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University of California-Davis

Davis, California · Public · 4-year · Suburb

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At a glance

Average net price
$14,741What students typically pay per year after grants and scholarships.
Acceptance rate
42%
Graduation rate
85%Share of students who finish within 150% of the normal time.
Undergraduates
32,253
In-state tuition
$16,774Published price before aid.
Out-of-state tuition
$50,974
SAT midpoint
Not reported
Median earnings, 10 yrs
$80,838Median earnings of former students ten years after they first enrolled.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Data year: 2022-23 academic year. Updated September 2026. Figures are averages across all students and will differ from what any individual pays.

How it compares to similar colleges

Each rating covers one measure against public 4-year colleges nationally. Five stars means the top fifth on that measure. There is no overall score, because which of these matters is your call.

Affordability

$14,741

Better than 50% of public 4-year colleges (565 compared).

Completion

85%

Better than 96% of public 4-year colleges (566 compared).

Earnings

$80,838

Better than 95% of public 4-year colleges (590 compared).

Debt at graduation

$13,000

Better than 94% of public 4-year colleges (588 compared).

What these ratings are based on
Affordability
Based on average net price: what students receiving federal aid actually paid, after grants and scholarships. Your own cost depends on your family's finances.
Completion
Based on the share of first-time, full-time students who graduate within 150% of normal time. It excludes transfer and part-time students, which understates colleges serving many of them.
Earnings
Based on median earnings ten years after students first enrolled. It reflects the subjects a college teaches and the region it sits in as much as its teaching.
Debt at graduation
Based on median federal loan debt among students who completed. Private and parent loans are not included, so real totals are often higher.
Why there is no rating for selectivity
A lower acceptance rate is selectivity, not quality. Awarding stars for it would be us inventing a value judgement and hiding it behind a number.

What it actually costs

Published cost

$41,238

The sticker price: tuition, fees, housing, food and books for one academic year, before any aid.

Average net price

$14,741

What students receiving federal aid actually paid on average, after grants and scholarships. This is the more useful number, though your own figure depends on your family’s finances.

Use this college’s official net price calculator

Outcomes

Graduation, retention, debt and earnings for University of California-Davis
Graduation rateWithin 150% of normal time85%
Retention rateFirst-year students who return93%
Median debt at graduationFederal loans only, students who completed$13,000
Median earnings, 10 years after entryFormer students, working and not enrolled$80,838

What graduates of each major earn

Median earnings one year after finishing, for people who took that subject here. This is the figure a college-wide median hides: the spread between subjects at one college is usually far wider than the spread between colleges.

Bachelor’s programs at University of California-Davis by graduate earnings
MajorEarnings, 1 yrDegrees awarded
Computer Engineering$96,418102
Computer and Information Sciences, General$84,343Not reported
Engineering, General$82,956Not reported
Mechanical Engineering$75,231153
Civil Engineering$75,165133
Materials Engineering$74,11026
Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering$71,63379
Biomedical/Medical Engineering$68,41987
Chemical Engineering$68,33761
Biotechnology$59,15675
Business/Managerial Economics$54,546Not reported
Applied Mathematics$53,94094
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods$52,684502
Food Science and Technology$52,08480
Economics$50,295417
Statistics$49,264196
Microbiological Sciences and Immunology$46,00576
Social Sciences, Other$45,178Not reported
Public Administration and Social Service Professions, Other$44,59343
Plant Sciences$43,87319
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences$43,46219
Communication and Media Studies$42,569288
Cognitive Science$42,342190
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology$42,266160
Chemistry$42,20491
Genetics$41,33487
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration$40,00257
Pharmacology and Toxicology$39,20218
Natural Resources Conservation and Research$38,954241
Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences$37,95249
Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences$37,550112
Political Science and Government$36,208336
Biology, General$35,241430
International Relations and National Security Studies$34,949125
Nutrition Sciences$34,51288
Design and Applied Arts$32,816240
Philosophy$32,74969
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies$32,563160
Animal Sciences$32,309304
Research and Experimental Psychology$32,301958
Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology$32,16144
Sociology$32,137287
History$31,895116
Psychology, Other$31,345Not reported
Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management$29,89677
Neurobiology and Neurosciences$29,765394
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics$29,33094
Mathematics$29,30084
East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics$28,99718
Anthropology$28,059106
English Language and Literature, General$25,477153
Music$24,63026
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services$22,96548
Fine and Studio Arts$22,70068
Area Studies$21,52725
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft$19,39816
Film/Video and Photographic Arts$19,25876
Computer ScienceNot reported411
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related ServicesNot reported335
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications EngineeringNot reported101
Zoology/Animal BiologyNot reported63
PhysicsNot reported62
Environmental/Environmental Health EngineeringNot reported36
Agricultural Production OperationsNot reported35
Biological/Biosystems EngineeringNot reported23
Marine SciencesNot reported17
ForestryNot reported15
Biochemical EngineeringNot reported15
International AgricultureNot reported13
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject AreasNot reported13
Science, Technology and SocietyNot reported12
Agricultural Business and ManagementNot reported12
Religion/Religious StudiesNot reported10
Botany/Plant BiologyNot reported10
Classical and Ancient StudiesNot reported8
Atmospheric Sciences and MeteorologyNot reported8
Slavic, Baltic and Albanian Languages, Literatures, and LinguisticsNot reported5
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, OtherNot reported3
Physical Sciences, OtherNot reportedNot reported
English Language and Literature/Letters, OtherNot reportedNot reported
Agricultural/Animal/Plant/Veterinary Science and Related Fields, OtherNot reportedNot reported
City/Urban, Community, and Regional PlanningNot reportedNot reported
Soil SciencesNot reportedNot reported
Natural Resources and Conservation, OtherNot reportedNot reported
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and HumanitiesNot reportedNot reported
Landscape ArchitectureNot reportedNot reported
Visual and Performing Arts, OtherNot reportedNot reported
Psychology, GeneralNot reportedNot reported
Germanic Languages, Literatures, and LinguisticsNot reportedNot reported
Environmental DesignNot reportedNot reported
Physical Sciences, GeneralNot reportedNot reported
Social Sciences, GeneralNot reportedNot reported
Apparel and TextilesNot reportedNot reported
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing StudiesNot reportedNot reported

All 94 bachelor’s programs this college reported.

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