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University of California-Davis

Davis, CA · Public · Small suburb · Carnegie R1/R2 · UC Davis · UCD

Public institution in Davis, CA · 31,777 undergraduates · 42% acceptance rate · $80,838 median earnings 10 years after entry.

Stats

College Scorecard figures, each with where this school sits nationally among institutions that report the same measure. A dash means the school does not report it.

Cost

Average net price
$15,288706th cheapest of 1,985 reporting
In-state tuition & fees
$15,247966th cheapest of 2,042 reporting
Out-of-state tuition & fees
$46,0241,764th cheapest of 2,042 reporting
Cost of attendance
$38,0671,170th cheapest of 1,985 reporting
Median graduate debt
$13,000226th lowest of 1,880 reporting

Outcomes

Median earnings, 10 years after entry
$80,838133rd highest of 1,969 reporting
Median earnings, 6 years after entry
$58,461276th highest of 1,964 reporting
Graduation rate (4-year)
85.1%140th highest of 2,031 reporting
Full-time retention
93.4%164th highest of 1,853 reporting

Admissions

Acceptance rate
41.6%187th most selective of 1,608 reporting
Average SAT
—
Median ACT
—

Campus

Undergraduates
31,77745th largest of 2,162 reporting
Student-faculty ratio
21.0:11,947th smallest of 2,159 reporting
Pell Grant share
30.8%1,159th highest of 2,140 reporting

Nearest large-hub airport: 72 mi (SFO)

On 4 of our 111 lists

Every published ranking this school appears on, with its rank there.

Applying

Common App member
No
Application fee
—
Personal essay
—
Writing supplement
—

Supplemental prompts (2025-26)

  • You will have 8 questions to choose from. You must respond to only 4 of the 8 questions. Each response is limited to a maximum of 350 words.
  • Describe an example of your leadership experience in which you have positively influenced others, helped resolve disputes or contributed to group efforts over time.
  • Every person has a creative side, and it can be expressed in many ways: problem solving, original and innovative thinking, and artistically, to name a few. Describe how you express your creative side.
  • What would you say is your greatest talent or skill? How have you developed and demonstrated that talent over time?
  • Describe how you have taken advantage of a significant educational opportunity or worked to overcome an educational barrier you have faced.
  • Describe the most significant challenge you have faced and the steps you have taken to overcome this challenge. How has this challenge affected your academic achievement?
  • Think about an academic subject that inspires you. Describe how you have furthered this interest inside and/or outside of the classroom.
  • What have you done to make your school or your community a better place?
  • Beyond what has already been shared in your application, what do you believe makes you a strong candidate for admissions to the University of California?

Source: UC Personal Insight Questions (official)

Deadlines and essay flags come from the Common App Requirements Grid, joined by school name. Always confirm against the school’s own admissions page before applying.

Best-paying fields of study

Median earnings one and two years after graduating, by field. Showing 12 of 92 reported programs.

FieldLevel1 yr2 yr
Computer EngineeringEngineeringbachelors$82,440$82,440
Computer and Information Sciences, GeneralComputer Sciencebachelors$77,789$81,609
Engineering, GeneralEngineeringbachelors$73,399$70,370
Civil EngineeringEngineeringbachelors$67,660$67,516
Mechanical EngineeringEngineeringbachelors$67,507$67,324
Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical EngineeringEngineeringbachelors$60,623$61,516
Chemical EngineeringEngineeringbachelors$58,912$62,409
StatisticsMathematics & Statisticsbachelors$53,671$47,595
Biomedical/Medical EngineeringEngineeringbachelors$52,941$50,856
Business/Managerial EconomicsBusinessbachelors$50,724$51,750
EconomicsSocial Sciencesbachelors$48,464$47,553
Landscape ArchitectureArchitecturebachelors$47,846$46,087

Campus facts

Athletics — 16 sports

NCAA Division I-FCS · NCAA Division I

Athletic scholarships allowed · Athletic aid $10,999,510 (M $4,818,992 · W $6,180,518)

Self-reported EADA participants (2024-2025). Athletic aid is institution-level, not per sport.

Notable alumni

Illustrative alumni only — not exhaustive and not a quality ranking. Affiliation claims cite Wikipedia/Wikidata; confirm on primary bios before relying on them.