UC Davis vs. SCI-Arc

Comparable Facts

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

University of California Davis is larger than SCI-Arc based on total student enrollment (40,065 students vs. 418 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

UC Davis vs. SCI-Arc Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UC Davis or SCI-Arc? 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 SCI-Arc ($17,270 vs. $28,985).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southern California Institute of Architecture are 30% lower than at University of California Davis ($13,600 vs. $19,426).
• Southern California Institute of Architecture is 234.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than UC Davis (about $39,388 more per year; $56,162.00 vs. $16,774.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 10.2% higher at SCI-Arc than at University of California Davis (about $5,188 more per year; $56,162.00 vs. $50,974.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of California Davis than at Southern California Institute of Architecture (60% vs. 26%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Southern California Institute of Architecture students is 73.3% larger than aid received by University of California Davis students ($42,627 vs. $24,591).

UC Davis vs. SCI-Arc Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UC Davis or SCI-Arc? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between SCI-Arc and UC Davis.

• The typical SAT score (midpoint estimate) at University of California Davis (1280) is 150 points higher than at SCI-Arc (1130).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: University of California Davis 1160/1400; Southern California Institute of Architecture 1020/1230.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: University of California Davis 25/33.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UC Davis - Test-free; SCI-Arc - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: UC Davis Nov 30, 2026; SCI-Arc Jan 15, 2027.
• Enrolled freshman UC Davis students have a 0.5 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at SCI-Arc (3.5).
• SCI-Arc has a higher acceptance rate (76.6%) than UC Davis (41.8%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 16.4% at UC Davis vs. 7% at SCI-Arc.

UC Davis vs. SCI-Arc Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UC Davis and SCI-Arc? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

• University of California Davis's six-year graduation rate (82%) is higher than Southern California Institute of Architecture's (58%).
• Graduates from University of California Davis earn a median of about $18,800 more per year than SCI-Arc graduates about ten years after starting college ($65,200 vs. $46,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Davis graduates have a $28,074 lower median loan debt than SCI-Arc graduates ($14,676 vs. $42,750).
• Among borrowers, UC Davis graduates have an estimated $291 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SCI-Arc graduates ($151 vs. $442).
• More UC Davis graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SCI-Arc students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 62%)

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.