UC Davis vs UC Santa Barbara: A Data-Driven Comparison
Admission Difficulty: UCSB proves more selective with a 25.85% acceptance rate compared to UC Davis's 37.34%, making UCSB approximately 44% harder to enter.
Cost and Value: Both schools offer similar tuition costs, with UCSB slightly lower at $14,965 in-state versus Davis's $15,247. UCSB provides better financial value with an average net price of $13,825 compared to Davis's $15,288. However, Davis graduates earn significantly more, with median earnings of $80,838 versus UCSB's $74,915 ten years post-graduation. Both schools maintain low debt burdens around $13,000-14,000.
Academic Strengths: Davis excels in agricultural sciences, veterinary medicine, and environmental studies, leveraging its research-intensive focus. UCSB stands out in engineering, physics, and marine sciences. UCSB offers better student-faculty interaction with a 17:1 ratio compared to Davis's 21:1.
Campus Experience: Davis enrolls 31,777 students in a college town atmosphere, while UCSB's 23,205 students enjoy a coastal campus setting. Davis maintains higher retention at 93.37% versus UCSB's 91.91%. Both offer Division I athletics and active campus communities.
Outcomes: Graduation rates are nearly identical, with UCSB slightly ahead at 85.30% versus Davis's 85.10%. Davis graduates command higher starting salaries, suggesting stronger career placement in lucrative fields.
Students interested in agricultural sciences, veterinary medicine, or research opportunities in a traditional college town should consider Davis, while those seeking coastal living, engineering programs, or a more selective academic environment would thrive at UCSB.
Admission Difficulty: UCSB proves more selective with a 25.85% acceptance rate compared to UC Davis's 37.34%, making UCSB approximately 44% harder to enter.
Cost and Value: Both schools offer similar tuition costs, with UCSB slightly lower at $14,965 in-state versus Davis's $15,247. UCSB provides better financial value with an average net price of $13,825 compared to Davis's $15,288. However, Davis graduates earn significantly more, with median earnings of $80,838 versus UCSB's $74,915 ten years post-graduation. Both schools maintain low debt burdens around $13,000-14,000.
Academic Strengths: Davis excels in agricultural sciences, veterinary medicine, and environmental studies, leveraging its research-intensive focus. UCSB stands out in engineering, physics, and marine sciences. UCSB offers better student-faculty interaction with a 17:1 ratio compared to Davis's 21:1.
Campus Experience: Davis enrolls 31,777 students in a college town atmosphere, while UCSB's 23,205 students enjoy a coastal campus setting. Davis maintains higher retention at 93.37% versus UCSB's 91.91%. Both offer Division I athletics and active campus communities.
Outcomes: Graduation rates are nearly identical, with UCSB slightly ahead at 85.30% versus Davis's 85.10%. Davis graduates command higher starting salaries, suggesting stronger career placement in lucrative fields.
Students interested in agricultural sciences, veterinary medicine, or research opportunities in a traditional college town should consider Davis, while those seeking coastal living, engineering programs, or a more selective academic environment would thrive at UCSB.
Head-to-Head Comparison
| University of California-Davis | University of California-Santa Barbara | |
|---|---|---|
| Acceptance Rate | 37.3% | 25.9% |
| Enrollment | 31,777 | 23,205 |
| In-State Tuition | $15,247 | $14,965 |
| Out-of-State Tuition | $46,024 | $45,742 |
| Net Price | $15,288 | $13,825 |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 85.1% | 85.3% |
| Retention Rate | 93.4% | 91.9% |
| Median Earnings (10yr) | $80,838 | $74,915 |
| Median Debt | $13,000 | $13,993 |
Top Programs by Earnings
Top 5 bachelor's programs at each school, ranked by median graduate earnings.
| University of California-Davis | University of California-Santa Barbara | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Program | Earnings | Program | Earnings |
| Computer Engineering. | $82,440 | Computer Science. | $81,554 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General. | $81,609 | Computer Engineering. | $76,773 |
| Engineering, General. | $70,370 | Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering. | $72,134 |
| Civil Engineering. | $67,516 | Economics. | $60,790 |
| Mechanical Engineering. | $67,324 | Mechanical Engineering. | $60,452 |