University of California-Davis
#9 Best Biology Colleges in California- Graduation Rate
- 85% A
- Most students who enroll finish their degree here
- Earnings (10yr)
- $80,838 A
- Top 4% nationally — exceptional earning power
- Net Price
- $14,741 C+
- Close to the national average
- Acceptance Rate
- 42% A-
- Selective, but achievable with strong credentials
Bottom line: A A- overall grade — strong outcomes across the board. 43.1× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $43.1 over 20 years. Ranked #9 in Best Biology Colleges in California.
Every $1 spent returns $43.1 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $2,482,426.
What The Data Says
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An A- overall — top 14% of all U.S. colleges on measured outcomes.
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Graduates earn 98% more than the national college median.
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A 85% graduation rate — 49% above the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $43.1 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why University of California-Davis Matters
University of California-Davis is a public research university in Davis, CA and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a top-tier research enterprise and a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduates whose earnings land in the top 4% of all U.S. colleges.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public Research University
- Carnegie Class
- R1 · Very High Research
- Enrollment
- 32,253
- Setting
- Suburban
- Designations
- HSI
- Primary Strengths
- Biology & Biomedical, Social Sciences, Psychology, Engineering
Why students choose University of California-Davis
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Selective — admits about 42% of applicants. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $14,741 a year after grants and scholarships — 14% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $80,838 ten years after enrolling — 98% above the typical college, against $13,000 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Strong cross-class social capital — an economic-connectedness score of 1.76 (Opportunity Insights).
See mobility →Overview
The University of California-Davis has a graduation rate of 85%, indicating that most students successfully complete their degrees. This high rate reflects the supportive environment and resources available to students. With an acceptance rate of 42%, UC Davis attracts a competitive pool of applicants looking for solid academic outcomes.
According to Chetty/Opportunity Insights data, UC Davis does not have specific mobility or success rate data available. However, the school’s strong graduation rate suggests that students from various backgrounds can thrive here. The focus on programs such as Biology, Engineering, and Business supports a diverse range of career paths.
In terms of practical considerations, the net price for students is $14,741, making it relatively affordable for a public university in California. Graduates can expect to earn about $80,838 within ten years of completing their degrees. The median debt for graduates stands at $13,000, indicating manageable financial obligations. Students who thrive at UC Davis are often those engaged in collaborative learning and who seek to make an impact in fields like social sciences and engineering.
Rankings
- #9 Best Biology Colleges in California
- #15 Best Bachelor's Programs in California
- #15 Best Master's Programs in California
- #18 Best HSI Bachelor's Programs
- #18 Best HSI Master's Programs
- #18 Best Engineering Colleges in California
- #20 Best Computer Science Colleges in California
- #20 Best Data Science Colleges in California
Can I Get In?
How selective University of California-Davis is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into University of California-Davis? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Davis, California, University of California-Davis reviews applications selectively. The acceptance rate runs near 42%. The graduation rate is roughly 85%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 42%
- Retention Rate
- 93%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 88%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $18,357
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 21:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.78
- First-Gen Students
- 41%
- Applicants
- 94,747
- Admitted
- 35,377
Inside the Admissions Office
School-reported Common Data Set · unknown
The acceptance rate tells you how hard University of California-Davis is to get into. Its Common Data Set tells you what happens once you are admitted: how many students say yes, how many arrived without test scores, and whether applying early tilts the odds. 16% of admitted students go on to enroll here, making it a school most admitted students ultimately pass on.
- Yield Rate
- 16%
- of admits enroll
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend University of California-Davis? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at University of California-Davis is $50,974, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $14,741. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $9,211 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $13,000 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $16,774
- Out-of-State
- $50,974
- Avg Net Price
- $14,741
- Median Debt
- $13,000
- Pell Grant Rate
- 31%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 20%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $9,211
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $9,966
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $11,951
- Family Income $110K+
- $31,272
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at University of California-Davis — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is University of California-Davis Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of University of California-Davis earn a median of $80,838, well above the national average for bachelor's degree holders.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $58,461
- 8 Years
- $71,209
- 10 Years
- $80,838
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.16x
- Earning > $25K
- 70%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (3,408)
- 64%
- 100% (3,408)
- 64%
- 100% (3,408)
- 64%
- 100% (3,408)
- 64%
How University Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
College ROI Calculator
Is University of California-Davis Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, University of California-Davis delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $14,741/year ($58,964 total). Graduates earn $80,838 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $2,541,390 in total earnings — a net gain of $2,482,426 (43.1× your investment). The median debt is $13,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 85% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $58,964
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $2,541,390
- Net Return
- $2,482,426
- ROI Multiple
- 43.1×
- Cost Per Year
- $14,741
- Median Debt
- $13,000
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 85%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
Top Programs
The fields University of California-Davis awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Biology & Biomedical 18% $48,247 early-career
- Social Sciences 13% $56,502 early-career
- Psychology 10% $39,397 early-career
- Engineering 9% $97,955 early-career
- Business & Marketing 6% $61,489 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 5% $96,967 early-career
- Visual & Performing Arts 5% $45,495 early-career
- Mathematics & Statistics 4% $56,552 early-career
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for University of California-Davis's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-AI/ML Engineer$156,000 · 23% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Computer Vision Engineer$145,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CPhysicist$142,850 · 5% growthAdaptable 66
- CAstronomer$142,850 · 4% growthAdaptable 66
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into University of California-Davis? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Davis, California, University of California-Davis reviews applications selectively. The acceptance rate runs near 42%. The graduation rate is roughly 85%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend University of California-Davis? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at University of California-Davis is $50,974, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $14,741. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $9,211 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $13,000 in federal student loans.
Is University of California-Davis Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of University of California-Davis earn a median of $80,838, well above the national average for bachelor's degree holders.
How Connected Is University of California-Davis? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at University of California-Davis. Its economic connectedness score is 1.76, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 11% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Does University of California-Davis offer Early Decision?
No. University of California-Davis does not report a binding Early Decision plan (unknown Common Data Set).
What percentage of admitted students enroll at University of California-Davis?
About 16% of admitted students choose to enroll at University of California-Davis — its yield rate (unknown Common Data Set). Yield reflects how often a school wins when applicants weigh competing offers.
Compare University of California-Davis
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to University of California-Davis.
- University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignChampaign, IL · Close peer85% grad $81,054 earn 42% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- University of Washington-Seattle CampusSeattle, WA · Close peer84% grad $78,466 earn 39% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- University of Maryland-College ParkCollege Park, MD · Close peer89% grad $82,860 earn 45% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- University of California-IrvineIrvine, CA · Close peer86% grad $80,735 earn 29% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- University of GeorgiaAthens, GA · Close peer89% grad $68,726 earn 38% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar grad rate · similar size
- University of California-San DiegoLa Jolla, CA · Close peer87% grad $84,943 earn 27% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is University of California-Davis? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at University of California-Davis. Its economic connectedness score is 1.76, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 11% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note