UC Davis vs. UCSD

Comparable Facts

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

University of California San Diego is larger than UC Davis based on total student enrollment (44,256 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 San Diego is in La Jolla, CA (Large City setting).
• University of California Davis is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of California San Diego is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of California Davis 22:1; University of California San Diego 19:1.

UC Davis vs. UCSD Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UC Davis or UCSD? 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 San Diego than UC Davis ($14,047 vs. $17,270).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of California San Diego are 2.3% lower than at University of California Davis ($18,970 vs. $19,426).
• University of California Davis is 0.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than UCSD (about $16 more per year; $16,774.00 vs. $16,758.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 0% higher at UC Davis than at University of California San Diego (about $16 more per year; $50,974.00 vs. $50,958.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of California Davis than at University of California San Diego (60% vs. 59%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of California San Diego students is 4.7% larger than aid received by University of California Davis students ($25,757 vs. $24,591).

UC Davis vs. UCSD Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of California San Diego (1380) is 100 points higher than at UC Davis (1280).
• Incoming UCSD students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 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 San Diego 1270/1480.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Davis 25/33; University of California San Diego 28/34.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UC Davis - Test-free; UCSD - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: UC Davis Nov 30, 2026; UCSD Nov 30, 2026.
• Accepted freshman UC Davis students have a 0.18 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at UCSD (3.82).
• UC Davis has a higher acceptance rate (41.8%) than UCSD (26.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 16.4% at UC Davis vs. 20.4% at UCSD.

UC Davis vs. UCSD Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UC Davis and UCSD? 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 San Diego's six-year graduation rate (85%) is higher than University of California Davis's (82%).
• Graduates from University of California San Diego earn a median of about $2,700 more per year than UC Davis graduates about ten years after starting college ($67,900 vs. $65,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Davis graduates have a $3,824 lower median loan debt than UCSD graduates ($14,676 vs. $18,500).
• Among borrowers, UC Davis graduates have an estimated $40 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UCSD graduates ($151 vs. $191).
• More UCSD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UC Davis students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 82%)

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.