UC Davis vs. John Paul the Great Catholic University

Comparable Facts

Compare University of California Davis in Davis, CA with John Paul the Great Catholic University in Escondido, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of California Davis is larger than John Paul the Great Catholic University based on total student enrollment (40,065 students vs. 286 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of California Davis is located in Davis, CA (Small Suburban setting); John Paul the Great Catholic University is in Escondido, CA (Large City setting).
• University of California Davis is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. John Paul the Great Catholic University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of California Davis 22:1; John Paul the Great Catholic University 15:1.

UC Davis vs. John Paul the Great Catholic University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UC Davis or John Paul the Great Catholic University? 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 John Paul the Great Catholic University ($17,270 vs. $35,175).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at John Paul the Great Catholic University are 49.2% lower than at University of California Davis ($9,868 vs. $19,426).
• John Paul the Great Catholic University is 80.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than UC Davis (about $13,491 more per year; $30,265.00 vs. $16,774.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 68.4% higher at UC Davis than at John Paul the Great Catholic University (about $20,709 more per year; $50,974.00 vs. $30,265.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at John Paul the Great Catholic University than at University of California Davis (100% vs. 60%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Davis students is 44.8% larger than aid received by John Paul the Great Catholic University students ($24,591 vs. $16,982).

UC Davis vs. John Paul the Great Catholic University Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UC Davis or John Paul the Great Catholic University? 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 John Paul the Great Catholic University and UC Davis.

• John Paul the Great Catholic University reports an open admissions policy.
• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of California Davis (1280) is 160 points higher than at John Paul the Great Catholic University (1120).
• Incoming UC Davis students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 vs. 24 at John Paul the Great Catholic University).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Davis 1160/1400; John Paul the Great Catholic University 975/1270.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Davis 25/33; John Paul the Great Catholic University 21/28.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UC Davis - Test-free; John Paul the Great Catholic University - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: UC Davis Nov 30, 2026.
• Accepted freshman UC Davis students have a 0.44 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at John Paul the Great Catholic University (3.56).
• John Paul the Great Catholic University has a higher acceptance rate (79.6%) than UC Davis (41.8%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 16.4% at UC Davis vs. 43% at John Paul the Great Catholic University.

UC Davis vs. John Paul the Great Catholic University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UC Davis and John Paul the Great Catholic University? 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).

• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Davis graduates have a $11,074 lower median loan debt than John Paul the Great Catholic University graduates ($14,676 vs. $25,750).
• Among borrowers, UC Davis graduates have an estimated $115 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than John Paul the Great Catholic University graduates ($151 vs. $266).

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.