UC Davis vs. UT Dallas

Comparable Facts

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

University of California Davis is larger than UT Dallas based on total student enrollment (40,065 students vs. 29,886 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 Dallas is in Richardson, TX (Small City setting).
• University of California Davis is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. The University of Texas at Dallas is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of California Davis 22:1; The University of Texas at Dallas 23:1.

UC Davis vs. UT Dallas Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UC Davis or UT Dallas? 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 The University of Texas at Dallas than UC Davis ($14,916 vs. $17,270).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at The University of Texas at Dallas are 25.7% lower than at University of California Davis ($14,430 vs. $19,426).
• University of California Davis is 14.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than UT Dallas (about $2,130 more per year; $16,774.00 vs. $14,644.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 27% higher at UC Davis than at The University of Texas at Dallas (about $10,830 more per year; $50,974.00 vs. $40,144.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at The University of Texas at Dallas than at University of California Davis (64% vs. 60%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Davis students is 64.9% larger than aid received by The University of Texas at Dallas students ($24,591 vs. $14,909).

UC Davis vs. UT Dallas Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at The University of Texas at Dallas (1290) is 10 points higher than at UC Davis (1280).
• Incoming UC Davis students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 vs. 28 at UT Dallas).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Davis 1160/1400; The University of Texas at Dallas 1160/1410.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Davis 25/33; The University of Texas at Dallas 24/32.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UC Davis - Test-free; UT Dallas - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: UC Davis Nov 30, 2026; UT Dallas May 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman UC Davis students have a 0.22 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at UT Dallas (3.78).
• UT Dallas has a higher acceptance rate (65.1%) than UC Davis (41.8%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 16.4% at UC Davis vs. 20.3% at UT Dallas.

UC Davis vs. UT Dallas Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UC Davis and UT Dallas? 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 Dallas's (61%).
• Graduates from University of California Davis earn a median of about $6,200 more per year than UT Dallas graduates about ten years after starting college ($65,200 vs. $59,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Davis graduates have a $4,074 lower median loan debt than UT Dallas graduates ($14,676 vs. $18,750).
• Among borrowers, UC Davis graduates have an estimated $42 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UT Dallas graduates ($151 vs. $193).
• More UC Davis graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UT Dallas students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 64%)

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.