University of California guide · Updated September 29, 2026
UC Davis admitted 44.3% of first-year applicants for Fall 2025, or 45,674 of 102,988, and 37.1% of California applicants, according to its Common Data Set. Enrolled first-years averaged a 4.03 weighted high school GPA. For new California students in 2026-27, UC Davis estimates a cost of attendance of $49,009 living in a residence hall.
UC Davis, the University of California, Davis, is a public research university in the college town of Davis, near Sacramento. It’s one of the largest UC campuses and is known nationally for agriculture, veterinary medicine, environmental science and biology.
Here are the official numbers: who gets in, what it costs in 2026-27, how big it is and what UC Davis is known for.
| Fact | UC Davis |
|---|---|
| Official name | University of California, Davis |
| Type | Public research university, University of California system |
| Location | Davis, Yolo County, about 15 miles west of Sacramento |
| Founded | 1905, as the University Farm |
| First-year acceptance rate | 44.3% (Fall 2025: 45,674 admitted of 102,988 applicants) |
| Acceptance rate, California residents | 37.1% (Fall 2025: 25,473 of 68,593) |
| Average high school GPA | 4.03 weighted (Fall 2025 enrolled first-years) |
| SAT/ACT | Not used in admission (UC policy) |
| Students | 39,414 total, 31,695 undergraduates (Fall 2025) |
| Cost of attendance, residence hall (2026-27, new students) | $49,009 for California residents; $88,279 for nonresidents |
| Retention / graduation rate | 93% / 86% in six years (2019 cohort) |
| Student-to-faculty ratio | 22:1 |
| Calendar | Quarter system |
| Athletics | Aggies, NCAA Division I |
Sources: UC Davis Common Data Set 2025-26 (AggieData); UC Davis Admissions, Cost and Aid 2026-27. Full list at the end of the article.
In This Article
What Is UC Davis?
UC Davis is the University of California, Davis, a public research university and part of the University of California system. It began in 1905 as the University Farm, the agricultural branch of UC Berkeley, and became a general campus in 1959.
Undergraduates enroll in one of four colleges: the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, the College of Biological Sciences, the College of Engineering, and the College of Letters and Science. UC Davis also has professional schools of law, management, medicine, nursing, education and veterinary medicine. It runs on the quarter system.
What Is the UC Davis Acceptance Rate?
UC Davis admitted 44.3% of first-year applicants for Fall 2025: 102,988 students applied, 45,674 were admitted and 6,824 enrolled, according to its Common Data Set 2025-26. California residents were admitted at a lower rate, 37.1%.
| UC Davis, Fall 2025 first-year applicants | Applied | Admitted | Acceptance rate | Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California residents | 68,593 | 25,473 | 37.1% | 5,481 |
| Out-of-state | 13,149 | 8,315 | 63.2% | 417 |
| International | 21,246 | 11,886 | 55.9% | 926 |
| All first-year applicants | 102,988 | 45,674 | 44.3% | 6,824 |
Source: UC Davis Common Data Set 2025-26, items C1 and C2 (residency by known address at time of application).
UC Davis also uses its waitlist heavily. For Fall 2025, 17,582 students were offered a spot, 9,747 accepted one, and 3,758 were admitted from the waitlist, a much better rate than at UCLA or Berkeley.
How to Get Into UC Davis
UC Davis uses the UC application and a holistic review. Grades in A-G courses, course rigor and the Personal Insight Questions carry the most weight. Enrolled first-years for Fall 2025 averaged a 4.03 weighted GPA, and about two-thirds had a GPA of 4.0 or higher.
- Application: the UC application; the fee is $80 for domestic applicants and $95 for international applicants, with waivers for students with financial need
- Deadline: November 30; decisions are sent by March 31, and there is no early action or early decision
- Tests: SAT and ACT scores are not considered in UC admission decisions
- Courses: 15 year-long A-G courses are required and 18 are recommended
- Transfers: California residents need at least a 2.4 college GPA (2.8 for nonresidents), plus completion of UC transferable courses and any major preparation
So what’s the practical takeaway? UC Davis is more accessible than UCLA, Berkeley or UC San Diego, but California applicants still face a 37% admit rate. It’s a strong target for students with high grades, especially in science and agriculture.
How Much Does UC Davis Cost?
