2019 with only 4,768 people admitted in 2023.
However, there seems to have been a significant jump in the past two years.
The increase in international students admitted this year comes amid visa concerns. Last year, the federal government revoked visas for 159 international students and recent graduates across the UC system. At UCSB, 12 visas were revoked, but 11 were later restored.
The increase in admissions may be an attempt to have more international students enroll at UCSB. Despite thousands being admitted each year, enrollment has been less than 1,000 international students since 2020.
UCSB Student Housing
In recent years, UCSB has faced criticism and legal pressure for not creating enough housing to meet the rising enrollment.
The university is building the San Benito on-campus apartments that will house up to 2,224 undergraduate students by fall 2027.
The university also plans to add 3,500 beds to five existing residence halls in the community known as the Channel Islands Five.
UCSB currently has housing for more than 5,000 undergraduate students within eight residence halls. There are also five apartment complexes for undergraduate students just off campus as well as some apartments for faculty, graduate students, and students with families.