UC Davis vs. NC State

Comparable Facts

Compare University of California Davis in Davis, CA with North Carolina State University at Raleigh in Raleigh, NC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of California Davis is larger than NC State based on total student enrollment (40,065 students vs. 38,464 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of California Davis is located in Davis, CA (Small Suburban setting); North Carolina State University at Raleigh is in Raleigh, NC (Large City setting).
• University of California Davis is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. North Carolina State University at Raleigh is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of California Davis 22:1; North Carolina State University at Raleigh 15:1.

UC Davis vs. NC State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UC Davis or NC State? 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 North Carolina State University at Raleigh than UC Davis ($15,522 vs. $17,270).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at North Carolina State University at Raleigh are 26.2% lower than at University of California Davis ($14,332 vs. $19,426).
• University of California Davis is 90.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than NC State (about $7,975 more per year; $16,774.00 vs. $8,799.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 55.2% higher at UC Davis than at North Carolina State University at Raleigh (about $18,127 more per year; $50,974.00 vs. $32,847.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of California Davis than at North Carolina State University at Raleigh (60% vs. 51%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Davis students is 110.6% larger than aid received by North Carolina State University at Raleigh students ($24,591 vs. $11,675).

UC Davis vs. NC State Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at North Carolina State University at Raleigh (1390) is 110 points higher than at UC Davis (1280).
• Incoming NC State students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 29 at UC Davis).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Davis 1160/1400; North Carolina State University at Raleigh 1300/1470.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Davis 25/33; North Carolina State University at Raleigh 28/32.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UC Davis - Test-free; NC State - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: UC Davis Nov 30, 2026; NC State Jan 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman UC Davis students have a 0.17 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at NC State (3.83).
• UC Davis has a higher acceptance rate (41.8%) than NC State (41.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 16.4% at UC Davis vs. 31.8% at NC State.

UC Davis vs. NC State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UC Davis and NC State? 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 North Carolina State University at Raleigh's (72%).
• Graduates from University of California Davis earn a median of about $8,000 more per year than NC State graduates about ten years after starting college ($65,200 vs. $57,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Davis graduates have a $6,106 lower median loan debt than NC State graduates ($14,676 vs. $20,782).
• Among borrowers, UC Davis graduates have an estimated $63 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than NC State graduates ($151 vs. $214).
• More UC Davis graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NC State students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 76%)

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.