March, 2026
Student, Faculty, and Staff Housing and Occupancy Report
Pursuant to Section 12.2 of the 2024 Settlement Agreement between UC Santa Barbara and the County of Santa Barbara, the University shall, in November of each year, prepare and provide, through public posting, a 5-year capital plan and a report on the status of construction and occupancy rates of student, faculty, and staff housing. This report is accurate as of March 10, 2026.
Five-Year Capital Plan
UC Santa Barbara’s 5-Year Capital Plan is included in the University of California 2025 Consolidated Capital Report (select "UC Santa Barbara" under the Select a Location section).
Construction Status
Student Housing
- San Benito Student Housing (2,225 beds) construction began April 2025. Expected opening in 2027.
- East Campus Student Housing (1,275 net new beds) scheduled to begin construction in June 2026. Expected opening in Fall 2028.
Faculty and Staff Housing
- No current construction
- Soltara Apartments (81 units) acquired in February 2025
Occupancy Rates
| Student Housing | Tenure | Design Capacity (beds) | Occupants | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residence Halls | Rent | 4,820 | 5,978 | 124.0% |
| Apartments | Rent | 3,482 | 3,688 | 105.9% |
| Family Housing | Rent | 592 | 484 | 81.8% |
| Total | 8,894 | 10,150 | 114.1% |
| Faculty and Staff Housing | Tenure | Units | Occupied Units | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Campus Point Faculty Housing | Own | 60 | 60 | 100.0% |
| Ocean Walk | Own | 159 | 154 | 96.9% |
| Soltara | Rent | 81 | 78 | 96.3% |
| Sierra Madre | Rent | 36 | 34 | 94.4% |
| Total | 336 | 326 | 97.0% |