UC Davis vs. Vanguard University of Southern California

Comparable Facts

Compare University of California Davis in Davis, CA with Vanguard University of Southern California in Costa Mesa, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

University of California Davis is larger than Vanguard University of Southern California based on total student enrollment (40,065 students vs. 2,246 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of California Davis is located in Davis, CA (Small Suburban setting); Vanguard University of Southern California is in Costa Mesa, CA (Midsize City setting).
• University of California Davis is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Vanguard University of Southern California is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of California Davis 22:1; Vanguard University of Southern California 13:1.

Cost details

• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Vanguard University of Southern California are 30.8% lower than at University of California Davis ($13,450 vs. $19,426).
• Out-of-state tuition is 22.2% higher at UC Davis than at Vanguard University of Southern California (about $9,274 more per year; $50,974 vs. $41,700).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Vanguard University of Southern California than at University of California Davis (100% vs. 60%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Vanguard University of Southern California students is 21.4% larger than aid received by University of California Davis students ($29,847 vs. $24,591).

Admissions details

• Typical ACT composite is 7 points higher at UC Davis than at Vanguard University of Southern California (29 vs. 22, midpoint estimate).
• SAT or ACT scores are test-free at both UC Davis and Vanguard University of Southern California.
• Typical fall application deadline: UC Davis Nov 30, 2026; Vanguard University of Southern California Aug 1, 2027.
• Enrolled first-year students at UC Davis average a 4.0 high school GPA, 0.69 higher than at Vanguard University of Southern California (3.31).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 16.4% at UC Davis vs. 19.7% at Vanguard University of Southern California.

Loans and repayment

• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Davis graduates have a $10,324 lower median loan debt than Vanguard University of Southern California graduates ($14,676 vs. $25,000).
• Among borrowers, UC Davis graduates have an estimated $107 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Vanguard University of Southern California graduates ($151 vs. $258).
• More UC Davis graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Vanguard University of Southern California students, three years after graduation (82% vs. 64%).

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