UC Davis: Acceptance Rate and Admissions Statistics

Dr. Allen Grove is an Alfred University English professor and a college admissions expert with over 20 years of experience helping students transition to college.

The University of California, Davis is a public university with an acceptance rate of 39%. Located west of Sacramento, the school's 5,300-acre campus is the largest in the UC system. The school's excellence in research and teaching has earned it membership in the Association of American Universities. UC Davis offers over 100 diverse undergraduate majors including arts, humanities, biological sciences, and engineering. The UC Davis Aggies compete mostly in the NCAA Division I Big West Conference.

Considering applying to UC Davis? Here are the admissions statistics you should know, including average SAT/ACT scores and GPAs of admitted students.

Acceptance Rate

During the 2018-19 admissions cycle, UC Davis had an acceptance rate of 39%. This means that for every 100 students who applied, 39 students were admitted, making UC Davis' admissions process competitive.

The admissions data in the graph is self-reported by applicants to University of California, Davis. GPAs are unweighted. Find out how you compare to accepted students, see the real-time graph, and calculate your chances of getting in with a free Cappex account.

Admissions Chances

University of California, Davis, which accepts fewer than half of applicants, has a selective admissions process with above average grades and standardized test scores. However, UC Davis, like all of the University of California schools, has holistic admissions and is test-optional, so the admissions officers are evaluating students on more than numerical data. As part of the application, students are required to write four short personal insight essays. Since UC Davis is a part of the University of California system, students can easily apply to multiple schools in that system with one application. Students who show special talent or have a compelling story to tell will often get a close look even if their grades and test scores are a bit below the norm. Impressive extracurricular activities and strong essays are all important parts of a successful application to UC Davis.

Keep in mind that California residents who apply must have a GPA of 3.0 or better with no grade lower than a C in 15 college preparatory "a-g" courses. For non-residents, your GPA must be 3.4 or better. Local students from participating high schools may also qualify if they are in the top 9% of their class.