University of California-Davis, also known as UC-Davis, is a four-year public university located in Davis, California. Established in 1905 as an agricultural college, the campus is now better known for its doctoral research than for cows or carrots. UC-Davis has been listed as a Public Ivy since 2001, and university faculty and alumni have earned such prestigious honors as the Nobel Peace Prize, the Pulitzer Prize, and the Presidential Early Career Award in Science and Engineering.
Vision
UC-Davis is guided by the Principles of Community. They state, in part, that “the University of California, Davis, is first and foremost an institution of learning and teaching, committed to serving the needs of society;” one that “reflects and is a part of a society comprising all races, creeds and social circumstances.” The principles place high value on diversity, freedom of expression, and justice.
Campus Life
The UC-Davis campus is located near Sacramento, California. Davis was voted the most bike-friendly city in the United States in 2008, and students can enjoy a city-wide network of bike paths. Student activities range from intramural sports and horseback riding to kayaking and bookbinding. UC Davis guarantees its incoming freshmen two years of housing, while transfer students are guaranteed one year of housing.
Academics
UC-Davis offers over 100 majors. Popular majors like English, physics, and computer science are represented, but UC Davis also offers cross-disciplinary majors like technocultural studies and environmental planning.
Athletics
The UC-Davis Aggies include student-athletes participating in 25 NCAA Division I sports. The women’s gymnastics team were the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation champions for three years running, while the women’s lacrosse team won the 2012-13 Women’s Collegiate Lacrosse Associates National Championship. In 2016-2017, the Aggies won conference championships in men’s basketball, women’s basketball, and men’s water polo. Beyond the NCAA athletic teams, over 2,000 UC Davis students participate in nearly 40 intramural sports clubs.
Tuition & Financial Aid
Annual tuition at UC-Davis is affordable for California residents, while being in the expensive range for students from outside the state. UC-Davis offers a convenient timetable to help students budget their expenses. Financial aid opportunities such as grants, loans, scholarships, and work-study are available to qualifying students. Please refer to the school’s website for the most up-to-date tuition and financial aid information.
Accreditation
UC-Davis has been accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities since 1954. Other accreditations for specific professional schools within the college include the American Bar Association, Council of the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar and the American Veterinary Medical Association, Council on Education, among others.
Admissions
Freshman applicants to UC-Davis must satisfy three requirements: the scholarship requirement, the examination requirement, and the subject requirement. The scholarship requirement demands a 3.0 or better GPA in classes listed under the subject requirement for California residents and a 3.4 or better GPA for non-residents. The examination requirement demands students submit scores from either the the ACT Assessment plus Writing or the SAT Reasoning Test.
For more information about admissions to University of California-Davis, visit the UC-Davis + You page or call (530) 752-1011.
