UC Davis vs. Oxy

Comparable Facts

Compare University of California Davis in Davis, CA with Occidental College in Los Angeles, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of California Davis is larger than Oxy based on total student enrollment (40,065 students vs. 1,881 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of California Davis is located in Davis, CA (Small Suburban setting); Occidental College is in Los Angeles, CA (Large City setting).
• University of California Davis is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Occidental College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of California Davis 22:1; Occidental College 9:1.

UC Davis vs. Oxy Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UC Davis or Oxy? 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 Oxy ($17,270 vs. $48,400).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Occidental College are 0.9% lower than at University of California Davis ($19,252 vs. $19,426).
• Occidental College is 295.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than UC Davis (about $49,500 more per year; $66,274.00 vs. $16,774.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 30% higher at Oxy than at University of California Davis (about $15,300 more per year; $66,274.00 vs. $50,974.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Occidental College than at University of California Davis (75% vs. 60%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Occidental College students is 48% larger than aid received by University of California Davis students ($36,400 vs. $24,591).

UC Davis vs. Oxy Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Occidental College (1450) is 170 points higher than at UC Davis (1280).
• Incoming Oxy 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 Davis 1160/1400; Occidental College 1380/1520.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Davis 25/33; Occidental College 31/34.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UC Davis - Test-free; Oxy - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: UC Davis Nov 30, 2026; Oxy Jan 10, 2027.
• Accepted freshman UC Davis students have a 0.37 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at Oxy (3.63).
• Oxy has a higher acceptance rate (44.2%) than UC Davis (41.8%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 16.4% at UC Davis vs. 17.8% at Oxy.

UC Davis vs. Oxy Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

• Occidental College's six-year graduation rate (83%) is higher than University of California Davis's (82%).
• Graduates from University of California Davis earn a median of about $8,600 more per year than Oxy graduates about ten years after starting college ($65,200 vs. $56,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Davis graduates have a $8,976 lower median loan debt than Oxy graduates ($14,676 vs. $23,652).
• Among borrowers, UC Davis graduates have an estimated $93 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Oxy graduates ($151 vs. $244).
• More Oxy graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UC Davis students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 82%)

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.