Look beyond the university name
The University of California, Davis is a public land-grant research university in the Davis, California area, United States. It is the northernmost of the ten campuses of the University of California system. The institution was first founded as an agricultural branch of the system in 1905 and became the sixth campus of the University of California in 1959.
| Location | Davis, California, United States |
| Founded | 1905 |
| Institution type | University |
| Total students | 39,074 |
| Faculty & staff | 13,755 |
| Research works (OpenAlex) | 320,087 |
| Total citations | 33,260,668 |
| Chancellor | Gary S. May |
Source: Wikipedia ↗ (reviewed 06 October 2026)
What can you study at University of California?
Academics The university has 102 undergraduate majors and 101 graduate programs. It has a Department of Viticulture and Enology (concerning the scientific study of grape-growing and winemaking) that has been and continues to be responsible for significant advancements in winemaking utilized by many Californian wineries. The campus claims to be noted for its top-rated Agricultural and Resource Economics programs and the large Department of Animal Science through which students can study at the university's own on-campus dairy , meat-processing plant, equestrian facility, and experimental farm. Students of Environmental Horticulture and other botanical sciences have many acres of campus farmland and the University of California, Davis, Arboretum at their disposal. The Department of Applied Science was founded and formerly chaired by physicist Edward Teller . The arts are also studied extensively on campus with subjects such as studio art, design, music, theater and dance. The Design Department at UC Davis is the only comprehensive academic design unit of the University of California system. There is also the Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts which features artists from all over the globe.
Research strengths (by indexed output): Veterinary Medicine and Surgery, Animal Behavior and Reproduction, Particle physics theoretical and experimental studies, Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies, Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies.
For the complete programme catalogue with entry requirements per degree, check the official website.
Official source: Official website ↗
Source: Wikipedia ↗ (reviewed 06 October 2026)
Know your admission route
Admissions Undergraduate admission statistics Fall 2025 Fall 2024 Fall 2023 Fall 2022 Fall 2021 First-time Freshmen Applicants 102,988 98,864 94,638 94,748 87,136 Admits 45,673 41,353 39,400 35,377 42,474 Admit rate 44% 42% 42% 37% 49% Enrolled 6,805 6,767 6,578 6,399 7,482 Yield rate 15% 16% 17% 18% 18% Transfers Applicants 17,168 16,478 14,755 15,533 18,765 Admits 9,683 9,606 9,489 9,045 9,454 Admit rate 56% 59% 64% 58% 50% Enrolled 2,613 2,597 2,558 2,614 2,817 Yield rate 27% 27% 27% 29% 30% Admission to UC Davis is rated as "more selective" by U.S. For Fall 2019, UC Davis received 78,093 freshmen applications; 30,358 were admitted (39.1%) and 5,957 enrolled. The average high school grade point average ( GPA ) of the enrolled freshmen was 4.13; the average SAT scores were between 610 and 710 for reading and 630–790 for math, and 28–34 for the ACT Composite score. For 2021 incoming freshman class, UC Davis received a record of 105,850 applicants, an 11% increase from last year. The admission rate for incoming freshman for the class of 2021 was 37.5%. News Best Colleges Rankings: University of California-Davis" .
Always verify current deadlines on the official website — third-party sites may carry outdated dates.
Official source: Official website ↗
Source: Wikipedia ↗ (reviewed 06 October 2026)
Tuition & costs
Tuition fees change each academic year and differ by programme, study level (undergraduate/graduate) and residency status. JournalsWorld does not publish estimated figures that may be outdated.
Check the university's official tuition & fees page for the current schedule applicable to your intake.
Official source: Official website ↗
Research at University of California
According to OpenAlex, University of California, Davis has 320,087 indexed research works with 33,260,668 total citations.
