UC Davis vs. Utah

Comparable Facts

Compare University of California Davis in Davis, CA with University of Utah in Salt Lake City, UT on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of California Davis is larger than Utah based on total student enrollment (40,065 students vs. 36,894 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of California Davis is located in Davis, CA (Small Suburban setting); University of Utah is in Salt Lake City, UT (Midsize City setting).
• University of California Davis is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Utah is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of California Davis 22:1; University of Utah 19:1.

UC Davis vs. Utah Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UC Davis or Utah? 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 Utah than UC Davis ($16,583 vs. $17,270).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Utah are 31.5% lower than at University of California Davis ($13,315 vs. $19,426).
• University of California Davis is 74.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Utah (about $7,154 more per year; $16,774.00 vs. $9,620.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 65.2% higher at UC Davis than at University of Utah (about $20,114 more per year; $50,974.00 vs. $30,860.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Utah than at University of California Davis (73% vs. 60%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Davis students is 93% larger than aid received by University of Utah students ($24,591 vs. $12,744).

UC Davis vs. Utah Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Utah (1290) is 10 points higher than at UC Davis (1280).
• Incoming UC Davis students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 vs. 25 at Utah).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Davis 1160/1400; University of Utah 1190/1380.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Davis 25/33; University of Utah 22/29.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UC Davis - Test-free; Utah - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: UC Davis Nov 30, 2026; Utah Apr 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman UC Davis students have a 0.36 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at Utah (3.64).
• Utah has a higher acceptance rate (86%) than UC Davis (41.8%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 16.4% at UC Davis vs. 26% at Utah.

UC Davis vs. Utah Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UC Davis and Utah? 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 Utah's (55%).
• Graduates from University of California Davis earn a median of about $3,900 more per year than Utah graduates about ten years after starting college ($65,200 vs. $61,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Davis graduates have a $324 lower median loan debt than Utah graduates ($14,676 vs. $15,000).
• Among borrowers, UC Davis graduates have an estimated $4 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Utah graduates ($151 vs. $155).
• More UC Davis graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Utah students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 72%)

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.