What makes UC Davis unique?

UC Davis is unique for its top-ranked agriculture/veterinary medicine, pioneering sustainability and bike-friendly campus (first city bike lanes), distinct Aggie culture (Picnic Day, cows on campus, "Aggie Pack"), and strong focus on research and health sciences (top medical/nursing schools). It blends a small-town, friendly feel with big-university resources, offering unusual classes (brewing, wine) and unique programs like student firefighters, all within a beautiful, bike-centric environment.

What is special about UC Davis?

World-class research

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.

What major is UC Davis most known for?

Some of the most popular UC Davis majors in the College of Letters and Sciences include psychology, economics, communication, and political science. Note that while you will declare a college major on your UC Davis application, you can also apply undecided.

What is UC Davis the best at?

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 UCD famous for?

UCD is globally recognised for its excellence in teaching and learning – 4 subjects are ranked in the top 50 in the world in the latest edition of the most-consulted university rankings ((opens in a new window)QS World University Ranking by Subject 2025).

Why Pursue an M.F.A. in Art Studio at UC Davis?

What is UC Davis #1 in?

Ranked 1st in the nation in agriculture and forestry.

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.

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.

What is the #1 college in California?

The number one college in California depends on the ranking system, but Stanford University consistently ranks first overall, followed closely by institutions like the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) and the University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley), which is often the top public university. For public options, UCLA and UC Berkeley are top contenders.
 

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.

Did anyone famous go to UC Davis?

UC Davis has many notable alumni in diverse fields like government (Darrell Steinberg, Ann Veneman), science (NASA astronauts Tracy Caldwell Dyson, Stephen Robinson, Nobel laureate James P. Allison), entertainment (Adam Duritz of Counting Crows, chef Martin Yan, comedian Hasan Minhaj), sports (Urijah Faber, Joe Biagini), and business, reflecting strong presence in technology, law, and public service, including leaders like Tani Cantil-Sakauye (former CA Supreme Court Chief Justice) and Kimberly Guilfoyle (legal analyst).
 

What are the cons of going to UC Davis?

Size: UC Davis is a larger university, which could mean larger class sizes and potentially less individual attention from professors, depending on your major. 3. Impersonal feel: The large student body at UC Davis could make the environment feel overwhelming to some students and potentially harder to make friends.

Why is UC Davis ranked so high?

UC Davis ranks highly due to strong performance in areas like research impact, social mobility, public service, and innovative teaching, consistently placing it in the top 10 public universities by U.S. News & World Report. Its focus on accessibility, student outcomes (graduation, debt, post-college success), and diverse enrollment aligns with newer ranking criteria, boosting its position. 

What are some UC Davis hidden gems?

UC Davis Hidden Gems

• Putah Creek Reserve.
• UC Davis Arboretum.
• Redwoods.
• Botanical Conservatory.
• Animal Science Gateway Garden.
• ASUCD Community Garden.
• BOG Garden.
• The Greenhouse.

Is UC Davis a dry campus?

No, UC Davis is not a completely dry campus, but alcohol is heavily regulated and restricted, especially in public areas; it's allowed in private spaces like residence interiors with permits for events, while the Gunrock Pub in the Silo is a rare exception for serving alcohol on campus, requiring adherence to strict policies, age restrictions, and event permits for most other consumption. 

What's the hardest California college to get into?

The hardest California colleges to get into consistently include California Institute of Technology (Caltech), Stanford University, and Minerva University (based in SF), all with extremely low acceptance rates (around 3-4%), followed by top liberal arts schools like Pomona College and Claremont McKenna College, and major universities like UCLA, UC Berkeley, and USC, known for intense competition and high academic demands.
 

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 are the top 3 UC's?

The top 3 UC campuses consistently ranked highest in recent years by publications like U.S. News & World Report and Forbes are UC Berkeley, UCLA, and UC San Diego, often trading the top spots, with UC Davis and UC Irvine also frequently appearing in the top tier. These rankings consider factors like academics, selectivity, and return on investment, with Berkeley and UCLA often leading as the top public universities in the nation.
 

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 11 Little Ivies?

The Little Ivies are also sub-grouped by the following consortia: The New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) members: Amherst, Bates, Bowdoin, Colby, Connecticut College, Hamilton, Middlebury, Trinity, Tufts, Wesleyan and Williams.

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. 

Which UC has the happiest students?

UC Davis Is One of the 25 Happiest Public Universities in the US.