UC Davis vs. UCLA 2024 (2024)

University of California-Davis (UCD) vs. UCLA Overview

You’re wrestling with a tough question: “Should I go toUC DavisorUCLA?“

University of California-Davis (UCD)

UCLA

$13,951

In-state Tuition

$12,763

In-state Tuition

$15,052

Net Price

$13,328

Net Price

38

Acceptance Rate

17

Acceptance Rate

Davis

City Name

Los Angeles

City Name

Can you get in?

Calculate Your Chances

Can you get in?

Calculate Your Chances

This complete guide analyzes both the quantitative and qualitative differences between University of California-Davis (UCD) and UCLA. This comparison is particularly valuable at understanding the cultural nuances between the colleges since it uses student videos to capture the “vibes” of campus - these videos are exclusively available on CampusReel :)

Differences between University of California-Davis (UCD) and UCLA

Before we get into the nitty-gritty, let’s go through a general overview of the high-level differences between University of California-Davis (UCD) and UCLA. The table below summarizes some of the most important statistics around competitiveness, costs, etc.

University of California-Davis (UCD)UCLA
In-state Tuition$13,951$12,763
Net Price$15,052$13,328
Average Financial Aid$9,147$10,730
Total Undergraduates2823929581
Average SAT Scores1070 - 13401180 - 1470
Acceptance Rate3817
LocationOne Shields Avenue405 Hilgard Ave
City NameDavisLos Angeles

WARNINGS: Based on net price alone, UCLA is the cheaper option. However, this sticker price may not adequately represent the difference in living costs between Davis and Los Angeles.UC Davisis in a Mountain andUCLAis in a Mountain - sometimes off campus meals and housing costs can dramatically vary between schools

Is University of California-Davis (UCD) or UCLA Harder to get into? Which school is easier to get into?

If you’re looking at acceptance rate alone, then UCLA is more difficult to get into. However, each college is looking to fill its incoming class with a variety of students with different strengths, backgrounds, etc.

Therefore, the acceptance rate alone is not a good indicator that UCLA is a better school or will be more difficult for you specifically to get into. On the flipside, University of California-Davis (UCD) is easier to get into based on acceptance rate alone.

You can use the below college admissions predictor to determine your likelihood of acceptance at either school.

Read more about UC Davis requirements
Read more about UCLA requirements

How Do UC Davis Dorms Compare to housing Options at UCLA?

Both colleges provide on-campus living options. UC Davis charges for on-campus living, while UCLA charges N/A for on-campus living. Most importantly, though, check out the video below for a sample of dorm tours at each school.

Dorm videos forUC Davis.Check here.
Dorm videos forUCLA.Check here.

How does UC Davis social life compare to UCLA?

It’s tough to understand the nuances of social life with data alone. That’s why we’ve brought in real student videos to show how UC Davis social life differs from UCLA.

Social life videos forUC Davis.Check here.
Social life videos forUCLA.Check here.

UC DavisandUCLAstudent body differences

The table below helps demonstrate the student body differences as well.

University of California-Davis (UCD), %UCLA,%
White28.3227.139999999999997
Hispanic18.7220.630000000000003
Black2.222.9899999999999998
Foreign11.21999999999999912.65
Others39.536.6

How different is the University of California-Davis (UCD) campus compared to UCLA campus?

TheUC Daviscampus is located in Davis, CA and is characterized as Suburb: Small (outside principal city, in urbanized area with population less than 100,000). TheUCLAcampus is located in Los Angeles, CA and is characterized as City: Large (population of 250,000 or more).

Check out all campus videos for UC Davis here
Check out all campus videos for UCLA here

Which school gives more financial aid?

UC Davis provides $9,147 whereas UCLA provides an average of $10,730.

How does UC Davis academics compare to UCLA?

When analyzing academics between University of California-Davis (UCD) and UCLA we’ll look at both what current students are studying and also where they end up after graduation. After all, college should prepare you for a career! Analyzing each school’s outcomes is super valuable to understand the value of the degree.

MajorsUC DavisUCLA
Agriculture agriculture operations and related sciences429N/A
Natural resources and conservation25765
Architecture and related services11719
Area ethnic cultural gender and group studies110292
Communication journalism and related programs283N/A
Computer and information sciences and support services279183
Communications technologies technicians and support servicesN/AN/A
Personal and culinary servicesN/AN/A
Engineering802592
Education8N/A
Engineering technologies and engineering related fieldsN/AN/A
Foreign languages literatures and linguistics178286
Family and consumer sciences human sciences331N/A
Legal professions and studiesN/AN/A
English language and literature letters182303
Liberal arts and sciences general studies and humanitiesN/A1
Library scienceN/AN/A
Biological and biomedical sciences13791316
Mathematics and statistics185541
Military technologies and applied sciencesN/AN/A
Multi interdisciplinary studies253421
Parks recreation leisure and fitness studiesN/AN/A
Philosophy and religious studies34128
Theology and religious vocationsN/AN/A
Physical sciences153210
Science technologies techniciansN/AN/A
Psychology652974
Hmlnd scrt lw enfrcmnt frfghtng and rltd prtctv srvcN/AN/A
Public administration and social service professionsN/AN/A
Social sciences11612159
Construction tradesN/AN/A
Mechanic and repair technologies techniciansN/AN/A
Precision productionN/AN/A
Transportation and materials movingN/AN/A
Visual and performing arts297389
Health professions and related programs11852
Business management marketing and related support services558221

Which is better: University of California-Davis (UCD) or UCLA?