Rankings Academic rankings National Forbes 43 U.S. News & World Report 32 (tie) Washington Monthly 26 WSJ /College Pulse 12 Global ARWU 101–150 QS 114 (tie) THE 62 (tie) U.S. News & World Report 96 (tie) National Program Rankings Program Ranking Biostatistics 24 (tie) Business 57 (tie) Chemistry 38 (tie) Computer Science 36 (tie) Earth Sciences 14 (tie) Economics 26 (tie) Education 42 (tie) Engineering 36 (tie) English 26 (tie) Fine Arts 15 (tie) History 24 (tie) Law 55 (tie) Mathematics 30 (tie) Medicine: Primary Care Tier 1 Medicine: Research Tier 2 Nursing: Master's 24 (tie) Physician Assistant 40 (tie) Physics 38 (tie) Political Science 25 (tie) Psychology 12 (tie) Public Health 29 (tie) Sociology 31 (tie) Statistics 13 (tie) Veterinary Medicine 1 Global Program Rankings Program Ranking Agricultural Sciences 13 Arts & Humanities 104 (tie) Biology & Biochemistry 51 Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology 42 Cell Biology 97 Chemistry 187 (tie) Civil Engineering 157 Clinical Medicine 143 Computer Science 157 (tie) Ecology 36 (tie) Economics & Business 131 Electrical & Electronic Engineering 217 (tie) Endocrinology & Metabolism 181 Engineering 180 (tie) Environmental Engineering 193 Environment/Ecology 22 Food Science & Technology 39 Geosciences 99 (tie) Green & Sustainable Science & Technology 221 Immunology 110 Infectious Diseases 164 Marine & Freshwater Biology 67 (tie) Materials Science 324 (tie) Mathematics 174 Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences 87 (tie) Microbiology 33 Molecular Biology & Genetics 61 (tie) Nanoscience & Nanotechnology 327 Neuroscience & Behavior 105 (tie) Oncology 145 (tie) Optics 178 Pharmacology & Toxicology 164 Physical Chemistry 408 (tie) Physics 154 Plant & Animal Science 2 Psychiatry/Psychology 38 Public, Environmental & Occupational Health 154 (tie) Radiology, Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging 103 (tie) Social Sciences & Public Health 125 (tie) Space Science 103 (tie) Surgery 195 (tie) Water Resources 51 Top 10 foreign countries in headcount (Fall 2025) Country Headcount China 3,363 India 559 South Korea 182 Taiwan 162 Indonesia 85 Canada 79 Iran 66 Vietnam 56 Brazil 41 Japan 40 UC Davis is considered to be a " Public Ivy ." In its 2023 edition, U.S. News & World Report ranked UC Davis tied for the 6th-best public university in the United States, tied for 28th nationally and tied for 73rd globally.
Most-cited affiliated researchers
- Clark Fitzgerald — 58,567 citations
- Aaron E. Darling — 28,817 citations
- Harriet Alexander — 25,295 citations
- C. Titus Brown — 25,295 citations
- Vernon L. Singleton — 24,846 citations
Source: OpenAlex (most-cited affiliated authors)
Official source: Official website ↗
Who leads University of California?
The current Chancellor is Gary S. May.
Gary Stephen May is an American academic and electrical engineer who is the seventh chancellor of the University of California, Davis.He is a member of the National Academy of Engineering. This recognized his work in semiconductor manufacturing research and innovations in educational programs for underrepresented groups in engineering.
Official source: Official website ↗
Campus & student life
Student life The undergraduate student government of UC Davis is the Associated Students of UC Davis (ASUCD), and has an annual operating budget of $22.2 million, making it one of the largest-funded student governments in the United States. ASUCD includes an Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branch. Other than representing the student body on campus, the task of ASUCD is to lobby student interests to local and state government. Also under the purview of ASUCD are the student-run Coffee House, an ASUCD unit, and Unitrans , the Davis public bus system. ASUCD employs thousands of students annually across its many units. UC Davis California Aggie Marching Band-uh!
For housing options, campus facilities and student services, see the official website.
Official source: Official website ↗
Source: Wikipedia ↗ (reviewed 06 October 2026)
Contact University of California
Official website: https://www.ucdavis.edu ↗
For admissions enquiries, department contacts and phone numbers, use the official contact page.
Official source: Official website ↗
Frequently asked questions
When was University of California, Davis founded?
University of California, Davis was founded in 1905.
How many students attend?
Approximately 39,074 students.
What are the admission requirements?
Requirements vary by programme. Check the admission section above and verify on the official website.
How much is tuition?
Tuition changes yearly. See the official tuition page for current figures.
Who is the chancellor?
Gary S. May.