University of California-Los Angeles (UCLA) vs UC Davis

Nestled in the heart of Los Angeles and the vibrant city of Davis, University of California-Los Angeles (UCLA) and University of California-Davis (UC Davis) stand as two distinct beacons of higher education in California. While both institutions share the UC system's commitment to academic excellence, they offer unique experiences shaped by their contrasting locations, student demographics, and academic strengths. UCLA, renowned for its urban setting and proximity to the entertainment industry, boasts a diverse student body and a wide range of programs in arts, humanities, and social sciences. UC Davis, on the other hand, thrives in a college-town atmosphere, emphasizing agricultural and veterinary sciences, biological sciences, and engineering. As you explore the comparison table below, discover the nuances that set these two universities apart and help you make an informed decision about your academic journey.
University of California-Davis logo

University of California-Davis

University of California-Los Angeles logo

University of California-Los Angeles

Overview

Location Davis, California Los Angeles, California
Campus setting Suburb: Small City: Large
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Public Public
Calendar system Quarter Quarter
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 91.0% 97.0%
Common app member No No
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 48.8% 10.8%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $70

Graduate: $120
Undergraduate: $70

Graduate: $120
SAT range N/A N/A
ACT range N/A N/A
Students submitting SAT score
Students submitting ACT score
Total number of applicants 87,120 139,489
Total number of admissions given out 42,475 15,028
Admitted students who chose to enroll 7,482 6,584
Yield rate 17.6% 43.8%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Required
Recommendation letters Not required Not required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Required Not required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price
In state: $32,584

Out of state: $62,338
In state: $36,173

Out of state: $65,927
Average net price $16,640 $13,393
Tuition
In state: $11,442

Out of state: $41,196
In state: $11,442

Out of state: $41,196
Room & board $17,018 $16,763
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

59.0%
Average amount $17,628
45.0%
Average amount $17,592
Students receiving federal student loan 23.0%
Average amount $4,043
11.0%
Average amount $4,391
Students taking out private loans 11.0%
Average amount $3,360
1.0%
Average amount $19,764

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 31,657
Men 39.8% Women 60.2%
32,122
Men 40.2% Women 59.8%
Graduate students 8,393
Men 43.8% Women 56.2%
13,994
Men 50.5% Women 49.5%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Moderate
Moderate
Out-of-state students 7.5% 21.9%
International students 17.0% 14.5%
Campus local/setting Suburb: Small City: Large
Dormitory capacity 11,142 20,372
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from California Washington Illinois Texas Hawaii California Texas Washington New York Illinois

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
  • Business
  • Agriculture
  • Engineering
  • Family and Consumer Sciences
  • Engineering
  • Business
  • Health Professions
  • Visual & Performing Arts
  • Computer and Information Science
Students to faculty ratio 21:1 18:1
Institutional accreditation Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission

Outcome

Graduation rate 86.9% 92.1%
Dropout rate 11.8% 3.7%
Transferred out N/A 3.6%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $121,903
  • Year 2: $135,393
  • Year 3: $137,917
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $127,500
  • Year 2: $125,015
  • Year 3: $135,009
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $106,299
  • Year 2: $116,258
  • Year 3: $127,335
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $76,488
  • Year 2: $81,609
  • Year 3: $103,694
Veterinary Biomedical and Clinical Sciences (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $80,669
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: $100,961
Educational Administration and Supervision (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $112,976
  • Year 2: $98,186
  • Year 3: $99,585
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $81,487
  • Year 2: $82,440
  • Year 3: $98,364
Mechanical Engineering (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $87,604
  • Year 3: $94,032
Engineering, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $74,487
  • Year 2: $70,370
  • Year 3: $89,594
Law (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $73,514
  • Year 2: $74,262
  • Year 3: $87,586
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $129,237
  • Year 2: $134,761
  • Year 3: $179,615
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $150,028
  • Year 2: $143,744
  • Year 3: $157,681
Applied Mathematics (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $117,572
  • Year 3: $156,116
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $117,100
  • Year 2: $110,878
  • Year 3: $147,842
Law (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $92,050
  • Year 2: $101,128
  • Year 3: $130,087
Mechanical Engineering (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $112,202
  • Year 2: $117,572
  • Year 3: $126,081
Engineering, General (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $116,282
  • Year 2: $111,435
  • Year 3: $123,214
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $110,139
  • Year 2: $97,071
  • Year 3: $111,727
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $98,817
  • Year 2: $96,775
  • Year 3: $110,729
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $94,892
  • Year 2: $99,040
  • Year 3: $110,415

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