Founded as an agricultural branch of the system in 1905, the University of California, Davis is a public research university in Davis, California, United States. UC Davis is renowned for excellent academic programs and professional schools in Medicine, Law, Business, Veterinary Medicine, Nursing, and Education.
As per the unofficial source, the university ranked #33 among National Universities, #9 in Top Public Schools, #198 in Best Value Schools, and #30 for providing the Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs in 2025. UCD is classified among R1: Doctoral Universities-Very high research activity.
International students take the University of California Davis admission for its research opportunities, college atmosphere, teamwork, humility, flexible majors, and sustainability.
University of California Davis Acceptance Rate 2025
The University of California Davis received almost 99,000 applications for the admission cycle of 2024-25, of which over 41,300 were admitted by the university and offered the opportunity to enroll at the UC Davis campus. However, only around 6,800 individuals ultimately enrolled.
These statistics suggest that the UC Davis acceptance rate stands at 41.83%, making the admission criteria for the university somewhat selective. Whereas UC Davis yield rate usually stays around 16%. The statistics for the admission cycles of 2023-24 and 2024-25 are given below for a side-by-side comparison.
|
Particulars
|
2023-2024
|
2024-2025
|
|---|
|
Student Applications
|
94,627
|
98,869
|
|
Students Admitted
|
39,399
|
41,353
|
|
Acceptance Rate
|
41.64%
|
41.83%
|
|
Students Enrolled
|
6,581
|
6,804
|
|
Yield Rate
|
16.7%
|
16.5%
|
University of California Davis Acceptance Rate for International Students
The University of California Davis received over 18,800 applications from prospective international students, of which 9,500 were offered admission by the university. However, around 1,100 students finally enrolled at the campus. Thus, it can be concluded that the UC Davis acceptance rate for international students is 50.6%.
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Particulars
|
Headcount
|
|---|
|
International Student Applications
|
18,880
|
|
International Students Admitted
|
9,569
|
|
International Students Enrolled
|
1,112
|
|
Acceptance Rate
|
50.68%
|
Currently, UC Davis houses over 4,500 international undergraduates. It welcomes more than 7,500 international aspirants and over 2,100 international scholars representing more than 140 countries. The student demographics or the racial makeup of the student body enrolled at UC Davis is given below:
|
Ethnic/Racial Group
|
Headcount
|
|---|
|
Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, non-Hispanic
|
58
|
|
American Indian or Alaska Native, non-Hispanic
|
36
|
|
Race and/or ethnicity unknown
|
703
|
|
Black or African American, non-Hispanic
|
549
|
|
Two or more races, non-Hispanic
|
2,126
|
|
Hispanic/Latino
|
8,102
|
|
Nonresidents
|
4,201
|
|
Asian, non-Hispanic
|
10,093
|
|
White, non-Hispanic
|
6,405
|
|
Total
|
32,273
|
University of California Davis Acceptance Rate Trends
The number of applications received by UC Davis has increased by over 20,000 in the last five years, from 76,000 in Fall 2020 to 98,800 in Fall 2024. The number of students admitted has also increased somewhat, from 35,300 in Fall 2020 to 41,300 in Fall 2024. Since the increase in the number of applications received is more than applicants admitted, the University of California Davis acceptance rate has witnessed a declining trend. It has dropped from 49% in Fall 2021 to 41% in Fall 2024, pointing to increased difficulty of UC Davis admissions.
|
Year
|
Application Received
|
Students Admitted
|
Acceptance Rate
|
|---|
|
2024-2025
|
98,869
|
41,353
|
41.83%
|
|
2023-2024
|
94,627
|
39,399
|
41.64%
|
|
2022-2023
|
94,759
|
35,563
|
37.53%
|
|
2021-2022
|
87,118
|
42,000+
|
~49%
|
|
2020-2021
|
76,225
|
35,304
|
46.32%
|
*Data for Fall 2022 taken from unofficial sources
University of California Davis Acceptance Rate: Early Decision vs Regular Decision
Every year, the University of California Davis admits students from all around the globe. Usually, a university's early decision acceptance rate is higher than the regular decision acceptance rate. The early decision permits students to apply to universities earlier than the normal decision. However, the University of California offers admission on a rolling basis, instead of an early decision plan. The deadline for the submission of the UG UC Davis application is December 1.
University of California Davis Requirements for International Students
Indian applicants applying to the University of California Davis are required to meet the academic as well as English language requirements. The University of California Davis entry requirements are given below:
Undergraduate-Level Requirements
Graduate-Level Requirements
- English language proficiency score
- GPA score (3 on the scale of 4)
- A bachelor’s degree or equivalent that is comparable to the degree from the University of California
- A non-refundable application fee (USD 155)
-
GRE score
-
Letter of recommendation
University of California Davis English Language Requirement
University of California Davis admission requirements for international students include proof of proficiency in the English language as a major entry requirement. Students can check English language exams and the minimum score required for international students:
|
English Language Exam
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Score Required UG
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Score Required PG
|
|---|
|
TOEFL
|
80 or Above
|
80 or Above
|
|
IELTS
|
6.5 or Above
|
7 or above on a 9-point scale
|
|
Duolingo
|
Not required
|
115 or Above
|
University of California Davis Average GPA, SAT & ACT Scores
The requirements for standardized tests (SAT/ACT) or other entrance exams like GMAT/GRE for postgraduate courses depend on the course type. However, international students can submit all of their scores to improve their chances of getting selected at the University of California. The minimum scores are listed below:
|
Entrance Exams
|
Minimum Score Requirements
|
|---|
|
SAT
|
Between 610 and 710
|
|
ACT
|
Between 24 and 31
|
|
GPA
|
4 or above (UG), 3 (PG)
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Tips to get selected at the University of California, Davis
University of California, Davis is an incredibly competitive university to attend; thus, students must submit outstanding academic marks as well as succeed in extracurricular activities. Along with this, they must follow the tips below to get University of California smoothly:
- Maintain a consistent GPA throughout high school.
- If the students decide to submit their scores, they must thoroughly prepare for tests like the SAT or ACT.
- Provide a satisfactory letter of recommendation from teachers who know the student well and can speak about their academic abilities and personality.
- Strong recommendations from professors or counselors may provide a third-party evaluation of the student's academic accomplishments and personal attributes.
- The University of California expects applicants to have completed a demanding high school program. This includes specific subject requirements to ensure the students are prepared for college-level education.
University of California Davis Acceptance Rate vs University of Florida Acceptance Rate
The UC admission rate has been recorded to be 41.8%, which makes it quite a competitive university to get into. However, with an acceptance rate of 24%, the University of Florida is considered to be more selective in its admission criteria.
University of California admissions are less selective as compared to the University of Florida. However, international students must be at the top of their class to study in any one of the above. Also, the student must participate in activities outside class to enhance their chances of getting admitted to the university.
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