Santa Barbara City College Athletics

Santa Barbara City College fields 18 varsity sports with 364 total athletes, meaning about 3.6% of the 10,070 students compete at the varsity level. The Vaqueros compete as an independent program rather than in a formal conference, which is common for California community colleges. Community college athletics serve as a stepping stone for students hoping to transfer to four-year universities with athletic scholarships. SBCC offers no athletic scholarships of its own, but the program has built a reputation for developing talent that moves on to Division I and II schools. The coastal location makes the campus particularly attractive for outdoor sports and beach volleyball training. Students often use athletics as a way to stay engaged while completing their general education requirements before transferring to complete their bachelor's degrees.