University of California-Davis
Davis, CA 95616-8678
About University of California-Davis
University of California-Davis (UC Davis) is a public research university in Davis, California, enrolling about 32,253 students. Admission is moderately selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 41.83% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $80,838 among students who received federal aid.
Key findings
- University of California-Davis charges about 3.0× the national public median tuition ($16,774).
- Versus the California median, sticker tuition is about 2.1×.
- Completion within 150% of normal time is 85.67%.
- Median earnings 10 years after entry are $80,838.
Research findings
Finding
Modeled return on investment at University of California-Davis is strong.
Estimated ROI reaches about 1271% using Scorecard cost and 10-year earnings fields in this extract.
Interpretation: On this institution-wide model, typical graduate earnings over a decade substantially exceed estimated net education cost.
Limitation: ROI is institution-wide and not program-specific; individual outcomes vary by major, aid package, and labor market.
Finding
University of California-Davis awards credentials across a wide program mix.
IPEDS completions cover more than 154 distinct degree programs at this campus.
Interpretation: Institutional averages blend very different fields; program-level completions and earnings matter more than the campus mean alone.
Limitation: Completions counts are not enrollment demand and do not measure program quality.
Cost benchmarks
| Benchmark | Median Tuition | Median Net Price | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of California-Davis | $16,774 | $14,741 | 1 |
| Public (national median) | $5,512 | — | 1,688 |
| California (state median) | $8,093 | $8,343 | 287 |
| Rural (locale median) | $14,160 | $18,700 | 1,649 |
| United States (national median) | $11,900 | $17,156 | — |
Compares this campus to school-type, state, and locale medians plus a U.S. national median (College Scorecard–derived). Locale groups campuses by NCES locale type; state tuition is the median published tuition among campuses in that state.
Average net price is 12% below published tuition at University of California-Davis
Key findings
- University of California-Davis's average net price ($14,741) is 12% below published tuition ($16,774).
- University of California-Davis charges about 3.0× the national public median tuition ($16,774).
- Versus the California median, sticker tuition is about 2.1×.
University of California-Davis tuition
Published undergraduate tuition $16,774
Finding University of California-Davis charges about 3.0× the national public median tuition.
Evidence Published tuition is $16,774. That is about 3.0× the national public median ($5,512). Versus the California median ($8,093), sticker tuition is about 2.1×. Versus the U.S. median ($11,900), sticker is 41% above.
Method Sticker tuition compared with Scorecard-derived medians by ownership, state, locale, and national rollups when available.
Interpretation Published tuition measures sticker price relative to public and geographic peers; it does not equal what undergraduates typically pay after aid.
Limitation Sticker comparisons omit room, board, and institutional aid; average net price and income-band net prices are the stronger signals of typical family cost.
Evidence: published tuition at University of California-Davis versus school-type, state, locale, and U.S. medians.
Evidence: average net price at University of California-Davis versus state, locale, and U.S. medians.
What undergraduates typically pay
Finding Average net price at University of California-Davis is $14,741.
Evidence College Scorecard average net price is $14,741 (cost of attendance minus average grant aid for aided undergraduates). That is about $6,398 above the California median net price. Versus rural campuses, net price runs $3,959 below the locale median.
Method Average net price from College Scorecard; compared with state, locale, and U.S. medians from EDsmart aggregates.
Interpretation Average net price is a stronger institutional cost signal than published tuition because it incorporates grant aid.
Limitation The campus average masks large differences by household income; income-band net prices can diverge sharply from the overall average.
Key takeaway University of California-Davis’s published tuition substantially overstates typical undergraduate cost: average net price is about 12% lower after grants and scholarships.
University of California-Davis: research record
Canonical EDsmart Data findings for University of California-Davis—costs, outcomes, admissions, and programs—with evidence and methodology notes.
Research findings
Interpretation
The combination of completion and 10-year earnings is a multidimensional outcomes signal; it does not measure educational quality by itself.
Financial profile
In-state tuition
$16,774
Out-of-state tuition
$50,974
Avg. net price
$14,741
Net price by family income
| Income bracket | Avg. annual net price |
|---|---|
| $0–$30,000 | $9,211 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $9,966 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $11,951 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $16,294 |
| $110,001+ | $31,272 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $67,096. See cost investigation.
Student outcomes
Share of first-year students returning the following fall.
Graduation rate and 10-year earnings are in the hero strip above; see Graduates for more.
