UC Davis: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes
Officially University of California-Davis · Davis, California · Public · Selective · CDS 2025-2026
Admission at a glance
Common Data Set 2025-2026
- Test-blind
- 102,988
- Applicants
- 45,674
- Admitted44%
- 6,824
- Enrolled
- 15%
- Yield rate
Selectivity
Selective44% admittedRanked #34 (tie) in National Universities; Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs #32 (tie), Computer Science #34 (tie), Psychology Programs #8 (tie), Economics #24 (tie)U.S. News & World Report, Best Colleges 2027
Admission figures come from the 2025-2026 Common Data Set published by University of California-Davis (see the source), read on 2026-09-07. The admission-factor grid was re-read from that file to confirm each weighting.
Is UC Davis a reach, target or safety for your student?
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UC Davis is a public university in Davis, California that admits about 44% of applicants, making it a selective school. The average family pays about $14,741 a year after financial aid, which matters more than the published sticker price. It is best known for Research and Experimental Psychology, Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods and Economics, its largest undergraduate programs by number of graduates. About 86% of students graduate within six years. Its most recent Clery Act report shows roughly 17.0 criminal offenses per 1,000 students.
UC Davis is a public institution located in Davis, California with a selective admissions profile. For the most recent reporting cycle, UC Davis admits between a quarter and half of applicants, with an overall admission rate of 44%. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $14,741 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price.
What parents should know about UC Davis right now
UC Davis, established in 1905 as a UC agricultural branch and elevated to a full general campus in 1959, now enrolls about 31,797 undergraduates and offers 102 undergraduate majors across four colleges. It is widely viewed as a Public Ivy and was ranked tied for 6th best public university in the country by U.S. News. The biggest parent-relevant news is the fall 2025 admissions cycle: UC Davis received a record 120,131 applications, including 102,958 first-year applications (up 4.2 percent year over year), and offered admission to 55,739 students, of whom a record 45,963 were first-year applicants, a 10.4 percent increase. The campus also enrolled its highest-ever number of Latinx and African American new undergraduates. Academic standout programs include veterinary medicine, ranked first in the nation, plant and animal science, also ranked first, agricultural economics, entomology, and ecology, and the campus is home to the only airport on a UC campus and the largest zero net energy community in the United States at West Village. The university operates on a $7.1 billion budget with a $770 million endowment as of 2024 and is test-blind in admissions like all UCs, with admitted students averaging a 4.04 GPA. The UC application is due December 1, and Davis remains a strong fit for families prioritizing STEM and sustainability programs.
What GPA does my child need for UC Davis?
66% of enrolled students at UC Davis had a high school GPA of 4.0 or above, and the average was 4.03, according to its 2025-2026 Common Data Set.
Compare UC Davis with the other schools on your list
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What does UC Davis weight in admissions?
UC Davis reports these factor weights in its Common Data Set (2025-2026). What the weights mean
Very Important
2- Rigor of secondary school record
- Academic GPA
Important
5- Application essay
- Extracurricular activities
- Talent/ability
- Character/personal qualities
- Volunteer work
Considered
4- First generation status
- Geographical residence
- State residency
- Work experience
Not Considered
7- Class rank
- Standardized test scores
- Recommendations
- Interview
- Alumni/ae relation
- Religious affiliation/commitment
- Level of applicant's interest
SAT and ACT scores UC Davis typically admits
Many applicants to schools in this tier submit test scores, though the policy varies by year, so check the latest test-optional status before deciding.
- • Test-blind: UC Davis does not consider SAT or ACT scores in admission decisions, even if submitted.
- • UC campuses do not consider SAT/ACT for admission or scholarships; scores may be used for eligibility alternatives or course placement.
- • Checked for Fall 2027 applicants on UC Davis's admissions site. Policies change; confirm before you apply.
How much does UC Davis actually cost?
Published tuition is $16,774 for in-state students and $50,974 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $19,426 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $14,741 per year, and that is the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 31% of students receive Pell Grants.
| In-state tuition | $14,202 |
| Out-of-state tuition | $53,472 |
| Room and board | $22,125 |
| Average net price (after aid) | $14,741 |
| Share of financial need metaverage, for students with need | 82% |
| Average need-based grant | $29,937 |
| Average merit award, no financial need319 first-year students received one | $7,912 |
| Graduates who borrowed | 31% |
| Average debt at graduationamong those who borrowed | $17,466 |
| Financial aid forms | FAFSA only (no CSS Profile)College Board 2026-27 list |
| Application fee | $80 (waivers available) |
Application deadlines and early decision data for UC Davis
| Regular deadline | 11/30 |
| Notification date | 3/31 |
| Reply deadline | May 1 |
Will my child graduate from UC Davis?
