Auburn vs. UC Davis

Comparable Facts

Compare Auburn University in Auburn, AL with University of California Davis in Davis, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of California Davis is larger than Auburn based on total student enrollment (40,065 students vs. 34,145 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Auburn University is located in Auburn, AL (Small City setting); University of California Davis is in Davis, CA (Small Suburban setting).
• Auburn University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of California Davis is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Auburn University 21:1; University of California Davis 22:1.

Auburn vs. UC Davis Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Auburn or UC Davis? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of California Davis than Auburn ($17,270 vs. $25,242).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Auburn University are 14.4% lower than at University of California Davis ($16,626 vs. $19,426).
• University of California Davis is 30.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Auburn (about $3,884 more per year; $16,774.00 vs. $12,890.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 46% higher at UC Davis than at Auburn University (about $16,052 more per year; $50,974.00 vs. $34,922.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Auburn University than at University of California Davis (80% vs. 60%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Davis students is 126.2% larger than aid received by Auburn University students ($24,591 vs. $10,872).

Auburn vs. UC Davis Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Auburn or UC Davis? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between UC Davis and Auburn.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Auburn University (1330) is 50 points higher than at UC Davis (1280).
• Incoming UC Davis students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 vs. 28 at Auburn).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Auburn University 1260/1390; University of California Davis 1160/1400.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Auburn University 26/31; University of California Davis 25/33.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Auburn - Required; UC Davis - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Auburn Feb 1, 2027; UC Davis Nov 30, 2026.
• Accepted freshman UC Davis students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at Auburn (3.97).
• Auburn has a higher acceptance rate (45.9%) than UC Davis (41.8%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 24.1% at Auburn vs. 16.4% at UC Davis.

Auburn vs. UC Davis Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Auburn and UC Davis? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• University of California Davis's six-year graduation rate (82%) is higher than Auburn University's (66%).
• Graduates from University of California Davis earn a median of about $11,100 more per year than Auburn graduates about ten years after starting college ($65,200 vs. $54,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Davis graduates have a $6,824 lower median loan debt than Auburn graduates ($14,676 vs. $21,500).
• Among borrowers, UC Davis graduates have an estimated $71 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Auburn graduates ($151 vs. $222).
• More UC Davis graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Auburn students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 73%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.