University of California, Santa Barbara
UCSB
🇺🇸 United States
/
CA
/
Santa Barbara
Est. 1891
www.ucsb.edu
Ranked Top 100 worldwide across 4 major ranking systems
Ranked in 104 subject rankings
Ranking Overview
QS
179
381
58.7
2026
THE
72
5
71.2
2026
ARWU
70
6
30.0
2025
US News
=91
2
71.6
2026
Historical Trend
QS
THE
ARWU
US News
:
Score:
Top Subjects
13
Optics
US News 13
16
Physics
ARWU 16
18
Physics
US News 18
19
Communication
ARWU 19
20
Automation & Control
ARWU 20
=22
Materials Sciences
QS =22
=23
Physics & Astronomy
QS =23
24
Chemical Engineering
ARWU 24
31
Linguistics
QS 31
33
Physical Sciences
THE 33
33
Geography
ARWU 33
39
Space Science
US News 39
41
Economics
ARWU 41
43
Communication & Media Studies
QS 43
46
Natural Sciences
QS 46
Subject Rankings
US News
20 subjects|
Subject
|
Rank
|
Score
|
Year
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Optics | 13 | 71.6 | 2026 |
| Physics | 18 | 71.6 | 2026 |
| Space Science | 39 | 71.6 | 2026 |
| Environment/Ecology | 55 | 71.6 | 2026 |
| Geosciences | =55 | 71.6 | 2026 |
| Meteorology and Atmospheric Sciences | 86 | 71.6 | 2026 |
| Chemistry | 96 | 71.6 | 2026 |
| Materials Science | 105 | 71.6 | 2026 |
| Condensed Matter Physics | 132 | 71.6 | 2026 |
| Polymer Science | 148 | 71.6 | 2026 |
| Psychiatry/Psychology | =156 | 71.6 | 2026 |
| Social Sciences and Public Health | =160 | 71.6 | 2026 |
| Computer Science | =164 | 71.6 | 2026 |
| Plant and Animal Science | =173 | 71.6 | 2026 |
| Nanoscience and Nanotechnology | =199 | 71.6 | 2026 |
| Economics and Business | 239 | 71.6 | 2026 |
| Mathematics | =285 | 71.6 | 2026 |
| Engineering | 310 | 71.6 | 2026 |
| Biology and Biochemistry | =313 | 71.6 | 2026 |
| Electrical and Electronic Engineering | =342 | 71.6 | 2026 |
ARWU
39 subjects|
Subject
|
Rank
|
Score
|
Year
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Physics | 16 | 304.2 | 2025 |
| Communication | 19 | 160.5 | 2025 |
| Automation & Control | 20 | 198.2 | 2025 |
| Chemical Engineering | 24 | 204.8 | 2023 |
| Geography | 33 | 181.3 | 2025 |
| Economics | 41 | 150.2 | 2025 |
| Ecology | 48 | 208.5 | 2025 |
| Psychology | 49 | 157.3 | 2025 |
| Electrical & Electronic Engineering | 51-75 | - | 2025 |
| Energy Science & Engineering | 51-75 | - | 2019 |
| Water Resources | 51-75 | - | 2025 |
| Metallurgical Engineering | 51-75 | - | 2025 |
| Sociology | 51-75 | - | 2025 |
| Chemistry | 76-100 | - | 2025 |
| Oceanography | 76-100 | - | 2025 |
| Materials Science & Engineering | 76-100 | - | 2025 |
| Earth Sciences | 101-150 | - | 2025 |
| Atmospheric Science | 101-150 | - | 2025 |
| Biomedical Engineering | 101-150 | - | 2017 |
| Computer Science & Engineering | 101-150 | - | 2025 |
| Nanoscience & Nanotechnology | 101-150 | - | 2025 |
| Environmental Science & Engineering | 101-150 | - | 2025 |
| Political Sciences | 101-150 | - | 2025 |
| Mathematics | 151-200 | - | 2025 |
| Telecommunication Engineering | 151-200 | - | 2017 |
| Remote Sensing | 151-200 | - | 2025 |
| Agricultural Sciences | 151-200 | - | 2025 |
| Education | 151-200 | - | 2025 |
| Management | 151-200 | - | 2025 |
| Public Administration | 151-200 | - | 2024 |
| Instruments Science & Technology | 201-300 | - | 2022 |
| Civil Engineering | 201-300 | - | 2021 |
| Artificial Intelligence | 201-300 | - | 2025 |
| Statistics | 201-300 | - | 2025 |
| Law | 201-300 | - | 2024 |
| Biological Sciences | 301-400 | - | 2025 |
| Business Administration | 301-400 | - | 2020 |
| Human Biological Sciences | 401-500 | - | 2025 |
| Clinical Medicine | 401-500 | - | 2018 |
QS
37 subjects|
Subject
|
Rank
|
Score
|
Year
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Materials Sciences | =22 | 81.8 | 2026 |
| Physics & Astronomy | =23 | 83.0 | 2026 |
| Linguistics | 31 | 76.7 | 2026 |
| Communication & Media Studies | 43 | 78.3 | 2026 |
| Natural Sciences | 46 | 81.4 | 2026 |
| Theology, Divinity & Religious Studies | 51-100 | - | 2026 |
| Earth & Marine Sciences | 51-100 | - | 2026 |
| Geography | 51-100 | - | 2026 |
| Geology | 51-100 | - | 2026 |
| Geophysics | 51-100 | - | 2026 |
| Development Studies | 51-100 | - | 2021 |
| Chemical Engineering | =72 | 74.2 | 2026 |
| Electrical & Electronic Engineering | =83 | 72.5 | 2026 |
| Chemistry | =95 | 72.4 | 2026 |
| English Language & Literature | 101-150 | - | 2026 |
| Anthropology | 101-200 | - | 2026 |
| Performing Arts | 101-115 | - | 2022 |
| Environmental Sciences | =111 | 75.5 | 2026 |
| Engineering & Technology | 137 | 72.5 | 2026 |
| Biological Sciences | =137 | 68.1 | 2026 |
| Archaeology | 151-200 | - | 2026 |
| Psychology | 151-200 | - | 2026 |
| Economics & Econometrics | =154 | 68.6 | 2026 |
| Computer Science & Information Systems | =198 | 61.6 | 2026 |
| History | 201-250 | - | 2026 |
| Mechanical, Aeronautical & Manufacturing Engineering | 201-250 | - | 2026 |
| Mathematics | 201-250 | - | 2026 |
| Education & Training | 201-250 | - | 2026 |
| Statistics & Operational Research | 201-250 | - | 2026 |
| Architecture & Built Environment | 201-240 | - | 2023 |
| Arts & Humanities | =204 | 67.6 | 2026 |
| Politics | 251-300 | - | 2026 |
| Modern Languages | 301-350 | - | 2025 |
| Pharmacy & Pharmacology | 301-350 | - | 2025 |
| Life Sciences & Medicine | =357 | 61.5 | 2026 |
| Medicine | 401-450 | - | 2026 |
| Social Sciences & Management | 451-500 | - | 2026 |
THE
8 subjects|
Subject
|
Rank
|
Score
|
Year
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Physical Sciences | 33 | 78.7 | 2026 |
| Engineering & Technology | 55 | 72.1 | 2026 |
| Computer Science | 58 | 71.0 | 2026 |
| Arts & Humanities | =74 | 56.3 | 2026 |
| Social Sciences | 79 | 60.3 | 2026 |
| Psychology | =84 | 60.1 | 2026 |
| Education | 88 | 56.9 | 2026 |
| Life Sciences | 126–150 | 57.0 | 2026 |