UC Davis vs. USAFA

Comparable Facts

Compare University of California Davis in Davis, CA with United States Air Force Academy in USAF Academy, Colorado on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of California Davis is larger than USAFA based on total student enrollment (40,065 students vs. 4,114 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of California Davis is located in Davis, CA (Small Suburban setting); United States Air Force Academy is in USAF Academy, Colorado (Large City setting).
• University of California Davis is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. United States Air Force Academy is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of California Davis 22:1; United States Air Force Academy 7:1.

UC Davis vs. USAFA Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UC Davis or USAFA? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• In-state tuition differs between University of California Davis and USAFA ($16,774.00 vs. $0.00).
• Out-of-state tuition differs between UC Davis and United States Air Force Academy ($50,974.00 vs. $0.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of California Davis than at United States Air Force Academy (60% vs. 0%).

UC Davis vs. USAFA Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at United States Air Force Academy (1340) is 60 points higher than at UC Davis (1280).
• Incoming UC Davis students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 29) as students at USAFA (29).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Davis 1160/1400; United States Air Force Academy 1230/1440.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Davis 25/33; United States Air Force Academy 26/33.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UC Davis - Test-free; USAFA - Required.
• Typical fall application deadline: UC Davis Nov 30, 2026; USAFA Dec 31, 2026.
• Accepted freshman UC Davis students have a 0.19 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at USAFA (3.81).
• UC Davis has a higher acceptance rate (41.8%) than USAFA (14.1%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 16.4% at UC Davis vs. 78.5% at USAFA.

UC Davis vs. USAFA Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

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.