How to Get Into UC Davis: Your Ultimate Application Guide

Are you a student in high school with aspirations to attend the University of California, Davis? If so, you’ll want to know everything it takes to ensure that you get in—from the acceptance rate of UC Davis to the specifics of the application forms! 

Every year, thousands of students from across the country strive for admission into UC Davis. And if you’re one of these students that want to achieve all your educational dreams, you’ll need to do all the hard work to stand out above the rest.

From the UC Davis acceptance rate to the application fee for UC Davis freshmen, you will learn the different requirements that will help you get into this unique west coast university. Of course, the journey will be challenging. But all you need is enough determination, dedication, and focus!

UC Davis is a public university located in the northern part of California that's well-known for its thriving social and campus life—and for providing exceptional and elite academics. Students in the greater Sacramento region can work with our Sacramento college counseling team to build a competitive profile for UC Davis and other top California schools. Students enjoy the laid-back and friendly lifestyle of the rural coastal town. But applying here can also be stressful due to the well-known competitive acceptance rate of UC Davis.

The first part of the admission process is tough. The acceptance rate of UC Davis is only 38.87%. And in the fall of 2021, it only has 31,657 for its undergraduate enrollment. 

Even though the UC Davis acceptance rate is low, you still have a chance to get in. However, it will highly depend on how great your student profile is.

Since UC Davis has stringent requirements for both freshmen and transfer students, you should be prepared by knowing all the details regarding GPA, Class Rank, SAT/ACT scores, and more. Our college counselors in Sacramento help local students get a clear picture of these requirements early so they can build the strongest possible application from the start. However, there’s always room for special students with great essays to overcome low scores, as well.

• California residents: 3.00 or higher
• Non-California residents: 3.40 or higher

For fall 2023 and 2024, UC Davis will be test-blind, so they will not consider the SAT and ACT scores during admissions and awarding scholarships. But to give you an idea, take a look at the scoring below from the Class of 2019:

• SAT score: 1230 to 1490
• ACT score: 25-31

• AP score: A 3, 4, or 5 is equivalent to some classes offered at UC Davis
• IB diplomas: A 30 or more score means the student will receive four semester/ 6 quarter units

After the acceptance rate of UC Davis, it’s essential to know the other elements the university double-checks while studying your application. It’s safe to assume that they spend time evaluating your achievements from an academic standpoint. Furthermore, they will want to know your capacity to contribute to the campus’s intellectual, cultural, and social life.

The “A-G Requirements” is a collection of 15 prerequisites that the university will check in addition to the UC Davis acceptance rate.

• A. History/social science = 2 years
• B. English (or the language of instruction) = 4 years
• C. Mathematics = 3 years (4 years recommended)
• D. Laboratory science = two years (3 years recommended)
• E. Language other than English (or other second languages) = 2 years (3 years recommended)
• F. Visual and performing arts = 1 year
• G. College preparatory elective = 1 year

Remember that California residents must achieve at least a 3.0 GPA in their A-G Requirements subjects/courses. On the other hand, non-California residents need to earn at least a 3.4 GPA minimum for these courses. This is due to the University of California’s public charter to serve in-state residents first.

As aforementioned, there are several things that UC Davis will want to know regarding your academic profile. So these are vital elements, apart from the acceptance rate of UC Davis, which you can maximize.

The factors listed below are according to the 2020-2021 Common Data Set.

• Essay
• Course rigor
• GPA

• Talents and abilities
• Extracurricular activities and volunteer work
• Personal or character qualities

• State residency
• Test scores
• Work experience
• First generation status

On the other hand, there’s also a list of not considered factors worth remembering. These are the following:

• Recommendations
• Application interests
• Religions affiliation
• Legacy
• Interview
• Class rank
• Racial/ethnic status 
• Geographical residence

Before you can pay your application fee for UC Davis, take a quick look at the things that UC Davis will check upon reviewing your application for review.

• Your academic grade point average in your A-G completed courses
• Performances, number of, and content of academic courses apart from the A-G requirements
• Performances in UC-approved honors in AP and IB courses
• Being ranked as one of the top 9% in your high school class at the end of your junior year
• Quality of senior-year program in terms of the type and number of academic courses
• The academic performance concerning the educational opportunities provided by your high school
• Superior performance in one or more specific subject areas
• Marked improvement in academic performance that shows in your GPA and quality of coursework
• Talents, awards, and achievements in a specific field, such as communication or athletic endeavors, written and oral proficiency in other languages, etc.
• The completed special projects in your high school curriculum
• Academic achievements despite life experiences and particular circumstances, such as disabilities, low income, disadvantages in the social and educational environment, etc
• Secondary education and residence location

Once you have what it takes to become a part of the UC Davis culture, you can pay the application fee for UC Davis. It’s $70, and it’s worth the investment if you’re looking to join one of the best universities in the country. On the other hand, the filing fee is $80 per campus for international applicants.