Davis, CA · Public · 32,253 undergraduates · suburban
University of California-Davis
Selective
A large research university repeatedly creates small academic settings through hundreds of tightly capped First-Year Seminars.
Institutional profile
Top tier Exceptional in mobility, and strong in affordability.- Admission
- 41.6% admitted
- Price by income
- Resident and nonresident prices differ
- Completion
- 88.9%
94,637 applicants in the reported year
Compare recent average annual costs by household income
$80,838 median earnings 10 years after enrollment
What sets University of California, Davis apart
Academic design
UC Davis offers roughly 300 First-Year Seminars annually, generally one or two units and capped at 19 students.
Campus pattern
The Arboretum and Public Garden follows Putah Creek through campus, serving teaching, research, recreation, and everyday bicycle and pedestrian movement.
A signature opportunity
First-Year Seminars.
Can I get in?
41.6% admitted
Put the academic record first, then make the intended direction and school-specific fit concrete.
Recent applicant pool
94,637About 42 in every 100 applicants were admitted.
Record over scores
No score range is published for the entering class, so the transcript, the course rigor, and the required materials carry the file.
Admission by residency
Harder for residents
Undergraduate first-year applicants and admits · Fall 2025
University of California-Davis admitted 37.3% of California applicants and 63.4% of applicants from other states. Out-of-state applicants were admitted at 1.7 times the resident rate.
25,677 admitted from 68,909 applicants
8,342 admitted from 13,149 applicants
11,944 admitted from 20,900 applicants
In the season card
Where your GPA sits in the entering class
The full entering-class GPA distribution for University of California, Davis, in nine bands from 4.0 down, with your own record marked on it.
See where I landIn the season card
What University of California, Davis weighs when it reads a file
See how this college describes the role of grades, testing, essays, recommendations, activities, and demonstrated interest.
- Course rigor
- GPA
- Test scores
- Essay
- Recommendations
- Extracurriculars
- Demonstrated interest
What moves the application
The evidence that separates a strong file
Show preparation for this curriculum
UC Davis offers roughly 300 First-Year Seminars annually, generally one or two units and capped at 19 students.
Make institutional fit specific
A large research university repeatedly creates small academic settings through hundreds of tightly capped First-Year Seminars.
Use the application route carefully
Keep academic direction and school-specific choices coherent across the application.
Give commitments a clear through-line
Activities and recommendations should show sustained contribution, not a collection of disconnected credentials.
How to apply
Rounds, route, and required materials
Build the calendar around the earliest realistic application round and assemble each required item once.
$80 application fee
Major and program admission
Some fields have their own entry path.
The college admit rate above covers the university as a whole. These requirements apply only to the named program.
BusinessAdmits separately
What this program asks for, and when it closes.
Computer scienceAdmits separately
What this program asks for, and when it closes.
EngineeringAdmits separately
What this program asks for, and when it closes.
Can I afford it?
Compare annual cost by household income.
Start with the average net price for your income range, then set that estimate beside your other realistic options.
College funding
Scholarships and financial aid
Review available aid, application requirements, and renewal terms.
University of California-Davis publishes two merit awards. All of them renew past the first year.
Open across the university · Merit and financial need · Competitive · Renews each year
Open across the university · Merit · Competitive · Renews
In the season card
These two awards, by name
What each one is called, what it pays, the grades and scores it asks for, and what to send.
- The name of each award
- What it pays
- The grades and scores it asks for
- How to be considered
- What to send, and where
In the season card
Average annual cost by household income at University of California, Davis
Compare recent average net prices across five federal income ranges and estimate a 4-year cost for yours.
- $0–30k
- $30–48k
- $48–75k
- $75–110k
- $110k+
Is it worth it?
Completion, debt, and earnings
Read completion, borrowing, field mix, and earnings together. One university-wide earnings figure does not describe every student path.
Degree completion across the reported entering cohort
First-year students who return for year two
And what that comes to against what they earn.
Reported 10 years after enrollment
Academic portfolio
Largest bachelor’s fields
How many students finish in each field, and median earnings four years after completing the program.
Research and Experimental Psychology
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods
Admits separately
Biology, General
Economics
Computer Science
Admits separately
What is campus life like?
University of California, Davis beyond the classroom
The Arboretum and Public Garden follows Putah Creek through campus, serving teaching, research, recreation, and everyday bicycle and pedestrian movement.
A defining academic feature
UC Davis offers roughly 300 First-Year Seminars annually, generally one or two units and capped at 19 students.
Read the residential pattern
Compare the residential setup and surrounding area with the day-to-day routine you want.
Daily life follows the campus map
Dining and nearby options matter most when they support the academic, residential, and social routine you expect.
What shapes an ordinary week
The Arboretum and Public Garden follows Putah Creek through campus, serving teaching, research, recreation, and everyday bicycle and pedestrian movement.
Turn a direction into participation
The strongest opportunities connect a clear academic or personal direction to real work beyond class.
Find the right everyday fit
The Arboretum and Public Garden follows Putah Creek through campus, serving teaching, research, recreation, and everyday bicycle and pedestrian movement.