UC Davis vs. Whittier College

Comparable Facts

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

University of California Davis is larger than Whittier College based on total student enrollment (40,065 students vs. 795 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of California Davis is located in Davis, CA (Small Suburban setting); Whittier College is in Whittier, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• University of California Davis is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Whittier College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of California Davis 22:1; Whittier College 8:1.

UC Davis vs. Whittier College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UC Davis or Whittier College? 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 Whittier College ($17,270 vs. $28,101).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Whittier College are 12.1% lower than at University of California Davis ($17,082 vs. $19,426).
• Whittier College is 206.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than UC Davis (about $34,576 more per year; $51,350.00 vs. $16,774.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 0.7% higher at Whittier College than at University of California Davis (about $376 more per year; $51,350.00 vs. $50,974.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Whittier College than at University of California Davis (99% vs. 60%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Whittier College students is 47.1% larger than aid received by University of California Davis students ($36,176 vs. $24,591).

UC Davis vs. Whittier College Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of California Davis (1280) is 40 points higher than at Whittier College (1240).
• Incoming UC Davis students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 vs. 27 at Whittier College).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Davis 1160/1400; Whittier College 1140/1340.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Davis 25/33; Whittier College 24/30.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UC Davis - Test-free; Whittier College - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: UC Davis Nov 30, 2026.
• Accepted freshman UC Davis students have a 0.39 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at Whittier College (3.61).
• Whittier College has a higher acceptance rate (80.8%) than UC Davis (41.8%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 16.4% at UC Davis vs. 5.4% at Whittier College.

UC Davis vs. Whittier College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UC Davis and Whittier College? 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 Whittier College's (55%).
• Graduates from University of California Davis earn a median of about $17,800 more per year than Whittier College graduates about ten years after starting college ($65,200 vs. $47,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Davis graduates have a $10,824 lower median loan debt than Whittier College graduates ($14,676 vs. $25,500).
• Among borrowers, UC Davis graduates have an estimated $112 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Whittier College graduates ($151 vs. $263).
• More UC Davis graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Whittier College students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 69%)

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.