What University of California-Davis is known for
Top program completions
- Research and Experimental Psychology, Other966
- Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods, Other571
- Econometrics and Quantitative Economics487
- Computer Science455
- Biology/Biological Sciences, General389
See earnings & programs for more.
Admissions landscape
- Selective — about half of applicants (or fewer) are admitted.
- Yield: 17% of admitted students enrolled.
See Admissions for the full funnel.
Is University of California-Davis a good school?
Data-framed fit—not a prestige rating.
University of California-Davis is a good school for those looking for strong completion alongside solid mid-career earnings.
EDsmart Data does not assign an opinion score; this framing summarizes the strongest Scorecard signals for this campus.
More from the data
Location, control, enrollment, and aid context for University of California-Davis.
Campus
Location
Davis, CA
City / state
- ZIP
- 95616-8678
- NCES locale
- Rural remote
Compared with Rural campuses nationally, net price is 21% below the median for Rural campuses ($18,700 median).
Control
Institution type
Public
Control
- Region
- Far West
- Carnegie
- Doctoral Universities: Very High Research Activity
Size
Enrollment
32,253
Total enrollment
- Undergraduate
- 34,026
- Graduate
- 7,792
- Full-time share
- 98%
Student aid
Debt & aid
$13,000
Median federal loan debt
- Pell grant share
- 31.35%
Total Cost, Aid & Default
Total Cost of Attendance
Tuition vs average net price after aid for University of California-Davis.
Financial Aid by Income Level
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at University of California-Davis was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for University of California-Davis in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $13,895 | $36,773 | $15,054 |
| 2014 | $13,896 | $36,774 | $15,514 |
| 2015 | $13,951 | $38,659 | $15,047 |
| 2016 | $14,046 | $40,728 | $15,309 |
| 2017 | $14,419 | $42,433 | $15,769 |
| 2018 | $14,402 | $43,394 | $14,729 |
| 2019 | $14,495 | $44,249 | $14,669 |
| 2020 | $14,597 | $44,351 | $15,768 |
| 2021 | $14,645 | $44,399 | $14,920 |
| 2022 | $14,858 | $44,930 | $15,674 |
| 2023 | $15,247 | $46,024 | $15,288 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
How difficult is it to get in?
Acceptance Rate
This institution is selective, accepting about half of all applicants.
Applicants → admits → first-time enrollment from College Scorecard / IPEDS. Bar widths are scaled for readability at highly selective schools.
Test Scores
Test score data is not available for this institution.
Score distribution is not available for this institution.
Academic Requirements
GPA requirements are not published by this institution. Contact the admissions office for specific academic requirements.
Estimated GPA range is not available for this institution.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
University of California-Davis reported total enrollment of about 32,253 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 41% male and 59% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes Asian (31.4%), Hispanic or Latino (25.1%), and White (19.9%). About 31.35% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 40.8% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
97.5% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at University of California-Davis in 2024 is 32,253 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 34,026 students. Graduate enrollment is about 7,792 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
92.8%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
Largest share of total enrollment in our College Scorecard extract.
College Scorecard student demographics (total enrollment shares).
Do students complete their programs?
Time to Complete
70.81% 100% Completion Time
85.67% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 70.81% of students graduating from University of California-Davis completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Research and Experimental Psychology, Other: 22% male / 78% female
- Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods, Other: 48% male / 52% female
- Econometrics and Quantitative Economics: 61% male / 39% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Largest group by summed IPEDS award counts across reported programs.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
University of California-Davis graduates earn a median of $80,838 ten years after entry
Finding Earnings, debt, and program mix define the financial profile of University of California-Davis.
Evidence Median earnings 10 years after entry: $80,838. Median federal loan debt: $13,000. Average net price used in cost models: $14,741.
Method College Scorecard median earnings (10-year), median debt, and EDsmart ROI / payback models using campus net price.
Interpretation Institution-wide ROI and debt ratios summarize campus averages; program choice still drives individual outcomes.
Limitation Salary reflects median earnings ten years after entry; ROI is not program-specific.
Key takeaway University of California-Davis graduates report median earnings of $80,838 ten years after entry—an institution-wide outcomes signal, not a program guarantee.
Return on Investment
Debt and 4-year net cost vs. cumulative 10-year median earnings for University of California-Davis.
Top Programs by Completions
Largest 10 programs by IPEDS completions (154 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
IPEDS award counts for the largest programs at University of California-Davis.
