UC Santa Barbara accepted more than 12,000 international students for the upcoming school year — a jump of over 3,000 from last academic year.
Only UC Davis accepted more international students this year.
The latest numbers are housed in a University of California 2026 admissions report. The UC system also admitted the most California residents to its nine campuses in university system history.
UCSB admitted 12,024 first-time international students for fall 2026, tripling the amount the university had admitted just three years prior.
But not everyone who is accepted, actually ends up enrolling.
Last year the university accepted nearly 9,000 international students but only 1,963 were enrolled by fall 2025.
The political climate surrounding immigration has made it more difficult for some students to obtain student visas to attend school in the U.S.
“Changes to visa policies, financial aid, and other external factors may make it less likely that nonresident students enroll at UC, leading to a slightly higher admit rate for non-resident students for Fall 2026,” wrote UC spokesperson Jason Botelho in an email to the News-Press.
Overall, UCSB accepted more California residents than any other single group this year. Second was international students, and third was students in the U.S. who live outside of California.
“The record number of California students we’re welcoming this year reflects UC’s enduring commitment to expanding opportunity while preparing the next generation of leaders, innovators, educators and public servants,” said UC President James B. Milliken in a statement from the university system.
More transfer students from California were also accepted into UCSB this year, but the group has seen little change in admission in the last five years.
UCSB also accepted fewer first-generation students than their counterparts.
In addition, the university accepted more Asian students than any other group, followed by Hispanic students.
