UC Davis vs. UT Austin

Comparable Facts

Compare University of California Davis in Davis, CA with The University of Texas at Austin in Austin, TX on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

The University of Texas at Austin is larger than UC Davis based on total student enrollment (53,864 students vs. 40,065 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of California Davis is located in Davis, CA (Small Suburban setting); The University of Texas at Austin is in Austin, TX (Large City setting).
• University of California Davis is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. The University of Texas at Austin is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of California Davis 22:1; The University of Texas at Austin 18:1.

UC Davis vs. UT Austin Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UC Davis or UT Austin? 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 UT Austin ($17,270 vs. $17,942).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at The University of Texas at Austin are 23.7% lower than at University of California Davis ($14,828 vs. $19,426).
• University of California Davis is 43.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than UT Austin (about $5,086 more per year; $16,774.00 vs. $11,688.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 13.5% higher at UC Davis than at The University of Texas at Austin (about $6,066 more per year; $50,974.00 vs. $44,908.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of California Davis than at The University of Texas at Austin (60% vs. 42%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Davis students is 79.7% larger than aid received by The University of Texas at Austin students ($24,591 vs. $13,681).

UC Davis vs. UT Austin Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at The University of Texas at Austin (1380) is 100 points higher than at UC Davis (1280).
• Incoming UT Austin 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; The University of Texas at Austin 1250/1510.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Davis 25/33; The University of Texas at Austin 27/33.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UC Davis - Test-free; UT Austin - Required.
• Typical fall application deadline: UC Davis Nov 30, 2026; UT Austin Dec 1, 2026.
• Accepted freshman UC Davis students have a 0.2 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at UT Austin (3.8).
• UC Davis has a higher acceptance rate (41.8%) than UT Austin (26.6%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 16.4% at UC Davis vs. 47.4% at UT Austin.

UC Davis vs. UT Austin Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UC Davis and UT Austin? 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 The University of Texas at Austin's (81%).
• Graduates from The University of Texas at Austin earn a median of about $3,400 more per year than UC Davis graduates about ten years after starting college ($68,600 vs. $65,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Davis graduates have a $7,574 lower median loan debt than UT Austin graduates ($14,676 vs. $22,250).
• Among borrowers, UC Davis graduates have an estimated $79 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UT Austin graduates ($151 vs. $230).
• More UC Davis graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UT Austin students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 77%)

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.