These predict outcomes at UC Davis better than its acceptance rate does. How to read retention and graduation rates
Most popular majors at UC Davis
The most popular undergraduate programs at UC Davis, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Research and Experimental Psychology, Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods and Economics. Across all programs, UC Davis confers roughly 4,136 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Research and Experimental Psychology program report a median income of about $62,401 five years after entering college. What these figures mean
| Major | Graduates / year | Median earnings (5 yrs out) |
|---|---|---|
| Research and Experimental Psychology | 924 | $62,401 |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | 596 | n/a |
| Economics | 559 | $86,559 |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences | 519 | $67,848 |
| Biology, General | 418 | $66,924 |
| Computer Science | 402 | n/a |
| Animal Sciences | 368 | $54,122 |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | 350 | n/a |
Is UC Davis safe? Campus crime & safety
In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), UC Davis disclosed 548 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 17.0 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 19 violent offenses and 121 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Why per-1,000 rates, not counts
What is campus life like at UC Davis?
About 35% of undergraduates at UC Davis live in campus housing, so a meaningful share of students commute or live off campus. Residential rate and Greek participation shape day-to-day social life and are worth weighing alongside academics and cost.
Other colleges in California parents ask about
- University of California-Irvine29% acceptance
- University of California-San Diego27% acceptance
- University of California-Santa Barbara33% acceptance
- University of California-Santa Cruz66% acceptance
- University of California-Riverside76% acceptance
- University of California-Merced91% acceptance
- California Institute of Technology3% acceptance
- San Diego State University36% acceptance
Next steps for UC Davis
Common questions parents ask about UC Davis
What GPA do I need for UC Davis?
66% of enrolled students at UC Davis had a high school GPA of 4.0 or above, and the average was 4.03, according to its 2025-2026 Common Data Set.
What SAT or ACT score does UC Davis typically admit?
UC Davis is test-blind: SAT and ACT scores are not considered in admission decisions, even if you submit them. There is no score range because scores are not read.
How much does UC Davis actually cost after financial aid?
The average net price at UC Davis after grants and scholarships is $14,741 per year, against a published in-state tuition of $16,774 and $50,974 out of state. Budget against the net figure.
Is UC Davis realistic for my child?
UC Davis admits 44% of applicants, so the transcript and course rigour carry the decision, with no published score band to place against. Then check the $14,741 average net price against what your family can carry.
What is the acceptance rate at UC Davis?
UC Davis accepts about 44% of applicants out of roughly 102,988 who apply each year. That makes it a selective school.
Is UC Davis test-optional?
UC Davis is test-blind for Fall 2027 applicants: it does not consider SAT or ACT scores in admission decisions, even if you submit them.
What is the graduation rate at UC Davis?
About 86% of students at UC Davis graduate within six years, and 70% finish in four years. 93% of freshmen return for sophomore year. Graduation rate predicts real outcomes better than acceptance rate.
What does UC Davis look for in applicants?
UC Davis rates course rigor and GPA as "very important" in its Common Data Set. These are the factors the admissions committee weighs most heavily when reviewing an application.
Is UC Davis a public or private school, and where is it located?
UC Davis is a public institution located in Davis, California.
What are the most popular majors at UC Davis?
The largest undergraduate majors at UC Davis by annual graduates are Research and Experimental Psychology, Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods and Economics. The school awards about 4,136 bachelor's degrees a year in total. These figures come from federal IPEDS completion data.
Is UC Davis safe? What is its campus crime rate?
UC Davis reported 548 total criminal offenses in its most recent Clery Act disclosure (2024), roughly 17.0 per 1,000 students. Compare the per-1,000 rate rather than the raw total, since larger schools report more incidents.
What is campus life like at UC Davis?
At UC Davis, 35% of undergraduates live on campus, according to its most recent Common Data Set.
Sources: the 2025-2026 Common Data Set submitted by University of California-Davis, the College Scorecard and IPEDS, and Clery Act disclosures. What each source covers