What is UC Davis ranked in the US?

UC Davis consistently ranks among the top U.S. universities, typically placing around #9-10 among public universities and #28-32 nationally in major rankings like U.S. News & World Report for 2026, while also appearing in the top 10 for specific programs like veterinary science and environmental engineering, and achieving high marks for research impact and social mobility across various publications.

Is UC Davis a top 10 school?

This is the fifth consecutive year the campus has been ranked among the media outlet's top 10 public universities. UC Davis continues to score high in the most prestigious college rankings for its quality of education, the impact of its research, the social mobility it offers students and more.

What is the #1 university in the US?

There isn't one single #1 university in the U.S., as rankings vary by source, but Princeton University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and Harvard University consistently appear at the very top, often trading #1 spots in major lists like U.S. News & World Report, Times Higher Education, and Forbes. 

Is UC Davis a big deal?

In other major rankings: UC Davis stands second in the nation among public universities and 13th among all universities for how well it sets its graduates up for financial success in The Wall Street Journal/College Pulse 2026 rankings released Sept. 29.

Is UC Davis a little ivy?

UC Davis also offers certificates and courses, including online classes, for adults and non-traditional learners through its Division of Continuing and Professional Education. The university is considered a Public Ivy.

Year in Review: UC Davis Ranks Among Top Public Universities in U.S.

Is it harder to get into UC Davis or UCLA?

It is significantly harder to get into UCLA than UC Davis, with UCLA consistently having a much lower acceptance rate (often in the single digits or low teens) and receiving far more applications, making it one of the most selective universities in the U.S., while UC Davis is moderately competitive but much more accessible, often in the 40%+ range. 

What are the big 3 UC schools?

Three University of California (UC) campuses are UC Berkeley, UCLA (Los Angeles), and UC San Diego, with other major ones including UC Davis, UC Irvine, UC Santa Barbara, UC Santa Cruz, UC Riverside, UC Merced, and the graduate-only UC San Francisco. These campuses offer diverse academic programs and unique campus cultures across California, from the Bay Area (Berkeley) to Southern California (UCLA, UCSD).
 

Why is UC Davis so hard to get into?

UC Davis is hard to get into because it receives a massive number of highly qualified applicants, leading to intense competition, especially for popular majors, even with a strong applicant pool featuring near 4.0 GPAs, so you need excellent grades, challenging coursework, standout essays, and impressive extracurriculars to distinguish yourself beyond just meeting the basic requirements. Its holistic review process weighs numerous factors, meaning high scores alone aren't enough for some, while its growing reputation beyond agriculture attracts more diverse applicants, increasing selectivity. 

What is the #1 hardest college to get into?

There isn't one single #1 hardest school, as it changes slightly by year and criteria, but Harvard University, Stanford University, MIT, and Caltech consistently rank among the top with extremely low acceptance rates (often 3-4%) and intense competition for spots, though other top global universities like Oxford and Tsinghua are also incredibly selective. Harvard is frequently cited as the hardest due to its high volume of applications and focus on global leadership potential, while Caltech is known for its extreme difficulty in STEM. 

Did anyone famous go to UC Davis?

University of California, Davis (UC Davis) has many notable alumni in various fields, including Nobel laureate James P. Allison, astronauts like Tracy Caldwell Dyson, politicians such as former CA Supreme Court Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye, celebrity chef Martin Yan, and entertainers like Hasan Minhaj and Adam Duritz (Counting Crows), along with athletes like Urijah Faber. 

What are the big 3 US colleges?

The "Big Three" U.S. universities traditionally refer to Harvard University, Yale University, and Princeton University, an Ivy League trio known for academic prestige, historical significance (especially in football rivalry), and consistent high rankings, often grouped as HYP or part of the even more selective HYPSM (adding Stanford and MIT).
 

What is the #2 university in the US?

MIT has placed second in U.S. News and World Report's annual rankings of the nation's best universities, announced today. As in past years, MIT's engineering program continues to lead the list of undergraduate engineering programs at a doctoral institution.

What is the best university in California?

California is also famed for its prestigious universities, which include the world-famous Stanford University, the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), the University of California, Berkeley, and University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).

Why is UC Davis so popular?

UC Davis is a tier-one research university. Discoveries made by our students and faculty continue to improve the lives of people here in California and around the world.

Who is UC Davis' rival school?

GAME NOTES

For the 72nd time UC Davis and Sacramento State meet for the Causeway Classic in one of the oldest on-going rivalries in the Northern California region ... The Aggies come into the matchup having won the previous two meetings, snapping a stretch where the Hornets had won three-straight ...

Is getting into UC Davis impressive?

The acceptance rate at UC Davis is 41.8%.

For every 100 applicants, 42 are admitted. This means the school is moderately selective.

Where do top 1% send kids to college?

The "top 1%" of students, referring to those from the highest income brackets, tend to attend elite universities like MIT, Harvard, Stanford, Princeton, and Yale that consistently rank high in national and global lists, with some even having more students from the top 1% income bracket than the bottom 60% combined, according to The New York Times data. Top-ranked institutions like MIT, Princeton, Harvard, and Stanford are frequent top contenders in various 2026 rankings from U.S. News & World Report and Times Higher Education. 

Where do the 1% go to college?

The 1% of the wealthiest Americans disproportionately attend highly selective, elite universities, particularly Ivy League schools (Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Dartmouth, Brown, Penn, Columbia) and other top institutions like MIT, Stanford, Duke, and UChicago, where they make up a large percentage of the student body, often outnumbering students from the bottom 60% of income earners combined. Liberal arts colleges and prestigious public universities also attract many wealthy students, with specific examples including WashU St. Louis, UVA, UCLA, UC Berkeley, Vanderbilt, and Johns Hopkins.
 

What is the easiest college in America to get into?

Easiest colleges to get into in the United States

• Chestnut Hill College acceptance rate.
• Saint Martin's University acceptance rate.
• Palm Beach Atlantic University acceptance rate.
• Colorado State University-Pueblo acceptance rate.
• The Evergreen State College acceptance rate.
• University of Wyoming acceptance rate.

Is UC Davis prestigious?

Yes, UC Davis is a prestigious university, consistently ranked among the top public universities in the U.S. (often top 10-15 nationally) and globally, known for strong research, innovative programs, high social mobility, and standout fields like Agriculture, Veterinary Medicine, and Engineering. It's considered a "Public Ivy" and a major research powerhouse, though it often sits just below the top-tier reputation of UCLA and UC Berkeley within the UC system. 

Which UC is known for partying?

By the numbers: According to the findings, the University of California, Santa Barbara, was ranked the top party school in the nation. Last year, the school also ranked first.

What is the 9% rule for UC?

The UC's 9% rule refers to two guaranteed admission pathways for top-performing California residents: the Statewide Guarantee for those in the top 9% statewide (based on a formula including A-G courses and UC GPA) and Eligible in the Local Context (ELC) for those in the top 9% of their specific participating high school, ensuring a spot at a UC if space is available. 

Which UC is the safest?

Which UC campus is the safest? UC Riverside, Santa Barbara, and San Diego are generally considered to be the safest UC campuses.

What is the #1 ranked school in California?

There's no single "number 1 school" as rankings vary by source and focus (public/private, high school/elementary/university), but top contenders often include California Academy of Mathematics & Science (CAMS) and Whitney High School for public high schools, while institutions like UCLA, UC Berkeley, and Stanford lead university rankings, with specific elementary schools like Duveneck also praised.