UC Davis vs. Stanford

Comparable Facts

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

University of California Davis is larger than Stanford based on total student enrollment (40,065 students vs. 18,625 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of California Davis is located in Davis, CA (Small Suburban setting); Stanford University is in Stanford, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• University of California Davis is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Stanford University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of California Davis 22:1; Stanford University 6:1.

UC Davis vs. Stanford Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UC Davis or Stanford? 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 Stanford ($17,270 vs. $25,078).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of California Davis are 8.9% lower than at Stanford University ($19,426 vs. $21,315).
• Stanford University is 292.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than UC Davis (about $49,136 more per year; $65,910.00 vs. $16,774.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 29.3% higher at Stanford than at University of California Davis (about $14,936 more per year; $65,910.00 vs. $50,974.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Stanford University than at University of California Davis (61% vs. 60%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Stanford University students is 155.2% larger than aid received by University of California Davis students ($62,755 vs. $24,591).

UC Davis vs. Stanford Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Stanford University (1550) is 270 points higher than at UC Davis (1280).
• Incoming Stanford students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 29 at UC Davis).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Davis 1160/1400; Stanford University 1510/1580.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Davis 25/33; Stanford University 34/35.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UC Davis - Test-free; Stanford - Required.
• Typical fall application deadline: UC Davis Nov 30, 2026; Stanford Jan 2, 2027.
• Accepted freshman UC Davis students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at Stanford (3.96).
• UC Davis has a higher acceptance rate (41.8%) than Stanford (3.6%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 16.4% at UC Davis vs. 81.9% at Stanford.

UC Davis vs. Stanford Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

• Stanford University's six-year graduation rate (96%) is higher than University of California Davis's (82%).
• Graduates from Stanford University earn a median of about $57,700 more per year than UC Davis graduates about ten years after starting college ($122,900 vs. $65,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Stanford University graduates have a $2,201 lower median loan debt than UC Davis graduates ($12,475 vs. $14,676).
• Among borrowers, Stanford graduates have an estimated $23 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UC Davis graduates ($128 vs. $151).
• More Stanford graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UC Davis students, three years after graduation. (88% 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.