UC Davis vs UC San Diego: A Data-Driven Comparison
Admission Difficulty
UC San Diego is significantly more competitive with a 23.7% acceptance rate compared to UC Davis at 37.3%. Students need stronger academic credentials for UCSD admission.
Cost and Value
Both schools charge similar tuition ($15,247-$15,265 in-state, ~$46,000 out-of-state), but UCSD offers better financial aid with an average net price of $11,750 versus $15,288 at Davis. However, Davis graduates carry less debt ($13,000 vs $15,500 median).
Academic Strengths
UCSD provides a better student-faculty ratio at 19:1 compared to Davis's 21:1, potentially offering more personalized attention. Both universities excel in STEM fields, with UCSD particularly strong in biomedical sciences and engineering, while Davis leads in agriculture, veterinary medicine, and environmental sciences.
Campus Experience
Davis enrolls 31,777 students in a classic college town setting, while UCSD houses 33,787 students in coastal La Jolla. Davis competes in NCAA Division I athletics versus UCSD's Division II. Both maintain similar retention rates (93.4% vs 93.9%).
Outcomes
UCSD graduates earn higher median salaries ten years post-graduation ($84,943 vs $80,838) and achieve a slightly better graduation rate (87.6% vs 85.1%).
Students seeking a traditional college town atmosphere with strong agricultural and veterinary programs should consider UC Davis, while those prioritizing coastal location, research opportunities in biomedical fields, and higher earning potential may prefer UC San Diego.
Admission Difficulty
UC San Diego is significantly more competitive with a 23.7% acceptance rate compared to UC Davis at 37.3%. Students need stronger academic credentials for UCSD admission.
Cost and Value
Both schools charge similar tuition ($15,247-$15,265 in-state, ~$46,000 out-of-state), but UCSD offers better financial aid with an average net price of $11,750 versus $15,288 at Davis. However, Davis graduates carry less debt ($13,000 vs $15,500 median).
Academic Strengths
UCSD provides a better student-faculty ratio at 19:1 compared to Davis's 21:1, potentially offering more personalized attention. Both universities excel in STEM fields, with UCSD particularly strong in biomedical sciences and engineering, while Davis leads in agriculture, veterinary medicine, and environmental sciences.
Campus Experience
Davis enrolls 31,777 students in a classic college town setting, while UCSD houses 33,787 students in coastal La Jolla. Davis competes in NCAA Division I athletics versus UCSD's Division II. Both maintain similar retention rates (93.4% vs 93.9%).
Outcomes
UCSD graduates earn higher median salaries ten years post-graduation ($84,943 vs $80,838) and achieve a slightly better graduation rate (87.6% vs 85.1%).
Students seeking a traditional college town atmosphere with strong agricultural and veterinary programs should consider UC Davis, while those prioritizing coastal location, research opportunities in biomedical fields, and higher earning potential may prefer UC San Diego.
Head-to-Head Comparison
| University of California-Davis | University of California-San Diego | |
|---|---|---|
| Acceptance Rate | 37.3% | 23.7% |
| Enrollment | 31,777 | 33,787 |
| In-State Tuition | $15,247 | $15,265 |
| Out-of-State Tuition | $46,024 | $46,042 |
| Net Price | $15,288 | $11,750 |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 85.1% | 87.6% |
| Retention Rate | 93.4% | 93.9% |
| Median Earnings (10yr) | $80,838 | $84,943 |
| Median Debt | $13,000 | $15,500 |
Top Programs by Earnings
Top 5 bachelor's programs at each school, ranked by median graduate earnings.
| University of California-Davis | University of California-San Diego | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Program | Earnings | Program | Earnings |
| Computer Engineering. | $82,440 | Computer Science. | $86,972 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General. | $81,609 | Computer Engineering. | $79,688 |
| Engineering, General. | $70,370 | Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology. | $71,015 |
| Civil Engineering. | $67,516 | Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering. | $69,606 |
| Mechanical Engineering. | $67,324 | Mechanical Engineering. | $67,846 |