Public · Mostly bachelor's degrees · Small suburb

University of California-Davis

Davis, California. 32,253 undergraduates. Admits 42% of applicants.

86%Graduation rate31 pts above the national median for similar colleges (54%)
$14,318Average net price per year28% below the national median for similar colleges ($19,899)
$86,999Median earnings 10 years after starting48% above the national median for similar colleges ($58,912)
$12,038Median debt at graduation44% below the national median for similar colleges ($21,609)
Our read

Graduates' median debt ($12,038) equals 14% of former students' median earnings ten years after starting ($86,999). That is a light load relative to pay.

What families actually pay

Under $30,000$8,770
$30,000–$48,000$9,042
$48,001–$75,000$11,562
$75,001–$110,000$15,645
Over $110,000$32,902

Average yearly net price for first-time, full-time students who received federal aid, by family income. Net price is the cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships. Source: College Scorecard.

Compare net price across collegesPublished tuition and fees: $17,346 in-state, $54,948 out-of-state.

Do students finish, and what do they earn?

MeasureThis collegeSimilar colleges nationally
Graduation rate86%54%
Return for second year93%76%
Median earnings, 6 years after starting$61,798$49,318
Median earnings, 10 years after starting$86,999$58,912
Median debt at graduation$12,038$21,609

Graduation rate within 150% of normal time; retention is the share of first-year students who return. Earnings are medians for former students who received federal aid, working and not enrolled. National comparison is the median for colleges of the same type (mostly bachelor's degrees).

Programs and what graduates earn

216 programs reported
ProgramGraduates / yrMedian earnings, 1 yrMedian earnings, 5 yrsMedian debt
Computer and Information Sciences, General58$91,845$157,048$11,000
Computer Engineering122$94,722$150,764$12,093
Engineering, General0$79,111$126,694—
Statistics234$58,819$111,930$11,000
Mechanical Engineering151$81,149$111,594$12,060
Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering67$75,453$111,260$14,000
Biotechnology70$50,718$109,020$14,731
Chemical Engineering54$80,469$108,330$13,500
Civil Engineering113$76,288$106,427$12,000
Biomedical/Medical Engineering83$78,047$103,711$8,854
Applied Mathematics85—$102,405$12,071
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration62$46,715$98,520$13,500
Business/Managerial Economics0—$95,326—
Social Sciences, Other—$53,181$90,389—
Materials Engineering14$87,472$89,267—
Economics432$51,106$85,263$11,000
Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences34$45,719$84,843$13,000
Physics45$46,391$84,299$17,750
Food Science and Technology63$53,279$82,788$8,300
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology172$46,241$81,521$12,227
Chemistry73$51,548$80,336$11,000
Neurobiology and Neurosciences387$37,311$78,861$12,500
Pharmacology and Toxicology14$53,953$78,813—
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering107$78,729—$14,883
Biology, General487$38,522$78,614$11,644
Microbiological Sciences and Immunology81$48,169$77,831$12,000
Communication and Media Studies301$45,174$77,245$11,000
Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences85$48,363$75,773$13,222
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences10—$75,599—
Public Administration and Social Service Professions, Other29$48,985$74,672$12,018
Political Science and Government297$43,173$74,085$12,889
Mathematics71$49,163$73,734$10,900
Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering27$72,558—$12,686
Cognitive Science188$43,678$72,383$15,000
Design and Applied Arts291$38,255$72,382$12,753
Nutrition Sciences124$33,659$72,204$13,000
Natural Resources Conservation and Research258$44,789$71,442$12,828
East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics25$33,051$69,867—
Landscape Architecture0—$69,844—
Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology30$43,806$69,779$15,000
Genetics79$47,413$69,196$16,250
Psychology, Other0$40,976$68,966$10,000
International Relations and National Security Studies108$42,448$68,693$12,250
Research and Experimental Psychology966$36,942$68,481$11,699
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics70$38,187$66,064$11,113
Sociology256$40,934$66,042$11,000
History123$34,893$62,978$11,193
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies125$40,510$61,795$11,000
Animal Sciences324$37,118$61,736$13,000
English Language and Literature, General143$37,793$61,735$13,500
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods483$61,462—$12,270
Music20—$60,953$14,666
Natural Resources and Conservation, Other0—$60,557—
Film/Video and Photographic Arts81$31,184$59,314$15,568
Philosophy55$32,373$57,887$16,216
Anthropology64$34,545$57,449$12,458
Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management91$35,913$56,519$12,000
Agricultural Production Operations29$47,880$56,359$10,265
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services33$32,260$51,505$12,000
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft16$31,185$50,142—
Fine and Studio Arts73$28,396$46,961$11,871
Plant Sciences31$45,345——
Marine Sciences19$43,512——
Area Studies16$31,701——
Agricultural Business and Management11———
International Agriculture10———
Forestry19———
Computer Science366———
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas3———
Biochemical Engineering9———
Biological/Biosystems Engineering13———
Slavic, Baltic and Albanian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics8———
Germanic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics4———
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services269———
Botany/Plant Biology16———
Zoology/Animal Biology76———
Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Other2———
Science, Technology and Society11———
Classical and Ancient Studies8———
Data Science2———
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other6———
Religion/Religious Studies6———
Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology5———

Program-level medians for graduates who received federal aid. A dash means the Department of Education suppressed the figure to protect privacy, usually because the program is small. At four-year colleges, certificate graduates often earned a bachelor's at the same time, so their earnings can reflect the degree. Source: College Scorecard, field of study data.

Getting in

42%Admission rate
22:1Students per faculty member
36%Undergraduates with a Pell Grant

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Quick answers

How much does University of California-Davis cost per year?
The average net price at University of California-Davis, what students pay after grants and scholarships, is $14,318 per year. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
How much do University of California-Davis graduates earn?
Former University of California-Davis students earn a median of $86,999 a year ten years after starting college. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
What is the graduation rate at University of California-Davis?
86% of University of California-Davis students graduate within 150% of normal time. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
How much student debt do University of California-Davis graduates have?
The median federal student debt at graduation from University of California-Davis is $12,038. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.