University of California-Davis
University of California-Davis — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
University of California-Davis at a Glance
The University of California, Davis is a public land-grant research university in the Davis, California area, United States. It is the northernmost of the ten campuses of the University of California system. The institution was first founded as an agricultural branch of the system in 1905 and became the sixth campus of the University of California in 1959.
1908
118 years old
$770M
$770.4 million (2024)
39,414
31,797 undergrad · 7,912 grad
2,175
21:1 student:faculty
7,331 acres
10
Identity
Is University of California-Davis Worth It?
University of California-Davis is one of the strongest value propositions in higher education. At $14,741/year net price and $80,838 median earnings, graduates earn 5.5× their annual cost within a decade of enrolling.
The investment pays for itself in just 0.7 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
With a 85% graduation rate, the vast majority of students finish their degree and reach these earning outcomes.
Median student debt of $13,000 is manageable at just 16% of first-year post-graduation earnings.
Bottom line: University of California-Davis delivers strong financial returns that justify the investment for most students.
How University of California-Davis compares to peer public colleges of similar tier in CA
Ranked #1 of 17 on value score. Peers are matched by size, median earnings, SAT, and admission rate — not just geography.
| Rank | College | Value | Net price / yr | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | University of California-Davis | 100 | $14,741 | $80,838 |
| #2 | California State University-Long Beach | 100 | $10,440 | $64,403 |
| #3 | University of Georgia | 100 | $13,936 | $68,726 |
| #4 | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign | 100 | $14,355 | $81,054 |
| #5 | University of Maryland-College Park | 100 | $15,678 | $82,860 |
| #6 | CUNY Bernard M Baruch College | 100 | $3,033 | $75,971 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of University of California-Davis's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 3 in CA.
Best Programs at University of California-Davis
The highest-earning program at University of California-Davis is Computer Engineering at $76,300/year (4 years after graduation). The lowest is Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at $17,600/year.
Your major matters more than the school name — a Computer Engineering graduate from University of California-Davis earns $76,300, while a Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities graduate earns $17,600. That's more than a 2× difference from the same institution. Choose your program carefully — it's the single biggest lever you control.
Debt also varies by program: Computer Engineering graduates carry $12,500 in median debt vs. $17,726 for Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $14,741/yr net price × 4 years
Earnings Premium
vs. national average of $53,787/yr
Payback Period
Time to recoup the total cost through higher earnings
10-Year Net Gain
Median earnings over 10 years minus total cost of attendance
Programs & Earnings by Major
Graduate earnings data by field of study (4 years after graduation):
| Major | Earnings (4yr) | Earnings (1yr) | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Engineering | $76,300 | $76,300 | $12,500 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $75,100 | $75,100 | $13,223 |
| Engineering, General | $68,100 | $68,100 | $13,334 |
| Civil Engineering | $62,400 | $62,400 | $15,957 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $61,700 | $61,700 | $13,427 |
| Chemical Engineering | $57,300 | $57,300 | $16,564 |
| Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering | $53,100 | $53,100 | $15,500 |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | $49,200 | $49,200 | $13,000 |
| Statistics | $47,900 | $47,900 | $14,276 |
| Landscape Architecture | $47,700 | $47,700 | $13,476 |
| Business/Managerial Economics | $46,800 | $46,800 | $11,000 |
| Biotechnology | $43,700 | $43,700 | $11,638 |
| Economics | $42,900 | $42,900 | $12,501 |
| Applied Mathematics | $41,700 | $41,700 | $14,000 |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | $39,300 | $39,300 | $15,103 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $37,900 | $37,900 | $12,000 |
| Chemistry | $37,700 | $37,700 | $13,443 |
| Food Science and Technology | $36,300 | $36,300 | $15,000 |
| Social Sciences, Other | $36,100 | $36,100 | $13,849 |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | $35,800 | $35,800 | $13,000 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | $35,300 | $35,300 | $14,755 |
| Microbiological Sciences and Immunology | $35,100 | $35,100 | $17,316 |
| Agricultural Production Operations | $34,700 | $34,700 | $16,496 |
| Mathematics | $34,500 | $34,500 | $14,000 |
| Political Science and Government | $33,900 | $33,900 | $13,593 |
| Design and Applied Arts | $33,900 | $33,900 | $13,333 |
| Pharmacology and Toxicology | $33,600 | $33,600 | $13,250 |
| Genetics | $33,400 | $33,400 | $15,000 |
| Public Administration and Social Service Professions, Other | $33,100 | $33,100 | $13,000 |
| International Relations and National Security Studies | $31,800 | $31,800 | $15,000 |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences | $31,500 | $31,500 | $15,000 |
| Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology | $31,400 | $31,400 | $16,302 |
| Philosophy | $31,300 | $31,300 | $13,183 |
| Sociology | $30,700 | $30,700 | $13,500 |
| Physics | $30,600 | $30,600 | $15,500 |
| Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences | $30,500 | $30,500 | $12,500 |
| Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration | $30,500 | $30,500 | $13,500 |
| Biology, General | $30,200 | $30,200 | $13,417 |
| Research and Experimental Psychology | $29,900 | $29,900 | $13,795 |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies | $29,500 | $29,500 | $16,494 |
| Psychology, Other | $29,400 | $29,400 | $13,708 |
| Anthropology | $27,800 | $27,800 | $14,640 |
| Nutrition Sciences | $27,700 | $27,700 | $14,765 |
| Animal Sciences | $27,100 | $27,100 | $14,980 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $26,400 | $26,400 | $15,000 |
| East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $26,100 | $26,100 | $11,038 |
| Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services | $25,600 | $25,600 | $14,110 |
| Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences | $25,400 | $25,400 | $17,286 |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $25,200 | $25,200 | $16,961 |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | $24,200 | $24,200 | $14,558 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $24,200 | $24,200 | $13,750 |
| Natural Resources and Conservation, Other | $24,100 | $24,100 | $15,500 |
| History | $23,800 | $23,800 | $15,000 |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | $18,800 | $18,800 | $16,375 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $17,600 | $17,600 | $17,726 |
Similar Colleges in CA
Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- public
- Location
- Davis, CA
- Student Body
- 32,253 students
- Admission Rate
- 42%
- Graduation Rate
- 85%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $14,741
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $80,838
- Median Student Debt
- $13,000