UC Davis vs. UCSB

Comparable Facts

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

University of California Davis is larger than UCSB based on total student enrollment (40,065 students vs. 26,133 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of California Davis is located in Davis, CA (Small Suburban setting); University of California Santa Barbara is in Santa Barbara, CA (Midsize Suburban setting).
• University of California Davis is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of California Santa Barbara is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of California Davis 22:1; University of California Santa Barbara 17:1.

UC Davis vs. UCSB Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UC Davis or UCSB? 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 Davis than UCSB ($17,270 vs. $17,658).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of California Davis are 4.2% lower than at University of California Santa Barbara ($19,426 vs. $20,279).
• University of California Davis is 2.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than UCSB (about $360 more per year; $16,774.00 vs. $16,414.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 0.7% higher at UC Davis than at University of California Santa Barbara (about $360 more per year; $50,974.00 vs. $50,614.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of California Davis than at University of California Santa Barbara (60% vs. 53%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Santa Barbara students is 0.4% larger than aid received by University of California Davis students ($24,695 vs. $24,591).

UC Davis vs. UCSB Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of California Santa Barbara (1350) is 70 points higher than at UC Davis (1280).
• Incoming UCSB 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 Santa Barbara 1230/1460.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Davis 25/33; University of California Santa Barbara 28/34.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UC Davis - Test-free; UCSB - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: UC Davis Nov 30, 2026; UCSB Nov 30, 2026.
• Accepted freshman UC Davis students have a 0.18 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at UCSB (3.82).
• UC Davis has a higher acceptance rate (41.8%) than UCSB (33%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 16.4% at UC Davis vs. 13.8% at UCSB.

UC Davis vs. UCSB Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UC Davis and UCSB? 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 University of California Santa Barbara's (80%).
• Graduates from University of California Davis earn a median of about $6,200 more per year than UCSB 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 $1,775 lower median loan debt than UCSB graduates ($14,676 vs. $16,451).
• Among borrowers, UC Davis graduates have an estimated $19 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UCSB graduates ($151 vs. $170).
• More UC Davis graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UCSB students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 73%)

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.