Quad

University of California-Davis

Davis, CAQuad's selectivityVery selective
Known forBig campusVery diverseHigh earnersHigh graduation rate
WebsiteAdmissionsApplyVisitFinancial aid

Admissions · Fall 2024

1 in 2 applicants admitted

U. California-Davis admits about 1 in 2 applicants (42%). That puts it in the "Very selective" tier, more selective than 88% of the 1,547 colleges that report admissions.

42%

42%

acceptance rateQuad's selectivityVery selective

Applied

98,864

Admitted

41,353

Yield

16%

of admits enroll

Applications +63% since fall 2014 · admit rate 40% → 42%Over time

Getting in, in detail: funnel, what they look at, your scores

Students

Who's on campus

A very large campus of 32,253 undergrads, where 31% receive Pell Grants, a typical share compared to other colleges.

32.3K

undergrads · larger than 98% of colleges

Diversity index

0.78

Pell Grant

31%

below the median

First generation

41%

above the median

Small suburbNCAA D-I FCS · Big West ConferenceROTCStudy abroadUndergrad research
Steady · index 0.75 → 0.78 since fall 2014Over time

Students and campus life in detail

Academics

Majors and faculty

The most popular major is Research and Experimental Psychology, Other (10% of graduates). 22 students for every faculty member, more than at 95% of colleges. 88% of faculty are full-time. Spends $34,097 a year on instruction per student.

22 to 1

students per faculty member · more than at 95% of colleges

Most popular major

Research and Experimental Psychology, Other

10% of 2024–25 graduates

Top-earning major

Computer Engineering

$145.4K four years after completion

Full-time faculty

88%

of faculty

Instruction spending

$34.1K

per student a year

All majors with search, earnings by major, and faculty

Cost & aid · 2023–24

What it costs

In 2023–24, the average first-year paid an estimated $32,441 in total (tuition, housing, food, books and other costs, after grants), $8.2K more than the national median. The 60% who received grants paid $17,270 on average; the other 40% paid the full sticker price of $41,055 in-state / $71,832 out-of-state.

31%

$32.4K

average total cost per year, all first-years, after grants (est.) · $8.2K above the national median

$0$110K$400K+
Full price, in-state
$41,055 a year
tuition, housing, food, books, and other costs
Need-based aid
Published data end at $110K
use the college's net price calculator for higher incomes
Aid generosity

Moderate

grants cover 31% of full price

Federal loans

20%

of undergrads · national median 45%

Your price

Net price calculator

the college's own

Financial aid

Financial aid office Veterans' benefits
Cost steady · −2% after inflation since 2013–14Over time

Prices, who gets aid, and borrowing in detail

Outcomes

What it pays

Former students earn a median $80,838 ten years after enrolling, more than at 91% of colleges; 89% graduate within six years. Four years of net price is about 1.6 years of that salary.

89%

89%

graduate within six years · national median 59%

Median earnings

$80.8K

10 years after entry

Median debt

$13K

≈ $138/month for 10 years

Retention

93%

come back for year two

Graduation rate 83% → 86% since the class that entered fall 2008Over time

Earnings, finishing, 8-year outcomes, by group

Over time · since 2013–14

How it's changed

Since 2013–14, the full price fell 2% after inflation, and what the average first-year paid moved with it. Applications rose 63% since fall 2014, and the acceptance rate went from 40% to 42%.

  • Cost

    Steady

    −2% after inflation

  • Applications

    Growing

    +63%

  • Selectivity

    Steady

    admit rate 40% → 42%

  • Diversity

    Steady

    index 0.75 → 0.78

Every series, year by year

Keep exploring

Schools like this one

University of Maryland Global Campus

49.7K undergrads

Similar sizeAlso public
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University of California-San Diego

27% admit · 34.9K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar sizeAlso West
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University of California-Santa Barbara

33% admit · 23.1K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar sizeAlso West
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University of South Florida

43% admit · SAT 1225 · 37.2K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar sizeAlso public
Compare side-by-side
Sources for this overviewEvery dataset and year behind the numbers on this profile; tap any ⓘ for one number's source

Sources for this profile

  1. 1
    IPEDS directory (Institutional Characteristics: HD)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  2. 2
    College Scorecard

    U.S. Department of Education · most recent release; Entered fall 2023; Fall 2024; 2023–24; Fall 2023 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  3. 3
    IPEDS Admissions survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  4. 4
    IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  5. 5
    IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  6. 6
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part D)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  7. 7
    IPEDS Completions survey (degrees awarded by field)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2024–25 graduates · retrieved 2026-10-12

  8. 8
    College Scorecard Field of Study data

    U.S. Department of Education · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12

  9. 9
    IPEDS Finance survey, derived per-student figures

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  10. 10
    IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  11. 11
    Common Data Set

    Each college (voluntary, standardized template) · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12

  12. 12
    IPEDS Graduation Rates survey (Pell Grant and subsidized loan recipients)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Entered fall 2018 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  13. 13
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part C, residence of first-time students)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  14. 14
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part A, enrollment by level)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  15. 15
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (distance education)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  16. 16
    IPEDS Salaries survey (SAL, instructional staff, all ranks)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  17. 17
    IPEDS Outcome Measures survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Students entering fall 2016 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  18. 18
    University of California-Davis (2026)

    University of California-Davis · 2026 · retrieved 2026-10-04

IPEDS unit ID 110644 · Data retrieved 2026-10-12. Tap any ⓘ to see where that number came from and what year it describes. National ranks and medians include every 4-year college that reports the measure. How we source and calculate everything