Employment Outcomes
Median earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after entry for University of California-Davis graduates.
How financially powerful is this institution?
Finding: federal finance and Scorecard instructional fields for University of California-Davis—endowment assets (fiscal year 2023), instructional staffing and expenditure. Compared with state, regional, and U.S. medians from EDsmart Data institutional financials.
Institutional endowment
$681.1M
End-of-year assets · Fiscal year 2023
- California median 34× the median ($19.7M)
- Far West median 41× the median ($16.8M)
- U.S. median 26× the median ($26.4M)
- California median 2.3× the median ($7,407)
- Far West median 2.4× the median ($7,260)
- U.S. median 1.4× the median ($12,100)
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 87.6%
- California median 48.2 pp above median (39.3%)
- Far West median 41.9 pp above median (45.7%)
- U.S. median 29.6 pp above median (58.0%)
- Average faculty salary (monthly): $18,357
- California median 1.8× the median ($10,166)
- Far West median 1.9× the median ($9,635)
- U.S. median 2.4× the median ($7,615)
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $34,097
- California median 5.3× the median ($6,474)
- Far West median 4.9× the median ($7,030)
- U.S. median 4.7× the median ($7,288)
Instructional metrics from College Scorecard. Peer medians are campus-level; see the institutional financials deep dive. Detailed non-instructional staff counts are not included here.
University of California-Davis at a glance
University of California-Davis
University of California-Davis is a public institution in Davis, CA, classified as Doctoral Universities: Very High Research Activity.
- Largest programs (IPEDS awards)
- Research and Experimental Psychology, OtherManagement Sciences and Quantitative Methods, OtherEconometrics and Quantitative Economics
- Largest enrollment groups
- Asian31.4%Hispanic or Latino25.1%White or Caucasian19.9%
Schools near University of California-Davis
Other campuses in Davis, CA when available, plus nearby institutions in California.
Similar schools
Peers matched by the same EDsmart outcomes grade (Grade A) within California, then by similar ownership and admissions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is UC Davis located?
University of California-Davis is located in Davis, CA. The institution is also known as UC Davis.
What is UC Davis's acceptance rate?
The acceptance rate at University of California-Davis (UC Davis) is 41.8% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 94,637 applicants and 39,400 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.
What is UC Davis's tuition?
University of California-Davis tuition (published undergraduate sticker price) is $16,774 in the latest College Scorecard data. Average net price after grant aid is $14,741 for undergraduates receiving Title IV aid.
How much does UC Davis cost?
Reported tuition is $16,774 and average net price is $14,741 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $19,426 annually.
Why is UC Davis's net price so much lower than tuition?
At University of California-Davis, published tuition is $16,774 while average net price is $14,741—about 12% lower. Average net price subtracts grant and scholarship aid from cost of attendance for undergraduates receiving Title IV aid (College Scorecard). Institutional aid therefore compresses sticker price into a lower typical undergraduate cost signal. The campus average still masks large differences by household income; income-band net prices can diverge sharply from the overall average. EDsmart Data treats the sticker–net gap as an analytical finding, not advice about individual aid offers.
What explains UC Davis's return on investment in EDsmart Data?
EDsmart Data models ROI using campus average net price ($14,741), completion (85.7% within 150% of normal time where reported), and median earnings ten years after entry ($80,838). High completion and strong mid-career earnings relative to net cost raise modeled ROI; the estimate is institution-wide and not program-specific. Debt-to-earnings ratios, when available, further contextualize borrowing pressure. Limitations include suppressed fields, program mix, and labor-market variation over time.
What is the student body demographics at UC Davis?
University of California-Davis reports undergraduate enrollment of about 34,026 students, Asian (31.4%), Hispanic or Latino (25.1%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend UC Davis?
About 40.8% of students at University of California-Davis are first-generation college students.
What do graduates of University of California-Davis earn?
Median earnings are $58,461 six years after entry and $80,838 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at University of California-Davis?
The 150%-time completion rate is 85.7% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do University of California-Davis students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $13,000.
Is University of California-Davis public or private?
University of California-Davis is a public institution located in Davis, CA.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology & Data Scope
This profile uses institution-level fields from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, merged with IPEDS directory attributes where needed for locale, ownership, and program completions.
Benchmark rows compare this campus to NCES locale-type medians (for example Suburban) from our processed location extract. Implied U.S. medians are derived from locale-vs-national percentage fields in that extract—not a separate national Scorecard table.