Antioch University-Santa Barbara

Antioch University-Santa Barbara (AUSB), established in 1977, continues a proud legacy of pioneering education. As a private institution with an intimate student body of 400, AUSB offers a focused and community-oriented learning experience. It carries forward the progressive vision of its foundational institution, Antioch College, ensuring that students engage with education that values inclusion, critical thinking, and social responsibility.

The university's history is deeply significant, tracing back to Antioch College, founded in 1852 in Ohio by the renowned educator and social reformer Horace Mann. Mann's revolutionary goal was to create a university that was nonsectarian, coeducational, and did away with conventional grading systems. Antioch College was also ahead of its time, approving a policy in 1863 that no applicant was to be rejected on the basis of race, and it was among the first colleges to offer the same rigorous curriculum to both men and women.

This historical commitment to equity and innovation defines Antioch University-Santa Barbara's academic strengths and student experience today. While specific professional schools for AUSB are not detailed, its overarching academic approach is built on a foundation of challenging traditional norms and fostering a supportive, engaging environment. Prospective students and their families can expect a university dedicated to empowering individuals through an education that is as forward-thinking now as its origins were over a century ago, preparing graduates to make a meaningful impact in a diverse world.