University of California-Davis
Davis, CA · Public · Suburban
Admission figures
- Acceptance rate
- 41.8%
- SAT (middle 50%)
- Not reported
- ACT (middle 50%)
- Not reported
- Undergraduates
- 32,253
- In-state tuition
- $17,346
- Out-of-state tuition
- $54,948
- Graduation rate
- 86%
- Yield (admitted students who enrol)
- 17%
- 6,578 of 39,400 admitted students enrolled in 2023
Yield is not a quality score. It says how often admitted students pick this college over their other offers — useful for reading how it sits against its rivals, and nothing more. It is also the most gameable number in admissions: a binding Early Decision round turns admits into enrolments by contract, so colleges with large ED intakes post high yields largely by construction. Counts are IPEDS 2023, a different collection from the admission rate above, so the two may describe different years.
University of California-Davis doesn't report SAT or ACT ranges in the federal data. Many test-blind institutions — including the entire University of California system — genuinely have none to report. We show that as missing rather than inventing a figure.
Majors at University of California-Davis
73 undergraduate programs, from the federal field-of-study data. Choosing one changes your estimate — a capacity-constrained program is admitted far more competitively than the school-wide rate suggests.
Create an account to pick a program and see how it changes your estimate.
University of California-Davis does not publish admission rates by major — almost no US university does, and the federal data has no such field. We apply a documented field-level adjustment instead and label it as modelled, rather than inventing a per-major rate.
What it would actually cost
Average net price after grants and scholarships, by family income.
| Family income | Net price / year |
|---|---|
| Under $30,000 | $8,770 |
| $30,000 – $48,000 | $9,042 |
| $48,000 – $75,000 | $11,562 |
| $75,000 – $110,000 | $15,645 |
| Over $110,000 | $32,902 |
These are in-state figures. Out-of-state students pay more — add your state to your profile to see your own.
- On a Pell grant
- 36%
- Median debt at graduation
- $12,038
- First-generation students
- 41%
Net price is what students actually paid after grants and scholarships — not loans. These are averages across everyone in the band, so your own offer will differ. Run the college's own net price calculator before ruling anywhere in or out.
Who studies here
Enrolled undergraduates, from federal reporting.
- Asian31%
- Hispanic or Latino25%
- White20%
- International students13%
- Two or more races7%
- Not reported2%
- Black or African American2%
- Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander0%
- American Indian or Alaska Native0%
This is context about the campus, not an input to your estimate. Since Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard (2023), US colleges may not consider an applicant's race — so your background does not move the number, and any tool that says otherwise is describing a practice that ended in 2023. How this is calculated.
Essays for 2026–27
Always confirm against the school's own page before you write.UC Personal Insight Questions
Verified 2026-08-06 · source ↗Choose four of the eight. All four are weighted equally — there is no advantage to any particular question. Up to 350 words.
The University of California does not accept the Common App. One UC application covers every campus you apply to, and these four answers go to all of them.
Describe an example of your leadership experience in which you have positively influenced others, helped resolve disputes or contributed to group efforts over time.
Every person has a creative side, and it can be expressed in many ways: problem solving, original and innovative thinking, and artistically, to name a few. Describe how you express your creative side.
What would you say is your greatest talent or skill? How have you developed and demonstrated that talent over time?
Describe how you have taken advantage of a significant educational opportunity or worked to overcome an educational barrier you have faced.
Describe the most significant challenge you have faced and the steps you have taken to overcome this challenge. How has this challenge affected your academic achievement?
Think about an academic subject that inspires you. Describe how you have furthered this interest inside and/or outside of the classroom.
What have you done to make your school or your community a better place?
Beyond what has already been shared in your application, what do you believe makes you a strong candidate for admissions to the University of California?
University of California-Davis supplemental essays
We don't have University of California-Davis's supplemental prompts on file yet. Rather than show you something that might be last year's wording, here's where to read the current ones:
University of California-Davis admissions site ↗Once you find them you can start a draft from any prompt and get feedback on it.
Your chances
See your own estimate for University of California-Davis
Add your GPA, test scores and activities once, and we'll estimate your chances here and at every other college — with the full breakdown of what moved the number.
Figures from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Northstar is not affiliated with or endorsed by University of California-Davis. Confirm all requirements and deadlines directly with the institution.