Santa Barbara is located 100 miles northwest of Los Angeles. Situated on the coast between the Pacific Ocean and Santa Ynez mountains, Santa Barbara is known for its beautiful natural environment and Spanish heritage. The city boasts excellent outdoor recreation with access to shopping, restaurants, movies, music, festivals, outdoor farmer's markets, and more.
Isla Vista
Isla Vista is the community located directly adjacent to the UCSB campus. The majority of Isla Vista residents are UCSB and Santa Barbara City College students. The community is filled with apartments, restaurants, and parks. It also sits right on the beach, so many students have ocean views outside their window.
Santa Barbara
Located about 10 minutes from campus down Hwy. 101, Santa Barbara is a stunning seaside town of roughly 91,000 residents. UCSB students can enjoy shopping on State Street, dining at the Funk Zone, and watch artists at the Santa Barbara Bowl that draw national performers. Santa Barbara is also a diverse cultural hub and the city celebrates its heritage during Fiesta, the week-long Old Spanish Days.
Soaring Over UCSB
Get a unique aerial look at our stunning natural environment. Can you imagine calling UCSB home?
Sun & Sand
With 283 average days of sun, Santa Barbara is the ultimate place to spend your college years. The area is known for luxury travel, beaches, artists, and boating.
Getting to Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara is accessible by Amtrak, the Santa Barbara airport, and Hwy. 101. Traveling farther? Santa Barbara is about two hours from the LAX airport.
Transportation Options
Biking is the main form of transportation on campus with seven miles of bike paths. Students also have access to bus transportation within campus. In addition, bus access around Isla Vista, Goleta, and Santa Barbara are already included in student fees.
Internship Access
As the biggest university in the area, UCSB students have easy access to internship opportunities in local schools, law offices, hospitals/clinics, and more.