CSU vs. UC Davis

Comparable Facts

Compare California State University Chico in Chico, CA 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 CSU based on total student enrollment (40,065 students vs. 15,257 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California State University Chico is located in Chico, CA (Small City setting); University of California Davis is in Davis, CA (Small Suburban setting).
• California State University Chico is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of California Davis is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California State University Chico 23:1; University of California Davis 22:1.

CSU vs. UC Davis Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CSU 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 California State University Chico than UC Davis ($14,630 vs. $17,270).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California State University Chico are 15.1% lower than at University of California Davis ($16,500 vs. $19,426).
• University of California Davis is 98% more expensive for in-state tuition than CSU (about $8,302 more per year; $16,774.00 vs. $8,472.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 141.9% higher at UC Davis than at California State University Chico (about $29,902 more per year; $50,974.00 vs. $21,072.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at California State University Chico than at University of California Davis (66% vs. 60%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Davis students is 113.7% larger than aid received by California State University Chico students ($24,591 vs. $11,509).

CSU vs. UC Davis Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CSU 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 CSU.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of California Davis (1280) is 210 points higher than at CSU (1070).
• Incoming UC Davis students have a 8 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 vs. 21 at CSU).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California State University Chico 970/1170; University of California Davis 1160/1400.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California State University Chico 18/24; University of California Davis 25/33.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CSU - Test-free; UC Davis - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: CSU Dec 15, 2026; UC Davis Nov 30, 2026.
• Accepted freshman UC Davis students have a 0.63 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at CSU (3.37).
• CSU has a higher acceptance rate (92.7%) than UC Davis (41.8%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 10.2% at CSU vs. 16.4% at UC Davis.

CSU vs. UC Davis Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CSU 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 California State University Chico's (59%).
• Graduates from University of California Davis earn a median of about $12,800 more per year than CSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($65,200 vs. $52,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Davis graduates have a $2,324 lower median loan debt than CSU graduates ($14,676 vs. $17,000).
• Among borrowers, UC Davis graduates have an estimated $24 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CSU graduates ($151 vs. $175).
• More UC Davis graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CSU students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 70%)

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.