"I used to be an over the top party guy but living in Santa Barbara/Isla Vista helped me form new healthy outdoor habits while learning how to be more responsible. There are so many activities you can partake in around town and on campus that is not partying ... It is literally heaven on earth for an 18-21 year old as long as you don't overdo it."
"College kids party, but UCSB is out of control." This rating from a parent of an alum offers a contrasting perspective to the university's celebratory culture.
UC Santa Barbara took the top spot in a list of party schools in the U.S. for 2025, released by Niche, an education research and ranking site. To calculate the rankings, Niche factored in student surveys on the party scene, access to bars, athletics grade, Greek life grade and access to restaurants.
One of the best-known party events is "Deltopia," an unsanctioned spring break party that unfolds in April. The party, made popular among UC Santa Barbara students who live in Isla Vista near the campus, was paused during the COVID-19 pandemic but resumed in 2022, resulting in multiple arrests and citations during the weekend-long event.
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