Edwin DayOverview
University of California—Davis is a public institution that was founded in 1905. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 31,162 (fall 2020), its setting is city, and the campus size is 5,300 acres. It utilizes a quarter-based academic calendar.
The University of California—Davis, one of 10 schools in the University of California system, was originally established as a farm school for UC - Berkeley. Located just 15 miles from Sacramento, UC Davis' campus contains an airport, fire department and a collection of outdoor sculptures called Eggheads. There are more than 700 student organizations on campus in addition to a sizable Greek community that comprises about 65 fraternity and sorority chapters. All freshmen are guaranteed housing, and after their first year students typically move off campus or live in university apartments. The UC Davis Aggies field 25 NCAA Division I teams, and students can join the Aggie Pack, the largest student spirit organization in the country.
Among the school's graduate programs are the highly ranked Graduate School of Management, School of Law, School of Medicine, College of Engineering and School of Veterinary Medicine. Other notable programs include the School of Education and the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing. Undergraduates can study in the College of Letters and Science, College of Engineering, College of Biological Sciences or College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences. The UC Davis Arboretum, technically a public park, encompasses 100 acres of gardens that stretch along a waterway.
Acceptance Rate: about 46%
Notable Rankings (US News)
- Overall: #38
- Public University: #10
- Engineering: #27
- Computer Science: #31
What Students Say...
The Good
- "UC Davis, what a beautiful campus. This school thrives in flora, fauna, and bicycles! The landscape is calming, the buildings are homely, and the classrooms feel splendid. Moreover, the staff is filled with courteous people, from the professors to the custodial staff to the food workers. Even during the virtual year I felt comfortable in this community. Davis strongly encourages health and safety and implemented a very efficient COVID-19 testing program. What a difference it makes to learn in a place that cares! My only negative about UCD is the lack of availability for therapy or advising. It was extremely difficult to get the personal help I needed from the school in a timely fashion. However, I would visit the cow pen, and that would ease my spirits in a fulfilling way."
- "Living on campus was a nice experience because they have dorms that are fairly close to the lecture halls. Some lecture halls weren't as clean as the newer ones, but they are advancing vary rapidly. I do have to say that my department, College of Engineering, is very competitive. Some professors are nicer than others, depending on the department. I do have to say that they have an extensive amount of resources available for every need, basic need, health, and academic. The advisors, depending on the department, are also aren't s helpful as you may think. I would advise to learn the current catalog for your major to know what classes are needed for graduation. Currently I admire the research that the university has been up to with the uncontrollable coronavirus. I love that they have testing sites that expedite the results to students, faculty, and other employees."
- "Rich opportunities for hands-on learning, especially in science-related. Diverse student society. Very knowledgeable faculty, particularly in animal science and veterinary medicine courses."
- "UC Davis is a great school with so many opportunities in research and internships. I got a good education there. The campus is decent. Some buildings need remodeling for better class setup. What the school really needs is more places on campus to study open 24 hrs."
The Not-So-Good
- "This is a "you're on your own kiddo" kind of school. Huge classroom sizes, not very diverse, and very little guidance for freshman and transfers. This is not a school I would recommend for students who would like to make the most out of their college experience. There is a get in and get out type of dynamic amongst the faculty especially towards underrepresented/underserved communities."
- "The administration was not helpful and they did not care about the students. The professors were amazing but could do little about the ridiculous rules put on by the administration. Amazing Professors who really care but awful administration."
- "Now in my last year of Davis, I can say that the students in this college were terrific, but the professors and advisors left me with a very bad experience. It's sad to say, but Davis makes you feel like college is a business. They over-enroll, don't give students enough seats in classes, have a very crowded campus and with the overload of students, making appointments with advisors is almost impossible. At the end of the day, the faculty don't really care about you. I was in a very difficult situation with a particular professor here in Davis, and the faculty completely sided with the professor and did not care about my concerns of discrimination."
Notable Alumni
- Hasan Minhaj, Comedian
- John Watson, CEO of Chevron
- Ann M. Veneman, mayor of Davis, California
- Stephen Robinson, NASA astronaut
- Alfred Chuang, Co-Founder & CEO of BEA Systems
- Stephen McFeely, Emmy Award-winning screenwriter (Including Captain America, Avengers film series)
- Christopher Markus, Emmy Award-winning screenwriter (Including Captain America, Avengers film series)
- Charles M. Rice, 2020 Nobel Prize in Physiology
Student Life in Pics
