UC Davis vs. Wisconsin

Deciding between University of California Davis and University of Wisconsin Madison? 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 Wisconsin Madison

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UC Davis Davis, CA
  • Wisconsin Madison, WI
  • Setting
  • UC Davis Small Suburban
  • Wisconsin Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • UC Davis 40,065
  • Wisconsin 51,044
  • Type
  • UC Davis Public 4 Year
  • Wisconsin Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UC Davis #100
  • Wisconsin #109
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UC Davis -
  • Wisconsin -
  • Status
  • UC Davis Non-profit
  • Wisconsin Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UC Davis
  • Wisconsin

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UC Davis $16,774
  • Wisconsin $11,603
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UC Davis $50,974
  • Wisconsin $42,103
  • Room & Board
  • UC Davis $19,426
  • Wisconsin $14,124
  • Average Net Price
  • UC Davis $17,270
  • Wisconsin $14,235
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UC Davis $24,591
  • Wisconsin $17,741
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UC Davis 60%
  • Wisconsin 35%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UC Davis 98,864
  • Wisconsin 65,894
  • Admitted
  • UC Davis 41,353
  • Wisconsin 29,782
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UC Davis 41.8%
  • Wisconsin 45.2%
  • Enrolled
  • UC Davis 16.4%
  • Wisconsin 28.6%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UC Davis 1280
  • Wisconsin 1450
  • Typical ACT score
  • UC Davis 29
  • Wisconsin 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • UC Davis 4.0
  • Wisconsin 3.88
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UC Davis A/A+
  • Wisconsin A
  • Admissions Standards
  • UC Davis Very High
  • Wisconsin Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • UC Davis Low
  • Wisconsin Low
  • ACT Range
  • UC Davis 25/33
  • Wisconsin 29/33
  • SAT Range
  • UC Davis 1160/1400
  • Wisconsin 1380/1520
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UC Davis Test-free
  • Wisconsin Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UC Davis Nov 30, 2026
  • Wisconsin Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UC Davis 22:1
  • Wisconsin 18:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UC Davis
    • Biology (19%)
    • Social Sciences (19%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Engineering (7%)
    • Foreign Languages (5%)
  • Wisconsin
    • Social Sciences (15%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Business (10%)
    • Engineering (8%)
    • Communication (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UC Davis 82%
  • Wisconsin 82%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UC Davis $65,200
  • Wisconsin $64,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UC Davis 82%
  • Wisconsin 84%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UC Davis $14,676
  • Wisconsin $22,250
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UC Davis $151
  • Wisconsin $230

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UC Davis 42%
  • Wisconsin 47%
  • % Women
  • UC Davis 58%
  • Wisconsin 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UC Davis Very High
  • Wisconsin Low
  • HBCU
  • UC Davis No
  • Wisconsin No
  • % White
  • UC Davis 28%
  • Wisconsin 76%
  • % Asian
  • UC Davis 32%
  • Wisconsin 6%
  • % Black
  • UC Davis 2%
  • Wisconsin 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • UC Davis 19%
  • Wisconsin 5%
  • % Native American
  • UC Davis 0%
  • Wisconsin 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UC Davis 0%
  • Wisconsin 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UC Davis 5%
  • Wisconsin 3%
  • % International
  • UC Davis 11%
  • Wisconsin 8%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UC Davis 1%
  • Wisconsin 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UC Davis 78%
  • Wisconsin 45%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UC Davis 5%
  • Wisconsin 46%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

University of Wisconsin Madison is larger than UC Davis based on total student enrollment (51,044 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 Wisconsin Madison is in Madison, WI (Midsize City setting).
  • University of California Davis is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Wisconsin Madison is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of California Davis 22:1; University of Wisconsin Madison 18:1.

UC Davis vs. Wisconsin Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UC Davis or Wisconsin? 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 Wisconsin Madison than UC Davis ($14,235 vs. $17,270).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Wisconsin Madison are 27.3% lower than at University of California Davis ($14,124 vs. $19,426).
  • University of California Davis is 44.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Wisconsin (about $5,171 more per year; $16,774.00 vs. $11,603.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 21.1% higher at UC Davis than at University of Wisconsin Madison (about $8,871 more per year; $50,974.00 vs. $42,103.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of California Davis than at University of Wisconsin Madison (60% vs. 35%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Davis students is 38.6% larger than aid received by University of Wisconsin Madison students ($24,591 vs. $17,741).

UC Davis vs. Wisconsin Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Wisconsin Madison (1450) is 170 points higher than at UC Davis (1280).
  • Incoming Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin Madison 1380/1520.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Davis 25/33; University of Wisconsin Madison 29/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UC Davis - Test-free; Wisconsin - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UC Davis Nov 30, 2026; Wisconsin Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman UC Davis students have a 0.12 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at Wisconsin (3.88).
  • Wisconsin has a higher acceptance rate (45.2%) than UC Davis (41.8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 16.4% at UC Davis vs. 28.6% at Wisconsin.

UC Davis vs. Wisconsin Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UC Davis and Wisconsin? 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).

  • The graduation rate at UC Davis is the same as at University of Wisconsin Madison (82% vs. 82%).
  • Graduates from University of California Davis earn a median of about $400 more per year than Wisconsin graduates about ten years after starting college ($65,200 vs. $64,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Davis graduates have a $7,574 lower median loan debt than Wisconsin graduates ($14,676 vs. $22,250).
  • Among borrowers, UC Davis graduates have an estimated $79 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Wisconsin graduates ($151 vs. $230).
  • More Wisconsin graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UC Davis students, three years after graduation. (84% 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.