CAMPUS · DAVIS, CA · PUBLIC

UC Davis

University of California-Davis

41.6%

01Acceptance 02Tuition 03Transfer 04ROI 05AP Credit 06Majors 07Housing 08International

Sticker Price vs What You Actually Pay

31% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating UC Davis enrolls a meaningful share of lower-income students.

Full Cost Breakdown

Room & Board	$19,302
Total Cost of Attendance	$41,238

What You'll Actually Pay (Net Price by Income)

After financial aid, the real cost depends on your family's income. These are average net prices for students receiving aid.

Family Income	Annual Net Price	4-Year Total
$0-30k	$9,211	$36,844
$30-48k	$9,966	$39,864
$48-75k	$11,951	$47,804
$75-110k	$16,294	$65,176
$110k+	$31,272	$125,088

Financial Aid & Student Debt at UC Davis

31.0%

Pell Grant Recipients

$13,000

Median Debt at Graduation

Is UC Davis Worth the Cost? (ROI Analysis)

$80,838

Median Earnings (10yr)

$13,000

Median Debt

6.2x

Earnings-to-Debt Ratio

A ratio above 2x generally means the investment pays off. UC Davis — 6.2x ratio is excellent — graduates earn well relative to their debt burden.

UC Davis True Cost by Family Income

31% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating UC Davis enrolls a meaningful share of lower-income students.

Family Income	Annual Net Price	4-Year Total
$0-30k	$9,211	$36,844
$30-48k	$9,966	$39,864
$48-75k	$11,951	$47,804
$75-110k	$16,294	$65,176
$110k+	$31,272	$125,088

Cost Breakdown

Room & Board	$19,302
Total Cost of Attendance	$41,238

Financial Aid & Student Debt

31.0%

Pell Grant Recipients

Students from low-income families

$13,000

Median Debt at Graduation

Federal loans only

$58,461

Median Earnings (6yr)

6 years after enrollment

UC Davis Tuition & Cost FAQs

How much does UC Davis actually cost per year?

UC Davis's sticker price (cost of attendance) is $41,238/yr — that includes tuition, room and board, and fees. After financial aid, the average family pays just $15,739/yr, a 62% discount off sticker price.

Does UC Davis offer good financial aid?

31% of UC Davis students receive Pell Grants (federal need-based aid). Most US colleges including UC Davis also award institutional grants on top of federal aid — apply via FAFSA, plus the CSS Profile if UC Davis requires it.

What income bracket pays the least at UC Davis?

Families earning under $30,000/yr typically pay around $9,211/yr at UC Davis after financial aid, while families earning over $110,000/yr pay closer to $31,272/yr. The full breakdown by income bracket is in the True Cost table above.

Is UC Davis worth the cost?

UC Davis graduates earn a median of $80,838 10 years post-graduation. Against a 4-year sticker cost of about $164,952 (less for most families with aid), grads typically recoup the investment within several years of work.