UC Davis: Acceptance Rate and Admissions Statistics

West Village, a Zero Net Energy community on the UC Davis campus

Billy Hustace/Getty Images

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.

Admissions Statistics (2018-19)
Number of Applicants 77,152
Percent Admitted 39%
Percent Admitted Who Enrolled (Yield) 20%

SAT Scores and Requirements

Beginning with the 2020-21 admissions cycle, all of the UC schools will offer test-optional admissions. Applicants may submit SAT or ACT scores, but they are not required. University of California will institute a test-blind policy for in-state applicants beginning with the 2022-23 admissions cycle. Out-of-state applicants will still have the option of submitting test scores during this period. During the 2018-19 admissions cycle, 71% of UC Davis' admitted students submitted SAT scores.

SAT Range (Admitted Students)
Section 25th Percentile 75th Percentile
ERW 570 680
Math 580 740
ERW=Evidence-Based Reading and Writing

This admissions data tells us that most of UC Davis' admitted students fall within the top 35% nationally on the SAT. For the evidence-based reading and writing section, 50% of students admitted to UC Davis scored between 570 and 680, while 25% scored below 570 and 25% scored above 680. On the math section, 50% of admitted students scored between 580 and 740, while 25% scored below 580 and 25% scored above 740. While SAT scores are no longer required, an SAT score of 1420 or higher is considered competitive for UC Davis.

Requirements

Beginning with the 2020-21 admissions cycle, all of the UC schools, including UC Davis, will no longer require SAT scores for admission. For applicants who submit scores, note that UC Davis does not consider the optional SAT essay section. UC Davis does not superscore SAT results; your highest combined score from a single test date will be considered. Subject tests are not required for admission to UC Davis.

ACT Scores and Requirements

Beginning with the 2020-21 admissions cycle, all of the UC schools will offer test-optional admissions. Applicants may submit SAT or ACT scores, but they are not required. University of California will institute a test-blind policy for in-state applicants beginning with the 2022-23 admissions cycle. Out-of-state applicants will still have the option of submitting test scores during this period. During the 2018-19 admissions cycle, 29% of UC Davis' admitted students submitted ACT scores.

ACT Range (Admitted Students)
Section 25th Percentile 75th Percentile
English 24 31
Math 25 31
Composite 28 34

This admissions data tells us that most of UC Davis' admitted students fall within the top 12% nationally on the ACT. The middle 50% of students admitted to UC Davis received a composite ACT score between 28 and 34, while 25% scored above 34 and 25% scored below 28.

Requirements

Beginning with the 2020-21 admissions cycle, all of the UC schools, including UC Davis, will no longer require ACT scores for admission. For applicants who submit scores, note that UC Davis does not consider the optional ACT writing section. UC Davis does not superscore ACT results; your highest combined score from a single test administration will be considered.

GPA

In 2019, the middle 50% of University of California, Davis' incoming class had unweighted high school GPAs between 3.86 and 4.18. 25% had a GPA above 4.18, and 25% had a GPA below 3.86. These results suggest that most successful applicants to UC Davis have primarily A grades.

Self-Reported GPA/SAT/ACT Graph

University of California, Davis Applicants' Self-Reported GPA/SAT/ACT Graph.
University of California, Davis Applicants' Self-Reported GPA/SAT/ACT Graph. Data courtesy of Cappex.

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.

All admissions data has been sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics and University of California, Davis' Undergraduate Admissions Office.

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Grove, Allen. "UC Davis: Acceptance Rate and Admissions Statistics." ThoughtCo, Apr. 5, 2023, thoughtco.com/uc-davis-gpa-sat-act-data-786669. Grove, Allen. (2023, April 5). UC Davis: Acceptance Rate and Admissions Statistics. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/uc-davis-gpa-sat-act-data-786669 Grove, Allen. "UC Davis: Acceptance Rate and Admissions Statistics." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/uc-davis-gpa-sat-act-data-786669 (accessed March 28, 2024).