Federal data, no marketing spin COLLEGES 50 SOURCES IPEDS · CDS · SCORECARD
CAMPUS · DAVIS, CA · PUBLIC

UC Davis Acceptance Rate

University of California-Davis
41.6%
ACCEPT
Why this page exists. I'm a parent who went through college admissions with my own kids, and I got tired of glossy brochures and sticker prices that mean nothing. For UC Davis, the gap is real: a $41,238 published sticker, but families actually pay about $15,739/yr after aid. Every number on this page comes straight from federal data (IPEDS & College Scorecard) — the real net price, what graduates actually earn, and your honest odds. No rankings theater, no marketing spin.
50
FIT
SAFETY
UC Davis is a safety for most applicants.
Score reflects acceptance odds × cost × outcome quality.
ACCEPTANCE
41.6%
of 94,637 applicants
SALARY · 10-YR
$80,838
across all majors
01

UC Davis at a Glance

42,046
Total Enrollment
$13,000
Median Debt
31.0%
Pell Grant Rate

UC Davis Rankings

Ranking2025Year
US News National Universities #28 2025
QS World University Rankings #130 2025
ARWU (Shanghai) #92 2024
Show 10-Year US News Ranking History
US News National Universities
2016201720182019202020212022202320242025
#38 #44 #46 #38 #39 #39 #38 #38 #28 #28

US News National Universities: #38 (2016) → #28 (2025) ↑ 10 spots

UC Davis Admissions Overview

University of California-Davis is a public university in Davis, CA with 42,046 students. At 41.6% acceptance, it's selective but accessible to students who meet the academic benchmarks. The most popular majors are Biological Sciences, Social Sciences, and Psychology.

Full NameUniversity of California-Davis
LocationDavis, CA 95616-8678
TypePublic
Websiteucdavis.edu/
Total Enrollment42,046
Undergrad Enrollment33,442
Female Students59.4%

Is UC Davis a Reach, Match, or Safety?

With a 41.6% acceptance rate, UC Davis is a Match for students who meet the academic profile. If your GPA and test scores are at or above the school average, you have reasonable odds.

Your ProfileUC Davis Is...What to Do
Meet academic requirements Safety Strong odds — apply with confidence
Slightly below average Match Apply — still realistic

UC Davis True Cost by Family Income

31% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating UC Davis enrolls a meaningful share of lower-income students.

Family IncomeAnnual Net Price4-Year Total
$0-30k $9,211 $36,844
$30-48k $9,966 $39,864
$48-75k $11,951 $47,804
$75-110k $16,294 $65,176
$110k+ $31,272 $125,088

Cost Breakdown

Room & Board$19,302
Total Cost of Attendance$41,238

Want to see how UC Davis stacks up? Compare college costs side by side and check the college rankings by net price and salary outcomes.

Popular Majors at UC Davis

The most popular fields of study, ranked by the number of degrees awarded.

Biological Sciences
16.9%
Social Sciences
14.1%
Psychology
10.6%
Engineering
9.1%
Business/Marketing
5.6%
Best Majors at UC Davis →

{sn} Student Demographics

White
20.9%
Black/African American
1.8%
Hispanic/Latino
24.1%
Asian
30.9%
International
13.7%

How to Get Into UC Davis

UC Davis is a Match school for students with solid academics. If your GPA and test scores are at or above the school median, you have good odds of admission. Focus your energy on the application essay and making a genuine case for why UC Davis fits your goals.

41.6%
Acceptance Rate
94,637
Total Applicants

What UC Davis Values Most in Applicants

Admission factor importance from the Common Data Set — what the school officially says matters.

FactorImportance
Academic Gpa Very Important
Rigor Of Secondary School Record Very Important
Class Rank Considered
Standardized Test Scores Considered
Application Essay Very Important
Recommendation Not Considered
Extracurricular Activities Very Important
Talent Ability Very Important
Character Personal Qualities Very Important
First Generation Important
Alumni Relation Not Considered
Interview Not Considered
Work Experience Important
Volunteer Work Important

Want to know your odds? Use the college admissions calculator to see your chances at UC Davis by GPA and SAT/ACT — or calculate your college GPA first to check where you stand.

UC Davis Application Deadlines & Requirements

Key dates for the UC Davis UC admission cycle. Mark these on your calendar — missing a deadline means waiting another year.

DeadlineDate
Regular DecisionNov 30
Financial Aid (FAFSA/CSS)Mar 2
UC System: All University of California campuses share the same application deadline. Submit one UC Application for all UC schools.

See UC Davis alongside every school in our full college application deadlines calendar for 2026–2027.

{sn} Financial Aid & Student Debt

31.0%
Pell Grant Recipients
Students from low-income families
$13,000
Median Debt at Graduation
Federal loans only
$58,461
Median Earnings (6yr)
6 years after enrollment

Frequently Asked Questions About UC Davis

What is UC Davis's acceptance rate?
UC Davis has an acceptance rate of 41.6%, making it moderately selective. This rate reflects freshman applicants for the most recent admissions cycle.
What are the most popular majors at UC Davis?
The most popular majors at UC Davis by degrees awarded are: Biological Sciences (16.9%), Social Sciences (14.1%), Psychology (10.6%), Engineering (9.1%), Business/Marketing (5.6%). These percentages reflect undergraduate degrees conferred in the most recent reporting year.
▎FROM THE DATA TO YOUR LIST

Plug your stats in. We'll tell you where you stand.

Browse all schools

Other Colleges in CA

Stanford University
3.9% accept · Stanford
UCLA
9.0% accept · Los Angeles
USC
10.0% accept · Los Angeles
UC Berkeley
11.7% accept · Berkeley
UC San Diego
24.5% accept · La Jolla
UC Irvine
25.6% accept · Irvine

Data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, IPEDS. UC Davis is not affiliated with NextColleges.