For students who first enroll in 2026-27, UC Davis estimates a cost of attendance of $49,009 for California residents living in a residence hall. That includes $15,588 in systemwide tuition and fees and $2,490 in campus-based fees. Nonresidents add $39,270 in Nonresident Supplemental Tuition.
| UC Davis, new students 2026-27 (California residents) | Residence hall | Campus apartment | Off campus | At home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Systemwide tuition and fees | $15,588 | $15,588 | $15,588 | $15,588 |
| Campus-based fees | $2,490 | $2,490 | $2,490 | $2,490 |
| Room and board | $22,252 | $19,960 | $16,981 | $8,617 |
| Books and supplies | $1,205 | $1,205 | $1,205 | $1,205 |
| Personal expenses | $2,656 | $2,656 | $2,729 | $3,038 |
| Transportation | $672 | $1,545 | $1,522 | $2,809 |
| Health insurance | $3,996 | $3,996 | $3,996 | $3,996 |
| Document fee | $150 | $150 | $150 | $150 |
| Total, California residents | $49,009 | $47,590 | $44,661 | $37,893 |
| Total, nonresidents | $88,279 | $86,860 | $83,931 | $77,163 |
Source: UC Davis Admissions, Cost and Aid, estimated cost of attendance for students who first enroll in 2026-27. A studio apartment on campus is budgeted at $57,549.
Under the UC Tuition Stability Plan, systemwide tuition for new students stays flat for up to six years, while campus fees, housing and insurance can change each year. UC says most California families earning up to $100,000 receive enough grant and scholarship aid to cover UC tuition under its Blue and Gold commitment, and Cal Grants, Pell Grants and the Middle Class Scholarship can reduce costs further.
“UC Davis is one of the few UC campuses where living off campus is budgeted well below a residence hall, about $4,300 a year less. Davis is a compact college town where many students bike everywhere, which keeps transportation costs low too. Plan on the residence hall in year one, then compare off-campus options.”
CalChannel Editorial Team
How Big Is UC Davis?
UC Davis had 39,414 students in Fall 2025, including 31,695 undergraduates and 7,719 graduate and professional students, according to its Common Data Set. The student-to-faculty ratio is 22:1. About 90% of first-years live in university housing.
About 93% of first-year students returned for their second year. Of the 2019 entering class, 70% graduated in four years and 86% within six years.
Where Is UC Davis Located?
UC Davis is in Davis, California, a college town in Yolo County about 15 miles west of Sacramento and roughly 70 miles northeast of San Francisco. Amtrak’s Capitol Corridor stops in downtown Davis, and the student-run Unitrans bus system, known for its red double-decker buses, serves the city.
The campus covers more than 5,000 acres, the largest land area of any UC campus, including farms, vineyards and the UC Davis Arboretum along Putah Creek. Davis is known as one of the most bike-friendly cities in the United States, and bicycles are the main way students get around campus.
What Is UC Davis Known For?
UC Davis is known worldwide for agriculture, plant sciences, food science, viticulture and enology, and environmental science, and its School of Veterinary Medicine is consistently ranked among the best in the world. It’s also strong in biology, animal science, engineering and pre-health programs, with UC Davis Health in Sacramento.
Campus traditions include Picnic Day, a large student-run open house each spring. The Aggies compete in NCAA Division I. Compared with other UC campuses, Davis is the clear leader for agriculture-related majors; UC Riverside also has agricultural and environmental programs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the UC Davis acceptance rate?
UC Davis admitted 44.3% of first-year applicants for Fall 2025, or 45,674 of 102,988, according to its Common Data Set. The rate for California residents was 37.1%.
How much does UC Davis cost?
For new California students in 2026-27, UC Davis estimates $49,009 a year living in a residence hall, including $18,078 in tuition and campus fees. The estimate for nonresidents is $88,279.
Is “UC David” a different school?
No. “UC David” is a common typo for UC Davis, the University of California campus in Davis, California. The official website is ucdavis.edu.
Is UC Davis a good school?
Yes. UC Davis is a major research university with a 93% first-year retention rate and an 86% six-year graduation rate, and it’s among the top universities in the world for agriculture and veterinary medicine.
Where is UC Davis located?
UC Davis is in Davis, California, in Yolo County, about 15 miles west of Sacramento.
Does UC Davis require the SAT or ACT?
No. UC campuses, including UC Davis, do not consider SAT or ACT scores in admission decisions.
The Bottom Line on UC Davis
UC Davis is a large public research university near Sacramento that admitted 44.3% of first-year applicants and 37.1% of California applicants for Fall 2025. It’s the UC campus to consider first for agriculture, veterinary medicine and environmental science, and its graduation rates are strong.
For new California students, plan for about $49,000 a year in a residence hall before aid. Apply by November 30, and compare UC Davis with UC Berkeley, UC Santa Cruz and other UC campuses on the same application.
Sources
- UC Davis AggieData. “Common Data Set 2025-26.” ucdavis.edu.
- UC Davis Admissions. “Cost and Aid.” ucdavis.edu.
- UC Davis Financial Aid and Scholarships. “Cost of Attendance.” ucdavis.edu.
- University of California. “Blue and Gold Opportunity Plan.” universityofcalifornia.edu.
- Wikipedia. “University of California, Davis.” Wikipedia.org.
CalChannel Editorial Team California college guides
The CalChannel editorial team researches and writes guides to California colleges, admissions and financial aid. We build our college profiles and aid guides from colleges’ own published data, federal IPEDS data and the California Student Aid Commission. Read our editorial policy.
