UC Davis vs. CDU

Comparable Facts

Compare University of California Davis in Davis, CA with Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science in Los Angeles, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of California Davis is larger than CDU based on total student enrollment (40,065 students vs. 852 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of California Davis is located in Davis, CA (Small Suburban setting); Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science is in Los Angeles, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• University of California Davis is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of California Davis 22:1; Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science 4:1.

UC Davis vs. CDU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UC Davis or CDU? 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 CDU ($17,270 vs. $35,558).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of California Davis are 41.3% lower than at Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science ($19,426 vs. $33,090).
• Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science is 37.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than UC Davis (about $6,226 more per year; $23,000.00 vs. $16,774.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 121.6% higher at UC Davis than at Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science (about $27,974 more per year; $50,974.00 vs. $23,000.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science than at University of California Davis (100% vs. 60%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Davis students is 475.1% larger than aid received by Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science students ($24,591 vs. $4,276).

UC Davis vs. CDU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UC Davis or CDU? 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 CDU and UC Davis.

• Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science reports an open admissions policy.
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Davis 1160/1400.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Davis 25/33.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UC Davis - Test-free; CDU - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: UC Davis Nov 30, 2026; CDU Jul 30, 2027.
• Accepted freshman UC Davis students have a 0.74 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at CDU (3.26).
• UC Davis has a higher acceptance rate (41.8%) than CDU (38.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 16.4% at UC Davis vs. 3.5% at CDU.

UC Davis vs. CDU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UC Davis and CDU? 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).

• Graduates from Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science earn a median of about $5,700 more per year than UC Davis graduates about ten years after starting college ($70,900 vs. $65,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Davis graduates have a $6,643 lower median loan debt than CDU graduates ($14,676 vs. $21,319).
• Among borrowers, UC Davis graduates have an estimated $69 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CDU graduates ($151 vs. $220).
• More UC Davis graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CDU students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 56%)

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.