University Of California-Davis

University of California-Davis admits 41.6% of applicants, meaning roughly 2 in 5 applicants receive an offer of admission. This places UC Davis in the Selective (25-50%) admission tier, representing moderate selectivity that balances accessibility with academic standards.

The peer median admission rate of 78.1% highlights that UC Davis maintains more selective standards than typical four-year institutions, with a difference of 36.5 percentage points. This level of selectivity means that qualified students have reasonable admission prospects while the university maintains academic rigor.

Unlike highly selective institutions where even exceptional students face uncertainty, UC Davis's 41.6% admission rate provides more predictable outcomes for students who meet academic benchmarks. Students should approach UC Davis as a target school if their academic credentials align with typical admitted student profiles, rather than treating it as a reach institution.

The moderate selectivity allows UC Davis to enroll diverse student populations while maintaining strong post-graduation outcomes, contributing to its Opportunity Builder designation in Azimuth's mobility framework.

University of California-Davis carries a published cost of attendance of $38,067 for California residents, including $15,247 in in-state tuition, $19,068 for room and board, and $1,381 for books and supplies. Out-of-state students face significantly higher costs with tuition of $46,024.

However, the average student pays just $15,288 after financial aid, representing savings of $22,779 from the sticker price. This net price sits close to the peer median of $15,590, indicating competitive affordability within UC Davis's selectivity tier.

The substantial financial aid savings demonstrate the university's commitment to access, with aid packages reducing costs by nearly 60% on average. For California families, the combination of reasonable in-state tuition and generous financial aid creates favorable affordability, particularly given the strong post-graduation earnings outcomes.

The net price varies significantly by family income, ranging from $8,594 for the lowest-income families to $31,258 for highest-income families, showing progressive aid targeting. This cost structure supports UC Davis's role as an Opportunity Builder institution, making quality education accessible while delivering strong economic returns.

UC Davis graduates demonstrate consistent earnings growth over time, with median earnings rising from $58,461 six years after enrollment to $71,209 at eight years and $80,838 at ten years, representing 38.3% growth from the six-year mark. These outcomes are based on robust cohort sizes of 6,281 graduates at six years, 6,666 at eight years, and 6,610 at ten years, providing high confidence in reported figures.

Graduates earn $16,620 beyond expectations compared to similar students nationally, placing UC Davis at the 92.4th percentile for earnings uplift. Low-income graduates earn $69,600, reflecting the institution's effectiveness in supporting economic mobility for students from diverse backgrounds.

Earnings distribution shows meaningful variation, spanning from $53,021 at the 25th percentile to $122,634 at the 75th percentile. Approximately 25.2% of graduates continue to graduate or professional study according to program-mix estimates, indicating strong preparation for both advanced education and immediate workforce entry.

The consistent earnings trajectory and strong cohort sizes reflect outcomes across UC Davis's broad portfolio of academic programs rather than isolated high-earning tracks.

UC Davis offers 20 bachelor's degree programs with sufficient federal earnings data for analysis. Civil Engineering ranks #5 nationally, producing graduates with median earnings of $91,243 and a value score of 97.6.

Behavioral Neuroscience stands out with 806 graduates earning $53,955 and ranking #5 nationally with a value score of 92.0. Applied Economics represents one of the largest programs with 606 graduates earning $71,906 and ranking #45 nationally.

Environmental Science ranks #3 nationally with graduates earning $63,206, while Biochemistry and Molecular Biology also ranks #3 nationally with graduates earning $65,761. Communication and Media Studies ranks #10 nationally, producing graduates earning $60,820.

These programs demonstrate UC Davis's strength across multiple disciplines, from STEM fields to social sciences, with several programs achieving top-10 national rankings while maintaining substantial enrollment numbers.