We’ve compared dorm life, costs, outcomes and more to provide the most complete comparison between UC Davis and UCLA. But, you’re smart enough to know that numbers paint a terrible picture for truly understanding what each college and community is like. And, the real answer to which school is better is: the school that’s right for you. No matter who you ask, if they know what they’re talking about, the answer is the same: the “better” school is whatever is the best fit for you personally. That’s why it’s extremely important to check out all the videos on CampusReel for each school.

CampusReel forUC Davis
CampusReel forUCLA

For more comparisons of University of California-Davis (UCD) check these out:

UC Davis vs Cal PolyUC Davis vs Cal State FullertonUC Davis vs Cal State Long BeachUC Davis vs UCIUC Davis vs UCSDUC Davis vs UCSBUC Davis vs UC Santa CruzUC Davis vs SDSU

For more comparison of UCLA check these out:

UCLA vs Cal PolyUCLA vs UC BerkeleyUCLA vs USC

UC Davis vs. UCLA 2024 (2024)

FAQs

Is UC Davis harder to get into than UCLA? ›

Is University of California-Davis (UCD) or UCLA Harder to get into? Which school is easier to get into? If you're looking at acceptance rate alone, then UCLA is more difficult to get into. However, each college is looking to fill its incoming class with a variety of students with different strengths, backgrounds, etc.

What is the acceptance rate for UC Davis Class of 2024? ›

UC Davis Acceptance Rate – Class of 2027
ApplicantsAcceptance Rate
Class of 202694,74837%
Class of 202587,13649%
Class of 202476,90346%
Jul 9, 2024

Does UC Davis require SAT for 2024? ›

For the 2024-2025 application cycle, UC Davis, along with other University of California schools, is following a test-blind policy. What this means is that these schools do not consider SAT or ACT scores at all in the admissions process.

Why is UC Davis prestigious? ›

From academics to campus life, UC Davis offers an enriching and supportive environment that fosters growth and success. First and foremost, the faculty at UC Davis are outstanding. Professors are not only experts in their fields but also deeply committed to their students' success.

What is the hardest UC campus to get into? ›

UCLA and UC Berkeley stand out as the most selective UC schools, with acceptance rates of 9% and 11% respectively, and high GPA ranges. These schools are often considered "reach" schools for many applicants due to their rigorous admissions standards, large applicant pools, and prestigious reputations.

What is the hardest school to get into in California? ›

It should come as no surprise that UCLA tops the list. With the lowest number of admitted students in the bustling metropolis of Los Angeles, UCLA has rigorous admissions standards. You might be surprised to note that the most selective major for the fall 2023 class was Nursing, with an acceptance rate of only .

What is the easiest major to get into UC Davis? ›

10 Easiest Majors to Transfer into UC Davis
MJAORADMIT RATE
1.Women's Stduies73%
2.Entomology79%
3.Managerial Economics75%
4.Art History80%
6 more rows
Jan 22, 2017

Is UC Davis highly selective? ›

The acceptance rate at UC Davis is 46.3%.

This means the school is moderately selective.

Is UC Davis tough to get into? ›

The UC Davis acceptance rate is 38.87%, making it a competitive school. Given the low UC Davis acceptance rate, you must do more than meet the UC application deadline and UC Davis GPA requirements. So, focus on crafting a strong UC Davis application.

What type of students does UC Davis look for? ›

GPA and test scores of middle 25%-75% students
High School GPA4.00 - 4.26
ACT Composite Score24 - 31
ACT English Language Arts25 - 33
SAT Evidence Based Reading & Writing610 - 710
2 more rows

What is UC Davis known for major? ›

The most popular majors at University of California, Davis include: Biological and Biomedical Sciences; Social Sciences; Psychology; Engineering; Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services; Mathematics and Statistics; Visual and Performing Arts; Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services; ...

Is UC Davis better than UC Berkeley? ›

Among public universities in the national universities category, UC Davis ranked second only to UC Berkeley. An introduction to the rankings noted the UC and California State University systems for their many campuses “in the upper echelons” of the rankings, which included 1,507 four-year colleges.

What is UC Davis #1 for? ›

Follow Us. UC Davis is the #1 agricultural university in the world and the #1 veterinary school.

Is UC Davis an elite school? ›

UC Davis is a tier one research university. Several of our programs are among the best in the country and have been for decades.

Is UC Davis a hard school to get into? ›

UC Davis has one of the higher admission rates among the University of California campuses and is less competitive than UC Berkeley and UCLA. However, UC Davis is still a highly sought-after school, and applicants must have strong applications for admittance.

Which Cal state is hardest to get into? ›

Hardest CSU Schools to Get Into
  • Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.
  • San Diego State University.
  • CSU Long Beach.
  • Cal Poly Humboldt.
  • Cal State East Bay.
  • CSU Dominguez Hills.
Mar 21, 2023

What GPA do you need to get into UC Davis? ›

You must earn at least a 2.40 GPA in your UC-transferable classes to meet UC requirements; California non-residents must earn at least a 2.80 GPA. However, UC Davis requires a minimum 2.80 GPA to be selected for admission, and many of our most popular programs may require a higher GPA.

Is a 3.7 GPA good for UC Davis? ›

A competitive GPA for UC Davis would typically fall within the range of their admitted students, which is around a 4.03-4.27 weighted GPA on a 4.0 scale. This range represents the middle 50% of admitted students, meaning that 25% of admitted students have a GPA below 4.03 and 25% have a GPA above 4.27.

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