CSU vs. UC Davis

California State University Chico and University of California Davis side by side on admissions, cost, and outcomes, from public data.

California State University Chico
University of California Davis

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: UC Davis (41.8% admitted vs 92.7%). Typical SAT 1280 vs 1070.
  • Cheaper after aid: CSU. Average net price is $14,630 vs $17,270 at UC Davis.
  • Graduation: CSU 59% vs UC Davis 82%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: CSU $52,400 vs UC Davis $65,200 (median).
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Key differences

California State University Chico University of California Davis
Acceptance rate
UC Davis more selective
CSU92.7%
UC Davis41.8%
SAT range (middle 50%)
UC Davis higher
CSU970-1170
UC Davis1160-1400
Average net price
CSU $2,640 less
CSU$14,630
UC Davis$17,270
In-state tuition
CSU $8,302 less
CSU$8,472
UC Davis$16,774
Out-of-state tuition
CSU $29,902 less
CSU$21,072
UC Davis$50,974
Graduation rate
UC Davis +23 pts
CSU59%
UC Davis82%
Median earnings (10 years)
UC Davis +$12,800
CSU$52,400
UC Davis$65,200

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • CSU 23,322
  • UC Davis 98,864
  • Admitted
  • CSU 21,623
  • UC Davis 41,353
  • Acceptance rate
  • CSU 92.7%
  • UC Davis 41.8%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • CSU 10.2%
  • UC Davis 16.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • CSU 1070
  • UC Davis 1280
  • Typical ACT score
  • CSU 21
  • UC Davis 29
  • Average high school GPA
  • CSU 3.37
  • UC Davis 4.0
  • Typical high school grades
  • CSU B+
  • UC Davis A/A+
  • Admissions standards
  • CSU Very Easy
  • UC Davis Very High
  • Applicant competition
  • CSU
  • UC Davis Low
  • SAT range
  • CSU 970-1170
  • UC Davis 1160-1400
  • ACT range
  • CSU 18-24
  • UC Davis 25-33
  • Submit test scores
  • CSU Test-free
  • UC Davis Test-free
  • Application deadline
  • CSU Dec 15, 2026
  • UC Davis Nov 30, 2026
  • Tuition (in state)
  • CSU $8,472
  • UC Davis $16,774
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • CSU $21,072
  • UC Davis $50,974
  • Room & board
  • CSU $16,500
  • UC Davis $19,426
  • Average net price
  • CSU $14,630
  • UC Davis $17,270
  • Average grant aid
  • CSU $11,509
  • UC Davis $24,591
  • % receiving grant aid
  • CSU 66%
  • UC Davis 60%
  • Graduation rate
  • CSU 59%
  • UC Davis 82%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • CSU $52,400
  • UC Davis $65,200
  • Making student loan payments
  • CSU 70%
  • UC Davis 82%
  • Median student loan debt
  • CSU $17,000
  • UC Davis $14,676
  • Median loan payment
  • CSU $175
  • UC Davis $151
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • CSU 23:1
  • UC Davis 22:1
  • Popular majors
  • CSU
    • Business (17%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
  • UC Davis
    • Biology (19%)
    • Social Sciences (19%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Engineering (7%)
    • Foreign Languages (5%)
  • Location
  • CSU Chico, CA
  • UC Davis Davis, CA
  • Setting
  • CSU Small City
  • UC Davis Small Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • CSU 15,257
  • UC Davis 40,065
  • Type
  • CSU Public 4 Year
  • UC Davis Public 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • CSU #675
  • UC Davis #100

Comparable Facts

Compare California State University Chico in Chico, CA with University of California Davis in Davis, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

University of California Davis is larger than CSU based on total student enrollment (40,065 students vs. 15,257 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • California State University Chico is located in Chico, CA (Small City setting); University of California Davis is in Davis, CA (Small Suburban setting).
  • California State University Chico is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of California Davis is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: California State University Chico 23:1; University of California Davis 22:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California State University Chico are 15.1% lower than at University of California Davis ($16,500 vs. $19,426).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 141.9% higher at UC Davis than at California State University Chico (about $29,902 more per year; $50,974 vs. $21,072).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at California State University Chico than at University of California Davis (66% vs. 60%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Davis students is 113.7% larger than aid received by California State University Chico students ($24,591 vs. $11,509).

Admissions details

  • Typical ACT composite is 8 points higher at UC Davis than at CSU (29 vs. 21, midpoint estimate).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test-free at both CSU and UC Davis.
  • Typical fall application deadline: CSU Dec 15, 2026; UC Davis Nov 30, 2026.
  • Enrolled first-year students at UC Davis average a 4.0 high school GPA, 0.63 higher than at CSU (3.37).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 10.2% at CSU vs. 16.4% at UC Davis.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Davis graduates have a $2,324 lower median loan debt than CSU graduates ($14,676 vs. $17,000).
  • Among borrowers, UC Davis graduates have an estimated $24 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CSU graduates ($151 vs. $175).
  • More UC Davis graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CSU students, three years after graduation (82% vs. 70%).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.

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