UC Santa Barbara
Where the land meets the sea, where brilliant minds meet each other, and where academic excellence and social engagement unite to spark creativity and discovery
Summer Springboard program for high school students on the campus of UC Santa Barbara
Campus Overview
UCSB offers globally recognized academic programs in a collaborative, dynamic atmosphere. UCSB is
more than a place to obtain a degree—it's a top 10 public university in one of the most beautiful places on
Earth where you can carve your own path towards an impactful future.
Residential Tuition:
$5,698
Commuter Tuition:
$3,198
Session 1:
July 20, 2025
August 1, 2025
UC Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, CA
Testimonials
Academic Courses
At Summer Springboard we believe learning should be inspiring and interactive. We have worked hard to design courses, field trips and guest lectures that reflect the resources of the Santa Barbara area. Whenever possible, classes are held outdoors, on-site or in a lab-type setting to allow students as many ’hands on’ opportunities as possible. Field trips and guest speakers take the learning experience beyond the classroom and leverage all that Santa Barbara has to offer.
In addition to our academic morning courses, students spend the afternoon either in College Readiness Workshops (Speaking with Confidence, Finance 101, Leadership and College Admissions ), participating in academic excursions or doing our True You program which explores elements of one's real self including strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities.
Biomedical Engineering
Do you love engineering, computers and also life sciences? Are you interested in diagnosing and designing devices to diagnose and treat diseases? The Summer Springboard Biomedical Engineering course exposes students to the basics of a career in one of the hottest engineering fields today.
Business, Strategy & Decision Making
Do you wonder how successful companies make strategic decisions and build their business? Through interactive activities and discussions, students will explore key concepts in business strategy and learn how to create effective plans. The course will emphasize critical thinking and problem-solving skills, enabling students to make informed decisions in real-world scenarios. Students will engage with one another and their instructor to understand the dynamics of successful business operations. This course is valuable for any major or career path, as these skills are essential in today’s job market.
Marine Science & Ecology
| Roughly 70% of the Earth’s surface is covered by our oceans, of which more than 80% remain unmapped, unobserved, and unexplored. There is a vast and diverse amount of marine life and ecosystems found in our oceans – those both discovered and researched, and those still wading in the depths. Summer Springboard’s course in Marine Science and Ecology will offer students the opportunity to explore these various marine life and ecosystems. Students will explore select marine life, learn about the different habitats they live in and the ways their ecosystems interact, study various threats facing our oceans and marine life today, and hear from leading experts in the field. |
Open Source Software Engineering
Are you wondering what it takes to become a software engineer? This long-standing career path has not only been considered a top career for the past 20 years, but it continues to grow, adapt, and refine itself to our ever-changing
world. You can explore your options and sharpen your skills in this Open Source Software Engineering course that is derived from an onboarding session for entry-level collegiate new hires.
This course simulates a two-week period of work for a corporate client. Students will begin with a team project kickoff and end with a presentation of work accomplished. Students will assume the various roles of software engineers and participate in mock meetings with clients, data analysis and review, quality assurance and more as they navigate the project from start to finish.
Open source software is free to the public and may be distributed and shared, bringing us notable names such as Python, Gimp, Linux, Mozilla Firefox, WordPress, and VLC Media Player.
Activities & Trips
Students will get to explore much of what beautiful Santa Barbara has to offer!
Santa Barbara, CA
Students will have the incredible opportunity to immerse themselves in the beauty and charm of the Santa Barbara area. From scenic coastal views to vibrant local attractions, they'll experience all that this stunning region has to offer!
Track-Specific Excursions
Details for track-specific excursions coming soon!
Student Life
Housing
Students will stay at Manzanita Village Residence Hall situated on the bluffs above the Pacific Ocean and campus lagoon. Each residence hall is equipped with a laundry/vending room, a lounge with a terrace, a study room, and an outdoor space.
Students will be assigned to double/triple rooms. Each floor has several bathrooms shared by 4-5 students. Summers are typically mild with nice breeze on the bluff. Rooms do not have AC, but small fans are acceptable if students prefer to bring one.
Security
The Manzanita exterior doors are locked 24/7. Students will have an e-key that grants them access to their assigned building and a hard key that accesses their bedroom. Student Safety Partners do rounds of our residence halls at night, and UCPD is on campus.
Dining
Students will have meals in Carrillo Dining Commons. Carrillo Dining Commons offers comfortable indoor and patio dining for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Platform stations like The Town Grill and Hot Cuisine feature a range of styles, from international cuisine to comfort foods, including plant-based dishes that bring together bold flavors and sustainability. Carrillo’s top-notch bakery prepares a variety of breads, rolls, cookies, cakes, pies and bars every day of the week. Known for creating delicious and educational theme meals that focus on authentic international dishes, Carrillo is a campus favorite.
Breakfast
Academic Course
Lunch
Recreational Activity or Academic Excursion
College Readiness Workshops or True You
Commuter Students Depart/Break Time
Dinner
Clubs
Dorm Checks
Note: Summer Springboard programs are not run by our campus partners. Universities and their affiliated departments are not responsible for the Summer Springboard program in any way.