About

About University of California-Davis

public research universityuc systemagriculture and environmentbiology and pre medselective admissions

University of California-Davis is a public research university in Davis, CA, known for its public research university, uc system, and agriculture and environment. With an acceptance rate of 37%, UC Davis is selective, typically enrolling around 6,399 students each year. UC Davis is test optional; submitting a strong score can strengthen an application, though it is not required for consideration. UC Davis meets 100% of demonstrated financial need and has replaced loans with grants; for families earning under $100,000, the net cost is often $0.

Admissions

University of California-Davis acceptance rate and admitted student profile

selective

37%
Overall Accept Rate
3.75
Typical Admitted GPA
GPATypical admitted range: 3.25 – 4.00 unweighted

Build your free list to see where your GPA lands at University of California-Davis →

Application Strategy

Strategy tips for applying to University of California-Davis

The first 2 tips apply to all applicants. Your personalized strategy requires your profile — build your free list to unlock it.

Essay Strategy
UC Davis uses the UC Personal Insight Questions, so pick prompts that let you highlight something specific about why Davis fits your goals, such as its strong agricultural sciences, veterinary program, or research opportunities in the UC system. Vague answers about wanting a big university hurt you here because readers see thousands of PIQs and reward specificity.
Application Strategy
Davis is one of the top schools in the country for agricultural sciences, environmental science, and veterinary medicine, so if any of those align with your intended major, make sure your PIQs and activities section connect your interests directly to what Davis offers. Admissions readers notice when your application fits the school's academic identity.

Get a tailored strategy for University of California-Davis. Build your free list to unlock personalized advice on submitting test scores and discover your actual admission odds based on your student profile.

Build My Free List →

Financial Aid & Cost

What University of California-Davis actually costs your family

Average net prices by income bracket from College Scorecard data.

Loan-free financial aid: University of California-Davis has replaced all loans with grants. For families earning under $100,000, the average net annual cost is $0. University of California-Davis's sticker price of ~$67k/year bears almost no resemblance to what most families pay.
Family IncomeSticker PriceEst. Net Cost / yr
0-30kOften $0~$67k/yr~$0 / yr
30k-48kOften $0~$67k/yr~$0 / yr
48k-75kOften $0~$67k/yr~$0 / yr
75k-110k~$67k/yr$16.3k
110k+~$67k/yr$31.3k

Not sure what University of California-Davis would cost your family? Build your free SpearMatch list. We show estimated net cost for every college on your list based on your income bracket.

Unlock real pricing for University of California-Davis and matching colleges →

Personalize this page

Compare your profile to University of California-Davis's admitted class

SpearMatch builds a tiered college list from your actual grades, scores, and preferences — and shows where you stand at every college. Free, no account, 4 minutes.

Build My Free List →

✓ Free forever  ·  ✓ No account  ·  ✓ 1,300+ four-year US colleges

Outcomes & Campus

Student outcomes and campus profile

85%
6-Year Graduation Rate
$58k
Median Earnings (6 yrs)
20:1
Student-Faculty Ratio
31,506
Undergrad Enrollment
University of California-Davis Acceptance Rate & Admissions | SpearMatch