University of California - Santa Barbara
- Campus Housing

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University of California - Santa Barbara - Campus Housing - Campus Housing - College ProwlerCollege Prowler3.46

Campus Housing

Quick Stats

On-Campus Housing Available? Yes
Campus Housing Capacity 7,320
Undergrads Living On Campus 33%
Freshmen Living On Campus 95%
Number of Dormitories 10
Number of Campus-Owned Apartments 3
Best Dorms Manzanita Village
Worst Dorms San Rafael (mostly transfer students or upperclassmen)

Student Author OverviewWhat's This?

No matter which dorm you live in, it’s hard not to have fun when you are suddenly living with 50 other 18-year-old freshmen who just moved out of their parents’ house. The only dorm to steer clear of as a freshman is San Rafael—it has more upperclassmen. Usually, these students have already made all of their friends and are no longer going through the same transitions as freshmen.

UCSB dorms are either on campus or in Isla Vista. You can put yourself in a lottery for the on-campus dorms, but there’s no guarantee that you will be placed there. The on-campus dorms are more crowded, but they’re closer to classes and University activities, and some have ocean views. Manzanita Village is the newest and, therefore, the nicest on-campus dorm. The off-campus dorms have larger rooms and more of an apartment-like feel, and many students like the spacious rooms at Santa Catalina, despite its distance from campus. Each of the dorms have their positives and negatives, and most students are happy with the trade-offs and comfortable with whichever dorm they end up in.

 

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UC Santa Barbara Student ReviewsWhat's This?

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Campus Housing at University of California - Santa Barbara

UCSBlove

Neuroscience and Neurobiology '12

5.0
A+

UCSB Is an Amazing Place

Everyone is incredibly friendly and students here live the life. The dorms are great to live in the first year, but IV is where it's at after that.

Apr 10, 2012

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Campus Housing at University of California - Santa Barbara

julirwc

Architectural Engineering '15

3.1
B-

Dorms

If you get a triple, you'll be crammed.

Mar 15, 2012

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Campus Housing at University of California - Santa Barbara

rkeever

Sociology '14

4.2
A-

On-Campus Living

Living in the dorms is definitely the beginning of a great college experience. It is where you meet your college friends and do the weirdest, loosely supervised things. I found my dorm at UCSB to be a little outdated but the environment was overall welcoming and cozy. I lived on a very social floor, everybody knew everybody. I was lucky enough to live very close to everything I needed on campus, lecture halls, the student center, and the dining hall. Overall, it was a great experience, but the prices were pretty high

Mar 06, 2012

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User rating for University of California - Santa Barbara - Campus Housing is 3.5 out of 5 based on 43 user reviews.

Student Survey Poll ResultsWhat's This?

Rate campus housing on the following subjects

Facts

Room Types
  • Doubles with a hall bathroom that about 50 students share
  • Few singles exist, but they are hard to come by
  • Three-, four-, and five-person suites with a shared bathroom
Bed Types Twin extra-long
What You Get
  • Bed
  • Bookshelf
  • Closet
  • Desk and chair
  • Drapes
  • Dresser
  • Ethernet and phone hookup options
  • Wastebasket

Available for Rent

Microwaves

Minifridges

Cleaning Service

Yes, every other week in-room, daily in public areas

Did You Know?
  • The first week of school, the Resident Housing Association puts on activities known as Week of Welcome or “Wow Week,” for short. There is a concert put on during this week that showcases very popular talent.
  • Campus is immediately adjacent to the beach!
  • Space in campus residence halls is guaranteed for two years, and if you stay on campus for that time, you are also guaranteed space in University apartments for two more years.

DormitoriesWhat's This?

