UC Berkeley vs. UC Davis

Comparable Facts

Compare University of California Berkeley in Berkeley, 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 Berkeley is larger than UC Davis based on total student enrollment (45,882 students vs. 40,065 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of California Berkeley is located in Berkeley, CA (Midsize City setting); University of California Davis is in Davis, CA (Small Suburban setting).
• University of California Berkeley is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of California Davis is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of California Berkeley 18:1; University of California Davis 22:1.

UC Berkeley vs. UC Davis Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UC Berkeley 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 Berkeley than UC Davis ($16,538 vs. $17,270).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of California Davis are 18.2% lower than at University of California Berkeley ($19,426 vs. $23,750).
• University of California Davis is 2.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than UC Berkeley (about $427 more per year; $16,774.00 vs. $16,347.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 0.8% higher at UC Davis than at University of California Berkeley (about $427 more per year; $50,974.00 vs. $50,547.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of California Davis than at University of California Berkeley (60% vs. 53%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Berkeley students is 20.4% larger than aid received by University of California Davis students ($29,608 vs. $24,591).

UC Berkeley vs. UC Davis Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UC Berkeley 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 UC Berkeley.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of California Berkeley (1420) is 140 points higher than at UC Davis (1280).
• Incoming UC Berkeley students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 29 at UC Davis).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Berkeley 1310/1530; University of California Davis 1160/1400.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Berkeley 30/35; University of California Davis 25/33.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UC Berkeley - Test-free; UC Davis - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: UC Berkeley Nov 30, 2026; UC Davis Nov 30, 2026.
• Accepted freshman UC Davis students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at UC Berkeley (3.87).
• UC Davis has a higher acceptance rate (41.8%) than UC Berkeley (11%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 46% at UC Berkeley vs. 16.4% at UC Davis.

UC Berkeley vs. UC Davis Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UC Berkeley 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 Berkeley's six-year graduation rate (90%) is higher than University of California Davis's (82%).
• Graduates from University of California Berkeley earn a median of about $9,500 more per year than UC Davis graduates about ten years after starting college ($74,700 vs. $65,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Berkeley graduates have a $476 lower median loan debt than UC Davis graduates ($14,200 vs. $14,676).
• Among borrowers, UC Berkeley graduates have an estimated $5 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UC Davis graduates ($146 vs. $151).
• More UC Davis graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UC Berkeley students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 79%)

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.