UC Davis vs. Hunter

Comparable Facts

Compare University of California Davis in Davis, CA with CUNY Hunter College in New York, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of California Davis is larger than Hunter based on total student enrollment (40,065 students vs. 22,538 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of California Davis is located in Davis, CA (Small Suburban setting); CUNY Hunter College is in New York, NY (Large City setting).
• University of California Davis is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. CUNY Hunter College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of California Davis 22:1; CUNY Hunter College 14:1.

UC Davis vs. Hunter Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UC Davis or Hunter? 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 CUNY Hunter College than UC Davis ($4,431 vs. $17,270).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at CUNY Hunter College are 39.1% lower than at University of California Davis ($11,832 vs. $19,426).
• University of California Davis is 127.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Hunter (about $9,392 more per year; $16,774.00 vs. $7,382.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 232.5% higher at UC Davis than at CUNY Hunter College (about $35,642 more per year; $50,974.00 vs. $15,332.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at CUNY Hunter College than at University of California Davis (87% vs. 60%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Davis students is 152.1% larger than aid received by CUNY Hunter College students ($24,591 vs. $9,755).

UC Davis vs. Hunter Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of California Davis (1280) is 20 points higher than at Hunter (1260).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Davis 1160/1400; CUNY Hunter College 1100/1420.
• 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; Hunter - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: UC Davis Nov 30, 2026.
• Accepted freshman UC Davis students have a 0.3 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at Hunter (3.7).
• Hunter has a higher acceptance rate (53.8%) than UC Davis (41.8%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 16.4% at UC Davis vs. 16.7% at Hunter.

UC Davis vs. Hunter Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UC Davis and Hunter? 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 CUNY Hunter College's (46%).
• Graduates from University of California Davis earn a median of about $16,400 more per year than Hunter graduates about ten years after starting college ($65,200 vs. $48,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, CUNY Hunter College graduates have a $3,128 lower median loan debt than UC Davis graduates ($11,548 vs. $14,676).
• Among borrowers, Hunter graduates have an estimated $32 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UC Davis graduates ($119 vs. $151).
• More UC Davis graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Hunter 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.