University of California-Davis: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes
Davis, California · Public · Selective · CDS 2025-2026
University of California-Davis is a public institution located in Davis, California with a selective admissions profile. For the most recent reporting cycle, University of California-Davis admits between a quarter and half of applicants, with an overall admission rate of 42%. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $15,288 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price. For parents weighing whether University of California-Davis is realistic for their teenager, the most useful planning step is comparing your child's current GPA and most recent SAT or ACT against these admitted-student ranges — not the headline acceptance rate alone.
What parents should know about University of California-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 University of California-Davis?
Admitted students at University of California-Davis typically present unweighted GPAs in the 3.6–3.9 range with several honors or AP courses. Parents tracking their child's GPA toward this tier of school can use Solyo's free calculator to see weighted, unweighted, and college-recalculated numbers side by side.
What does University of California-Davis weight in admissions?
University of California-Davis reports the following factor importance in its Common Data Set (2025-2026). These are the criteria the admissions committee weighs when reviewing applications.
- • Rigor of secondary school record
- • Academic GPA
- • Application essay
- • Extracurricular activities
- • Talent/ability
- • Character/personal qualities
- • Volunteer work
- • First generation status
- • Geographical residence
- • State residency
- • Work experience
- • Class rank
- • Standardized test scores
- • Recommendations
- • Interview
- • Alumni/ae relation
- • Religious affiliation/commitment
- • Level of applicant's interest
SAT and ACT scores University of California-Davis typically admits
Many applicants to schools in this tier submit test scores, though the policy varies by year — check the latest test-optional status before deciding.
- • Test-blind: University of California-Davis does not consider SAT or ACT scores in admission decisions, even if submitted.
- • Policy detail: Not considered
How much does University of California-Davis actually cost?
Published tuition is $15,247 for in-state students and $46,024 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $19,068 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $15,288 per year — the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 31% of students receive Pell Grants, a useful indicator of how much need-based aid the school distributes.
| In-state tuition | $14,202 |
| Out-of-state tuition | $53,472 |
| Room and board | $22,125 |
| Average net price (after aid) | $15,288 |
| Application fee | $80 (waivers available) |
Application deadlines and early decision data for University of California-Davis
| Regular deadline | 11/30 |
| Notification date | 3/31 |
| Reply deadline | May 1 |
Will my child graduate from University of California-Davis?
Retention and graduation rates are the most overlooked numbers in college planning, but they predict actual outcomes far better than acceptance rate. They tell you whether admitted students stay and finish on time.
Other colleges in California parents ask about
- Stanford University4% acceptance
- University of California-Berkeley12% acceptance
- University of California-Los Angeles9% acceptance
- University of Southern California10% acceptance
- University of California-Irvine26% acceptance
- University of California-San Diego25% acceptance
- University of California-Santa Barbara63% acceptance
- University of California-Santa Cruz28% acceptance
How parents track GPA toward selective schools like University of California-Davis
Solyo helps parents track grades pulled directly from school emails, calculate GPA the same way colleges like University of California-Davis recalculate it, and ask an AI college counselor specific questions about their teen's odds. The platform is built for parents — not students — and turns what's usually a fragmented planning process into a single dashboard.
Common questions parents ask about University of California-Davis
What GPA do I need for University of California-Davis?
Admitted students at University of California-Davis typically present unweighted GPAs in the 3.6–3.9 range with several honors or AP courses.
What SAT or ACT score does University of California-Davis typically admit?
University of California-Davis does not publish standardized test ranges in the most recent reporting cycle. Test-optional policies have made scores less universally required, but submitting strong scores still helps when available.
How much does University of California-Davis actually cost after financial aid?
The average net price at University of California-Davis after grants and scholarships is $15,288 per year. That figure is more useful for budgeting than the published sticker price, because it reflects what families actually pay after aid is applied.
Is University of California-Davis realistic for my child?
Compare your teen's current unweighted GPA and most recent SAT or ACT against the ranges above. If both numbers fall inside the school's middle-50, University of California-Davis is a target school. If both fall below the 25th-percentile mark, treat it as a reach and balance the application list accordingly.
Data sourced from the 2025-2026 Common Data Set submitted by University of California-Davis, and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Solyo extracts admissions data from official Common Data Set publications and refreshes it annually.