Franklin & Marshall College vs UC Santa Barbara

Franklin & Marshall College is the more selective of the two at 25%, versus 26% at UC Santa Barbara. Here is how they compare on selectivity, test scores, and what they weigh, plus a free way to estimate your odds at each.

Franklin & Marshall College
Highly selective
25%
acceptance rate
SAT 75th pct: 1420
Private · Pennsylvania
UC Santa Barbara
Selective
26%
acceptance rate
SAT 75th pct: 1430
Public · California

Franklin & Marshall College vs UC Santa Barbara: the differences that matter

How Franklin & Marshall College and UC Santa Barbara stack up on selectivity, scores, and what they value.

Franklin & Marshall College and UC Santa Barbara are almost equally selective (25% vs 26%), so neither is a clear safety relative to the other. Your odds at each come down to fit, not headline difficulty.

The two also read applications a little differently. Franklin & Marshall College leans more on application essay, recommendations, interview, while UC Santa Barbara puts more weight on standardized test scores, state residency. The same profile can land differently at each, which is why a per-school estimate matters more than a single GPA.

On test scores, Franklin & Marshall College's admitted 75th-percentile SAT is around 1420 and UC Santa Barbara's is around 1430. Admitted students at UC Santa Barbara post somewhat higher scores. Run your own numbers below to see where you stand at each.

What each school weighs

Factors either school weighs heavily, side by side.

FactorFranklin & Marshall CollegeUC Santa Barbara
Rigor of secondary school recordvery importantvery important
Academic GPAvery importantvery important
Standardized test scoresconsideredimportant
Application essayvery importantimportant
Recommendationsvery importantconsidered
Extracurricular activitiesvery importantimportant
Talent / abilityimportantimportant
Character / personal qualitiesvery importantimportant
Calculate your chances at both →

Frequently asked questions

Is Franklin & Marshall College or UC Santa Barbara harder to get into?

Franklin & Marshall College is harder to get into, with a 25% acceptance rate versus 26% at UC Santa Barbara.

What's the difference in SAT scores between Franklin & Marshall College and UC Santa Barbara?

Franklin & Marshall College's admitted 75th-percentile SAT is around 1420, and UC Santa Barbara's is around 1430.

What are my chances at Franklin & Marshall College and UC Santa Barbara?

That depends on your full profile. CollegeCalcAI gives a free, personalized estimate for each school in a few minutes.