University of California-Santa Barbara, CA Demographics

A map of University of California-Santa Barbara's Population by Race

Race	2024 Pop	2020 Pop	2024 %	2020 %
White	5,523	3,661	45.6%	37.7%
Asian	3,533	3,656	29.1%	37.7%
Hispanic	2,099	1,857	17.3%	19.1%
Multiracial	541	339	4.5%	3.5%
Native American/Other	224	79	1.8%	0.8%
Black	201	118	1.7%	1.2%

University of California-Santa Barbara, California has an estimated population of 12,121, a large increase from the 9,710 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 45.6% White, 29.1% Asian, 17.3% Hispanic, 4.5% Multiracial, 1.8% Native American/Other, and 1.7% Black. This demographic dot map shows the population of University of California-Santa Barbara, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

University of California-Santa Barbara is about as racially diverse as it was in the 2020 Census. It is less diverse than California overall. Demographers use a diversity index to measure the probability that two randomly selected individuals belong to different racial or ethnic groups. In University of California-Santa Barbara, that probability was 67.8% in 2020 and 67.5% in the most recent ACS estimates.

University of California-Santa Barbara is ranked the 448th most populous place in California, out of 1,618 places. This ranking is based on the Census definition of a place, which includes incorporated places like cities, towns, and villages, as well as unincorporated census-designated places (CDPs). University of California-Santa Barbara was ranked the 501st most populous place in the 2020 Census.

University of California-Santa Barbara's White Population

5,523 residents of University of California-Santa Barbara, or 45.6% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in University of California-Santa Barbara is considerably higher than in California overall, where 33.8% of the population is White. University of California-Santa Barbara ranks 1086th statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 1,618 places.

Since the 2020 Census, University of California-Santa Barbara's White population has grown by an estimated 50.9%. White residents' share of University of California-Santa Barbara's population has increased from 37.7% to 45.6%.

University of California-Santa Barbara is less White than neighboring Isla Vista (54.5% White), Goleta (45.8% White), Eastern Goleta Valley (63.1% White), Santa Barbara (52.8% White), and Mission Canyon (70.9% White).

University of California-Santa Barbara's Black Population

201 residents of University of California-Santa Barbara, or 1.7% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in University of California-Santa Barbara is slightly lower than in California overall, where 5.2% of the population is Black. University of California-Santa Barbara ranks 642nd statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 1,618 places.

Since the 2020 Census, University of California-Santa Barbara's Black population has grown by an estimated 70.3%. Black residents' share of University of California-Santa Barbara's population has increased from 1.2% to 1.7%.

University of California-Santa Barbara is more Black than neighboring Goleta (1.6% Black), Eastern Goleta Valley (1.4% Black), and Santa Barbara (1.4% Black). University of California-Santa Barbara is less Black than neighboring Isla Vista (4.6% Black), and Mission Canyon (2.5% Black).

University of California-Santa Barbara's Asian Population

3,533 residents of University of California-Santa Barbara, or 29.1% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in University of California-Santa Barbara is considerably higher than in California overall, where 15.3% of the population is Asian. University of California-Santa Barbara ranks 50th statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 1,618 places.

Since the 2020 Census, University of California-Santa Barbara's Asian population has declined by an estimated 3.4%. Asian residents' share of University of California-Santa Barbara's population has decreased from 37.7% to 29.1%.

University of California-Santa Barbara is more Asian than neighboring Isla Vista (15.6% Asian), Goleta (10.9% Asian), Eastern Goleta Valley (4.8% Asian), Santa Barbara (3.5% Asian), and Mission Canyon (1.6% Asian).

University of California-Santa Barbara's Hispanic Population

2,099 residents of University of California-Santa Barbara, or 17.3% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in University of California-Santa Barbara is significantly lower than in California overall, where 40.2% of the population is Hispanic. University of California-Santa Barbara ranks 892nd statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 1,618 places.

Since the 2020 Census, University of California-Santa Barbara's Hispanic population has grown by an estimated 13.0%. Hispanic residents' share of University of California-Santa Barbara's population has decreased from 19.1% to 17.3%.

University of California-Santa Barbara is more Hispanic than neighboring Mission Canyon (14.6% Hispanic). University of California-Santa Barbara is less Hispanic than neighboring Isla Vista (20.4% Hispanic), Goleta (36.7% Hispanic), Eastern Goleta Valley (26% Hispanic), and Santa Barbara (36.4% Hispanic).

University of California-Santa Barbara's Native American/Other Population

224 residents of University of California-Santa Barbara, or 1.8% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in University of California-Santa Barbara is comparable to the share in California overall, where 1.2% of the population is Native American/Other. University of California-Santa Barbara ranks 1202nd statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 1,618 places.

Since the 2020 Census, University of California-Santa Barbara's Native American/Other population has grown by an estimated 183.5%. Native American/Other residents' share of University of California-Santa Barbara's population has increased from 0.8% to 1.8%.

University of California-Santa Barbara is more Native American/Other than neighboring Isla Vista (0.6% Native American/Other), Goleta (0.5% Native American/Other), Eastern Goleta Valley (0.3% Native American/Other), Santa Barbara (1.5% Native American/Other), and Mission Canyon (0% Native American/Other).

University of California-Santa Barbara's Multiracial Population

541 residents of University of California-Santa Barbara, or 4.5% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in University of California-Santa Barbara is comparable to the share in California overall, where 4.4% of the population is Multiracial. University of California-Santa Barbara ranks 1094th statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 1,618 places.

Since the 2020 Census, University of California-Santa Barbara's Multiracial population has grown by an estimated 59.6%. Multiracial residents' share of University of California-Santa Barbara's population has increased from 3.5% to 4.5%.

University of California-Santa Barbara is more Multiracial than neighboring Isla Vista (4.4% Multiracial), Eastern Goleta Valley (4.4% Multiracial), and Santa Barbara (4.4% Multiracial). University of California-Santa Barbara is less Multiracial than neighboring Mission Canyon (10.4% Multiracial).

Sources: Most recent population estimates are from the 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. 2020 population counts and map data are from 2020 Census State Redistricting Data. Geographic data are from Census TIGER/Line Shapefiles.