UC Davis vs. Virginia Tech

Deciding between University of California Davis and Virginia Tech? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

University of California Davis
Virginia Tech

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UC Davis Davis, CA
  • Virginia Tech Blacksburg, VA
  • Setting
  • UC Davis Small Suburban
  • Virginia Tech Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • UC Davis 40,065
  • Virginia Tech 38,857
  • Type
  • UC Davis Public 4 Year
  • Virginia Tech Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UC Davis #100
  • Virginia Tech #142
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UC Davis -
  • Virginia Tech -
  • Status
  • UC Davis Non-profit
  • Virginia Tech Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UC Davis
  • Virginia Tech

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UC Davis $16,774
  • Virginia Tech $15,948
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UC Davis $50,974
  • Virginia Tech $37,764
  • Room & Board
  • UC Davis $19,426
  • Virginia Tech $16,550
  • Average Net Price
  • UC Davis $17,270
  • Virginia Tech $24,912
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UC Davis $24,591
  • Virginia Tech $9,168
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UC Davis 60%
  • Virginia Tech 60%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UC Davis 98,864
  • Virginia Tech 52,498
  • Admitted
  • UC Davis 41,353
  • Virginia Tech 28,758
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UC Davis 41.8%
  • Virginia Tech 54.8%
  • Enrolled
  • UC Davis 16.4%
  • Virginia Tech 25.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UC Davis 1280
  • Virginia Tech 1370
  • Typical ACT score
  • UC Davis 29
  • Virginia Tech 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • UC Davis 4.0
  • Virginia Tech 3.97
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UC Davis A/A+
  • Virginia Tech A
  • Admissions Standards
  • UC Davis Very High
  • Virginia Tech Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • UC Davis Low
  • Virginia Tech Low
  • ACT Range
  • UC Davis 25/33
  • Virginia Tech 28/32
  • SAT Range
  • UC Davis 1160/1400
  • Virginia Tech 1280/1450
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UC Davis Test-free
  • Virginia Tech Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UC Davis Nov 30, 2026
  • Virginia Tech Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UC Davis 22:1
  • Virginia Tech 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UC Davis
    • Biology (19%)
    • Social Sciences (19%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Engineering (7%)
    • Foreign Languages (5%)
  • Virginia Tech
    • Business (20%)
    • Engineering (19%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Work and Family Studies (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UC Davis 82%
  • Virginia Tech 82%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UC Davis $65,200
  • Virginia Tech $65,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UC Davis 82%
  • Virginia Tech 81%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UC Davis $14,676
  • Virginia Tech $23,966
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UC Davis $151
  • Virginia Tech $247

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UC Davis 42%
  • Virginia Tech 56%
  • % Women
  • UC Davis 58%
  • Virginia Tech 44%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UC Davis Very High
  • Virginia Tech Medium
  • HBCU
  • UC Davis No
  • Virginia Tech No
  • % White
  • UC Davis 28%
  • Virginia Tech 68%
  • % Asian
  • UC Davis 32%
  • Virginia Tech 9%
  • % Black
  • UC Davis 2%
  • Virginia Tech 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • UC Davis 19%
  • Virginia Tech 5%
  • % Native American
  • UC Davis 0%
  • Virginia Tech 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UC Davis 0%
  • Virginia Tech 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UC Davis 5%
  • Virginia Tech 4%
  • % International
  • UC Davis 11%
  • Virginia Tech 6%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UC Davis 1%
  • Virginia Tech 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UC Davis 78%
  • Virginia Tech 61%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UC Davis 5%
  • Virginia Tech 34%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • UC Davis Yes
  • Virginia Tech Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • UC Davis No
  • Virginia Tech No
  • Meal Plan
  • UC Davis Yes
  • Virginia Tech Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • UC Davis No
  • Virginia Tech No
  • Daycare Facility
  • UC Davis Yes
  • Virginia Tech No

Comparable Facts

Compare University of California Davis in Davis, CA with Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of California Davis is larger than Virginia Tech based on total student enrollment (40,065 students vs. 38,857 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of California Davis is located in Davis, CA (Small Suburban setting); Virginia Tech is in Blacksburg, VA (Small City setting).
  • University of California Davis is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Virginia Tech is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of California Davis 22:1; Virginia Tech 17:1.

UC Davis vs. Virginia Tech Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UC Davis or Virginia Tech? 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 Virginia Tech ($17,270 vs. $24,912).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Virginia Tech are 14.8% lower than at University of California Davis ($16,550 vs. $19,426).
  • University of California Davis is 5.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Virginia Tech (about $826 more per year; $16,774.00 vs. $15,948.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 35% higher at UC Davis than at Virginia Tech (about $13,210 more per year; $50,974.00 vs. $37,764.00).
  • The same share of students receive grant aid at University of California Davis as at Virginia Tech (60% vs. 60%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Davis students is 168.2% larger than aid received by Virginia Tech students ($24,591 vs. $9,168).

UC Davis vs. Virginia Tech Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UC Davis or Virginia Tech? 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 Virginia Tech and UC Davis.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Virginia Tech (1370) is 90 points higher than at UC Davis (1280).
  • Incoming Virginia Tech students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 29 at UC Davis).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Davis 1160/1400; Virginia Tech 1280/1450.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Davis 25/33; Virginia Tech 28/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UC Davis - Test-free; Virginia Tech - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UC Davis Nov 30, 2026; Virginia Tech Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman UC Davis students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at Virginia Tech (3.97).
  • Virginia Tech has a higher acceptance rate (54.8%) than UC Davis (41.8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 16.4% at UC Davis vs. 25.3% at Virginia Tech.

UC Davis vs. Virginia Tech Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UC Davis and Virginia Tech? 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).

  • The graduation rate at UC Davis is the same as at Virginia Tech (82% vs. 82%).
  • Graduates from University of California Davis earn a median of about $200 more per year than Virginia Tech graduates about ten years after starting college ($65,200 vs. $65,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Davis graduates have a $9,290 lower median loan debt than Virginia Tech graduates ($14,676 vs. $23,966).
  • Among borrowers, UC Davis graduates have an estimated $96 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Virginia Tech graduates ($151 vs. $247).
  • More UC Davis graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Virginia Tech students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 81%)

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.