UC Davis vs. Tennessee

Comparable Facts

Compare University of California Davis in Davis, CA with The University of Tennessee Knoxville in Knoxville, TN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of California Davis is larger than Tennessee based on total student enrollment (40,065 students vs. 38,728 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of California Davis is located in Davis, CA (Small Suburban setting); The University of Tennessee Knoxville is in Knoxville, TN (Midsize City setting).
• University of California Davis is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. The University of Tennessee Knoxville is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of California Davis 22:1; The University of Tennessee Knoxville 18:1.

UC Davis vs. Tennessee Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UC Davis or Tennessee? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of California Davis than Tennessee ($17,270 vs. $21,648).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at The University of Tennessee Knoxville are 31.2% lower than at University of California Davis ($13,356 vs. $19,426).
• University of California Davis is 21.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Tennessee (about $2,962 more per year; $16,774.00 vs. $13,812.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 53.3% higher at UC Davis than at The University of Tennessee Knoxville (about $17,718 more per year; $50,974.00 vs. $33,256.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at The University of Tennessee Knoxville than at University of California Davis (94% vs. 60%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Davis students is 115.1% larger than aid received by The University of Tennessee Knoxville students ($24,591 vs. $11,434).

UC Davis vs. Tennessee Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UC Davis or Tennessee? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Tennessee and UC Davis.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at The University of Tennessee Knoxville (1290) is 10 points higher than at UC Davis (1280).
• Incoming UC Davis students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 vs. 28 at Tennessee).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Davis 1160/1400; The University of Tennessee Knoxville 1200/1370.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Davis 25/33; The University of Tennessee Knoxville 25/31.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UC Davis - Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind); Tennessee - Required to be considered for admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: UC Davis Nov 30, 2026.
• Accepted freshman UC Davis students have a 0.34 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at Tennessee (3.66).
• UC Davis has a higher acceptance rate (41.8%) than Tennessee (41.6%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 16.4% at UC Davis vs. 27.4% at Tennessee.

UC Davis vs. Tennessee Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UC Davis and Tennessee? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• University of California Davis's six-year graduation rate (82%) is higher than The University of Tennessee Knoxville's (63%).
• Graduates from University of California Davis earn a median of about $8,900 more per year than Tennessee graduates about ten years after starting college ($65,200 vs. $56,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Davis graduates have a $5,324 lower median loan debt than Tennessee graduates ($14,676 vs. $20,000).
• Among borrowers, UC Davis graduates have an estimated $55 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Tennessee graduates ($151 vs. $206).
• More UC Davis graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Tennessee students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 69%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.