Anacapa Hall
Floors: 2
Number of Occupants: 250–499
Bathrooms: Communal
Coed: Yes
Room Types: Doubles
Special Features: Close to outdoor patio, volleyball nets, and ocean

Manzanita Village
Floors: 3–4 floor towers, in 17 buildings
Number of Occupants: 750–999
Bathrooms: Suite
Coed: Yes
Room Types: Suites (singles and doubles)
Special Features: Opened in 2002, ocean views, Carrillo Dining Commons, courtyard

San Miguel
Floors: 2 towers, each 8 floors
Number of Occupants: 250–499
Bathrooms: Communal
Coed: Yes
Room Types: Singles, doubles
Special Features: Closest to the University Center, theme floors

San Nicolas
Floors: 8, “L-shaped” tower
Number of Occupants: 250–499
Bathrooms: Communal
Coed: Yes
Room Types: Singles, doubles
Special Features: Houses the Resident Hall Headquarters, computer lab

San Rafael
Floors: 3 floors, 2 buildings
Number of Occupants: 500–749
Bathrooms: Communal and suite
Coed: Yes
Room Types: Singles, doubles, suites
Special Features: Primarily for transfer students, Carrillo Dining Commons, courtyard

Santa Catalina
Floors: 8 floors, 2 towers
Number of Occupants: 1,000+
Bathrooms: Suite
Coed: Yes
Room Types: Suites (doubles)
Special Features: Sinks in rooms, swimming pool, volleyball, basketball, and tennis courts

Santa Cruz
Floors: 2
Number of Occupants: 250–499
Bathrooms: Communal
Coed: Yes
Room Types: Doubles
Special Features: Interest floors are substance free and multicultural, close to campus point beach

Santa Rosa
Floors: 2
Number of Occupants: 250–499
Bathrooms: Communal
Coed: Yes
Room Types: Doubles
Special Features: Closest to center of campus, fitness center and game room, Carrillo Dining Commons

Tropicana Del Norte
Floors: 3
Number of Occupants: 250–499
Bathrooms: Suite
Coed: Yes
Room Types: Suites (singles, doubles, triples, quads)
Special Features: University-affiliated, privately-owned and operated, scheduled housekeeping service, pool, full-service meals, Ethernet Internet, and cable TV, laundry facilities, recreation room, computer room, and permit parking

Tropicana Gardens
Floors: 2
Number of Occupants: 250–499
Bathrooms: Suite
Coed: Yes
Room Types: Suites (3- and 5-person)
Special Features: University-affiliated, privately-owned and operated, Pool, two laundry rooms, recreation room with pool tables, Ping-Pong, and a large screen TV, scheduled housekeeping services, and permit parking

Campus-Owned ApartmentsWhat's This?

El Dorado Apartments
Number of Units: 50–99
Bathrooms: Private by unit
Residents: Upperclassmen
Room Types: One- or two-bedroom apartments (doubles)
Located at 6667 El Colegio Rd. at the intersection of Los Carneros Road
Special Features: Apartments are furnished and utilities (electricity, garbage pick-up, gas, water, wireless Internet) are included. Complex has on-site laundry facilities, a pool, limited parking

Santa Ynez Apartments
Number of Units: 100–249
Bathrooms: Private by unit
Residents: Upperclassmen
Room Types: Two-bedroom apartments (doubles)
Located at 6750 El Colegio Rd. (cross street of Los Carneros Road)
Special Features: Apartments are furnished and utilities (electricity, garbage pick-up, gas, water, wireless Internet) are included. Complex has community activities, a fitness center, on-site laundry facilities.

Westgate Apartments
Number of Units: 25–49
Bathrooms: Private by unit
Residents: Upperclassmen
Room Types: Studio, one-bedroom apartments (singles, doubles)
Located at 6543 El Colegio Rd., adjacent to the west entrance of the UCSB campus.
Special Features: Apartments are furnished and utilities (electricity, garbage pick-up, gas, water, wireless Internet) are included. Complex has on-site laundry facilities, pool.

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Most Recent Student Author View all

Name
Michael Cooper
Hometown
Danville, CA
Major
Sociology/Sports Management minor

College Prowler is seeking talented student authors to assist with writing and updating the College Prowler guides to their schools. This is a great opportunity for a student to gain experience and tremendous exposure, utilize new media techniques, and share advice with high school students about what life is really like at your college.

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