UC Davis vs. UCLA

Comparable Facts

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

University of California Los Angeles is larger than UC Davis based on total student enrollment (47,335 students vs. 40,065 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of California Davis is located in Davis, CA (Small Suburban setting); University of California Los Angeles is in Los Angeles, CA (Large City setting).
• University of California Davis is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of California Los Angeles is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of California Davis 22:1; University of California Los Angeles 20:1.

UC Davis vs. UCLA Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UC Davis or UCLA? 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 Los Angeles than UC Davis ($14,512 vs. $17,270).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of California Los Angeles are 5.4% lower than at University of California Davis ($18,369 vs. $19,426).
• University of California Davis is 10.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than UCLA (about $1,571 more per year; $16,774.00 vs. $15,203.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 3.2% higher at UC Davis than at University of California Los Angeles (about $1,571 more per year; $50,974.00 vs. $49,403.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of California Davis than at University of California Los Angeles (60% vs. 49%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Los Angeles students is 4.2% larger than aid received by University of California Davis students ($25,627 vs. $24,591).

UC Davis vs. UCLA Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of California Los Angeles (1420) is 140 points higher than at UC Davis (1280).
• Incoming UCLA students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 29 at UC Davis).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Davis 1160/1400; University of California Los Angeles 1300/1530.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Davis 25/33; University of California Los Angeles 29/35.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UC Davis - Test-free; UCLA - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: UC Davis Nov 30, 2026; UCLA Nov 30, 2026.
• Accepted freshman UC Davis students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at UCLA (3.92).
• UC Davis has a higher acceptance rate (41.8%) than UCLA (9%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 16.4% at UC Davis vs. 50.4% at UCLA.

UC Davis vs. UCLA Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UC Davis and UCLA? 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 Los Angeles's six-year graduation rate (90%) is higher than University of California Davis's (82%).
• Graduates from University of California Los Angeles earn a median of about $5,500 more per year than UC Davis graduates about ten years after starting college ($70,700 vs. $65,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Davis graduates have a $1,624 lower median loan debt than UCLA graduates ($14,676 vs. $16,300).
• Among borrowers, UC Davis graduates have an estimated $17 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UCLA graduates ($151 vs. $168).
• More UC Davis graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UCLA students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 78%)

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.