University of California Acceptance Rate & Tuition (2026)
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 Facts
- 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $16,774
- 2024 Average Net Price: $14,741 After Financial Aid
- 2024 Acceptance Rate: 41.83% Selective
- 2024 Enrolled Students: 32,253 97.5% Full-Time
- 2024 Graduation Rate: 85.67%
- Carnegie Classification: Doctoral Universities: Very High Research Activity
- First-Generation Students: 40.8%
- Tuition trend: In-state tuition increase of 2.6% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Net price trend: Average net price decrease of 2.5% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Full-Time Faculty: 87.6%
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 34,026
- Applicants (IPEDS): 94,637
- Room & Board: $19,426 annual estimate
University of California-Davis: what the data shows
Common questions about University of California-Davis, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.
Where is University of California-Davis?
University of California-Davis is located in Davis, CA (ZIP 95616-8678).
NCES locale classification: Rural remote.
Is University of California-Davis public or private?
University of California-Davis is a Public institution.
How much does University of California-Davis cost?
Published tuition: $16,774 in-state, $50,974 out-of-state.
Average net price after aid: $14,741.
| Family income band | Avg. net price |
|---|---|
| Family income $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.
How hard is it to get into University of California-Davis?
Admission rate: 41.83%.
Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.
How big is University of California-Davis?
Total enrollment: 32,253 students.
Undergraduate enrollment: 34,026 students.
Graduate enrollment: 7,792 students.
About 98% enroll full-time in our extract.
What is the graduation rate at University of California-Davis?
150%-time completion rate: 85.67%.
First-year retention: 92.8%.
What do graduates of University of California-Davis earn?
Median earnings: $58,461 six years after entry; $80,838 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).
How much debt do students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers: $13,000.
31.35% of students receive Pell grants.
What is University of California-Davis known for?
Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:
- Research and Experimental Psychology, Other (966 completions)
- Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods, Other (571 completions)
- Econometrics and Quantitative Economics (487 completions)
- Computer Science (455 completions)
- Biology/Biological Sciences, General (389 completions)
- Neurobiology and Anatomy (387 completions)
- Management Science (351 completions)
- Animal Sciences, General (310 completions)
- Communication and Media Studies (301 completions)
- Design and Visual Communications, General (291 completions)
See ROI & Programs for more.
Is University of California-Davis a good school?
We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show admission rate 41.83%; completion rate 85.67%; median earnings $80,838 at 10 years; net price $14,741. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.
Tuition & Cost
Tuition Costs
$16,774
2024 Undergraduate Tuition
In 2024, the cost of tuition at University of California-Davis was $16,774.
Tuition comparison with similar institutions.
Average Net Price
$14,741
2024 Value
In 2024 University of California-Davis had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $14,741.
Average net price comparison with similar institutions.
Total Cost of Attendance
$58,964 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost
$14,741 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)
$67,096 4-Year In-State Tuition
$203,896 4-Year Out-of-State Tuition
$19,426 Room & Board (annual, on-campus estimate)
$1,386 Books & Supplies (annual estimate)
$37,586 Estimated Annual Sticker (tuition + room/board + books)
$150,344 Estimated 4-Year Sticker (before aid)
4-year total cost breakdown for University of California-Davis.
Financial Aid by Income Level
31.35% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
19.70% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
0.00%
3-year cohort default rate (College Scorecard)
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.
Acceptance Rate & Admissions
Acceptance Rate
41.83% Acceptance Rate
94,637 Total Applicants
39,400 Students Admitted
6,578 First-Time Students Enrolled
16.70% Yield (enrolled ÷ admitted)
This institution is selective, accepting about half of all applicants.
Acceptance rate compared to national average.
Test Scores
Test score data is not available for this institution.
Average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students.
Academic Requirements
GPA requirements are not published by this institution. Contact the admissions office for specific academic requirements.
Estimated GPA and test score ranges.
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
The largest enrollment share in our College Scorecard extract is Asian at 31.4%.
Shares are for total enrollment (undergraduate and graduate combined when reported).
College Scorecard student demographics.
Graduates & Outcomes
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
Combined IPEDS award counts across reported programs; largest group: Asian.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
ROI & Programs
Financial value and program information for University of California-Davis.
Return on Investment
$13,000 Median Student Debt
$80,838 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)
16.08% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio
1270.97% Return on Investment
1.6 years Estimated Payback Period
Financial value analysis for University of California-Davis.
Top Programs by Completions
10 largest programs by IPEDS completions (of 154 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
1. Research and Experimental Psychology, Other: 966 completions
2. Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods, Other: 571 completions
3. Econometrics and Quantitative Economics: 487 completions
4. Computer Science: 455 completions
5. Biology/Biological Sciences, General: 389 completions
6. Neurobiology and Anatomy: 387 completions
7. Management Science: 351 completions
8. Animal Sciences, General: 310 completions
9. Communication and Media Studies: 301 completions
Most popular programs at University of California-Davis.
Employment Outcomes
Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.
Earnings outcomes for University of California-Davis graduates.
Operations
Instructional staffing and expenditure indicators for University of California-Davis from College Scorecard (not a full IPEDS finance statement).
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 87.6%
- Average faculty salary (Scorecard): $18,357
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $34,097
Endowment and detailed non-instructional staff counts require IPEDS Finance/HR surveys and are not in this extract.
Scorecard instructional metrics where reported.
About
University of California-Davis is a public institution located in Davis, CA, classified as Doctoral Universities: Very High Research Activity. In the latest IPEDS completions in our extract, the largest programs by awards were Research and Experimental Psychology, Other, Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods, Other, Econometrics and Quantitative Economics. Enrollment is approximately 32,253 students. Student body composition includes Asian (31.4%), Hispanic or Latino (25.1%), White (19.9%). It is selective, with an admission rate of 41.83%. The 150%-time completion rate is 85.67%. Approximately 31.35% of students receive Pell Grants. About 40.8% of students are first-generation college students.
Institution Type
Public
Carnegie Classification: Doctoral Universities: Very High Research Activity
Location
Davis, CA 95616-8678
Region: Far West
Insights and Analysis
Exceptional Graduation Rate: With a 85.67% graduation rate, University of California-Davis demonstrates strong student retention and completion. This rate significantly exceeds the national average, indicating effective academic support and student services.
Strong Career Outcomes: University of California-Davis graduates report median earnings of $80,838 ten years after entry, placing them among the higher-earning college graduates nationally. This strong earnings potential reflects both the quality of education and the career opportunities available to graduates.
Diverse Program Offerings: With over 154 distinct degree programs, University of California-Davis provides students with a wide range of academic options. This diversity allows students to explore various fields and find programs that align with their interests and career goals.
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.
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.
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.
Is University of California-Davis an HBCU?
No. University of California-Davis is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is University of California-Davis a tribal college?
No. University of California-Davis is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Is University of California-Davis a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI)?
By the common federal eligibility proxy used here (≥25% Hispanic enrollment in College Scorecard), yes—University of California-Davis reports 25.1% Hispanic enrollment share.
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
- California college costs
- California colleges by ROI
- Far West regional profile
- All state profiles
- Regional profiles
- National benchmarks
- School directory
- All schools in California
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 for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, which provides comprehensive information on institutions of higher education in the United States.
All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Graduation rates and completion times are calculated according to federal standards.