UC Davis vs. UCI

Comparable Facts

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

University of California Davis is larger than UCI based on total student enrollment (40,065 students vs. 37,297 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of California Davis is located in Davis, CA (Small Suburban setting); University of California Irvine is in Irvine, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• University of California Davis is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of California Irvine is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of California Davis 22:1; University of California Irvine 19:1.

UC Davis vs. UCI Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UC Davis or UCI? 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 Irvine than UC Davis ($15,889 vs. $17,270).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of California Irvine are 2.2% lower than at University of California Davis ($18,991 vs. $19,426).
• University of California Davis is 6.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than UCI (about $1,052 more per year; $16,774.00 vs. $15,722.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 2.1% higher at UC Davis than at University of California Irvine (about $1,052 more per year; $50,974.00 vs. $49,922.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of California Davis than at University of California Irvine (60% vs. 55%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Davis students is 6.4% larger than aid received by University of California Irvine students ($24,591 vs. $23,110).

UC Davis vs. UCI Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of California Irvine (1330) is 50 points higher than at UC Davis (1280).
• Incoming UC Davis students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 29) as students at UCI (29).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Davis 1160/1400; University of California Irvine 1230/1430.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Davis 25/33; University of California Irvine 26/33.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UC Davis - Test-free; UCI - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: UC Davis Nov 30, 2026; UCI Nov 30, 2026.
• Accepted freshman UC Davis students have a 0.25 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at UCI (3.75).
• UC Davis has a higher acceptance rate (41.8%) than UCI (28.6%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 16.4% at UC Davis vs. 19.2% at UCI.

UC Davis vs. UCI Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UC Davis and UCI? 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 Irvine's six-year graduation rate (85%) is higher than University of California Davis's (82%).
• Graduates from University of California Davis earn a median of about $3,400 more per year than UCI graduates about ten years after starting college ($65,200 vs. $61,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Davis graduates have a $2,324 lower median loan debt than UCI graduates ($14,676 vs. $17,000).
• Among borrowers, UC Davis graduates have an estimated $24 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UCI graduates ($151 vs. $175).
• More UC Davis graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UCI students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 76%)

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.