UC Davis vs. Pitt

Deciding between University of California Davis and University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

University of California Davis
University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UC Davis Davis, CA
  • Pitt Pittsburgh, PA
  • Setting
  • UC Davis Small Suburban
  • Pitt Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • UC Davis 40,065
  • Pitt 35,724
  • Type
  • UC Davis Public 4 Year
  • Pitt Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UC Davis #100
  • Pitt #138
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UC Davis -
  • Pitt -
  • Status
  • UC Davis Non-profit
  • Pitt Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UC Davis
  • Pitt

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UC Davis $16,774
  • Pitt $21,926
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UC Davis $50,974
  • Pitt $41,430
  • Room & Board
  • UC Davis $19,426
  • Pitt $13,620
  • Average Net Price
  • UC Davis $17,270
  • Pitt $25,223
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UC Davis $24,591
  • Pitt $16,494
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UC Davis 60%
  • Pitt 53%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UC Davis 98,864
  • Pitt 60,898
  • Admitted
  • UC Davis 41,353
  • Pitt 35,372
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UC Davis 41.8%
  • Pitt 58.1%
  • Enrolled
  • UC Davis 16.4%
  • Pitt 13%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UC Davis 1280
  • Pitt 1370
  • Typical ACT score
  • UC Davis 29
  • Pitt 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • UC Davis 4.0
  • Pitt 3.79
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UC Davis A/A+
  • Pitt A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • UC Davis Very High
  • Pitt Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • UC Davis Low
  • Pitt Low
  • ACT Range
  • UC Davis 25/33
  • Pitt 29/33
  • SAT Range
  • UC Davis 1160/1400
  • Pitt 1280/1460
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UC Davis Test-free
  • Pitt Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UC Davis Nov 30, 2026
  • Pitt

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UC Davis 22:1
  • Pitt 13:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UC Davis
    • Biology (19%)
    • Social Sciences (19%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Engineering (7%)
    • Foreign Languages (5%)
  • Pitt
    • Business (15%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
    • Health Professions (11%)
    • English and Literature (9%)
    • Engineering (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UC Davis 82%
  • Pitt 79%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UC Davis $65,200
  • Pitt $58,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UC Davis 82%
  • Pitt 75%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UC Davis $14,676
  • Pitt $26,909
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UC Davis $151
  • Pitt $278

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UC Davis 42%
  • Pitt 42%
  • % Women
  • UC Davis 58%
  • Pitt 58%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UC Davis Very High
  • Pitt Low
  • HBCU
  • UC Davis No
  • Pitt No
  • % White
  • UC Davis 28%
  • Pitt 74%
  • % Asian
  • UC Davis 32%
  • Pitt 9%
  • % Black
  • UC Davis 2%
  • Pitt 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • UC Davis 19%
  • Pitt 3%
  • % Native American
  • UC Davis 0%
  • Pitt 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UC Davis 0%
  • Pitt 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UC Davis 5%
  • Pitt 3%
  • % International
  • UC Davis 11%
  • Pitt 4%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UC Davis 1%
  • Pitt 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UC Davis 78%
  • Pitt 64%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UC Davis 5%
  • Pitt 33%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • UC Davis Yes
  • Pitt Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • UC Davis No
  • Pitt No
  • Meal Plan
  • UC Davis Yes
  • Pitt Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • UC Davis No
  • Pitt No
  • Daycare Facility
  • UC Davis Yes
  • Pitt No

Comparable Facts

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

University of California Davis is larger than Pitt based on total student enrollment (40,065 students vs. 35,724 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of California Davis is located in Davis, CA (Small Suburban setting); University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is in Pittsburgh, PA (Large City setting).
  • University of California Davis is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of California Davis 22:1; University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus 13:1.

UC Davis vs. Pitt Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UC Davis or Pitt? 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 Pitt ($17,270 vs. $25,223).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus are 29.9% lower than at University of California Davis ($13,620 vs. $19,426).
  • University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is 30.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than UC Davis (about $5,152 more per year; $21,926.00 vs. $16,774.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 23% higher at UC Davis than at University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus (about $9,544 more per year; $50,974.00 vs. $41,430.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of California Davis than at University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus (60% vs. 53%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Davis students is 49.1% larger than aid received by University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus students ($24,591 vs. $16,494).

UC Davis vs. Pitt Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus (1370) is 90 points higher than at UC Davis (1280).
  • Incoming Pitt 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 Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus 1280/1460.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Davis 25/33; University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus 29/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UC Davis - Test-free; Pitt - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UC Davis Nov 30, 2026.
  • Accepted freshman UC Davis students have a 0.21 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at Pitt (3.79).
  • Pitt has a higher acceptance rate (58.1%) than UC Davis (41.8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 16.4% at UC Davis vs. 13% at Pitt.

UC Davis vs. Pitt Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UC Davis and Pitt? 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 Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus's (79%).
  • Graduates from University of California Davis earn a median of about $7,200 more per year than Pitt graduates about ten years after starting college ($65,200 vs. $58,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Davis graduates have a $12,233 lower median loan debt than Pitt graduates ($14,676 vs. $26,909).
  • Among borrowers, UC Davis graduates have an estimated $127 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Pitt graduates ($151 vs. $278).
  • More UC Davis graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Pitt students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 75%)

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.