History
We first opened our doors in 1908 as the University Farm, the research and science-based instruction extension of UC Berkeley. As the century evolved, our mission expanded beyond agriculture to match a larger understanding of how we should be serving the public. By 1959, UC Davis had grown into a general campus with its own personality and strengths.
Education
Our goal in this 2020 Initiative is to increase financial stability by reducing our reliance on the state for funding. UC Davis is doing this by adding 5,000 new undergraduates — Californian, national and international students — between 2011 and 2020. This initiative has allowed us to provide more international experiences for our campus community. At the same time, we’re creating a more diverse educational climate as we educate future global leaders.
Research
Whether UC Davis is predicting the next global virus before it happens or developing more nutritious wheat for a hungry world, our research is making the world a better place to live. Here is where you will improve health, enrich life and help feed the world. Come to one of the top public research universities to make your mark.
The Office of Research assists our campus by cultivating relationships with government and industry, helping faculty in developing research and scholarly studies, and in coordinating the patenting and licensing of intellectual property.
Career
Together, UC Davis’ two campuses — in Davis and Sacramento — constitute the second-largest individual employer in the Sacramento region, behind only the state of California.
Student services
Academic Resources
- Academics at UC Davis
- Internship and Career Center
- Office of Graduate Studies
- Office of the University Registrar
- Office of Student Affairs
- Student Academic Success Center
- Student Disability Center
- Office of Student Support and Judicial Affairs
Housing services
Freshmen live in a variety of residence halls that include Tercero 3, our first to earn the top national rating for being sustainable. If you are concerned about liking your potential roommate, did you know you can request a roommate at UC Davis? Learn more about your resources available through Student Housing.
Library services
10 million library assets
Think of the extensive assets that you can use: 10 million items, including books, journals, databases, music, maps, and photos, among other resources in print and digital formats. Plus, you’ll have access to the whole UC library system – second only to the Library of Congress. You’ll have extensive borrowing privileges just by being a UC Davis student.
Medical services
You can find world-class health care in Northern California at UC Davis — and find UC Davis discoveries influencing health around the globe. We serve the public — and our own students — by focusing on improving lives, transforming care and sharing knowledge to advance health for all.
Campus life
At UC Davis, you will make your mark. By forging great friendships, joining clubs, playing sports and taking part in campus life, you will make the most of your time as a college student — and find out who you are. This campus is rich with traditions like Picnic Day and Homecoming, but you will also be part of our biggest Aggie tradition — doing things your way while transforming our university and making the world a better place. You’ll pick up life skills along the way, like leadership. And you’ll find UC Davis is one of a kind, like you.
Sports facilities
Play soccer, football, tennis, volleyball, baseball and more at our athletics facilities. Located all over campus, facilities like the UC Davis Health Stadium, come in many makes and shapes.
UC Davis intercollegiate athletics are open to everyone — spectators as well as participants. Being a UC Davis member means you can cheer on 25 NCAA varsity teams.
The Aggies have won conference championships in men's basketball, women's basketball and men's water polo. UC Davis also holds individual conference titles in gymnastics, swimming and diving, and track and field.
Student clubs
Get active in one or more of our 800-plus student clubs. You’ll find several that line up with your interests, whether you are interested in cultural identity, religion, a future profession, artistic expression or community service.
Or, maybe you want to explore. Volunteering with a club or organization is an opportunity to develop leadership and communication skills.
Accreditation
The University of California, Davis is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), an institutional accrediting body recognized by the Council for Higher Education and the U.S. Department of Education.
University of California, Davis Overview
University of California, Davis Rankings
Study Portals Meta Ranking
Top 1% United States
Top 1.8% Worldwide
Studyportals ranking look at the scores of the most used ranking systems and present you with one number of how well this University performs.
World University Rankings
64
By Times Higher Education
Dropped 2 places compared to 2025
World University Rankings is a vital resource that provides the definitive list of the world's best universities. They look at how often they're producing new ideas, what their reputation is around the world, and how much they're contributing to science and academic fields. After calculating and comparing these criteria, THE ranks the universities accordingly.
3 year trend World University Rankings
| 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| 59 | 62 | 64 |
We don’t have enough recent ranking data to show a 3-year trend for this university.
Best Global Universities Rankings
96
By U.S. News & World Report
Dropped 7 places compared to 2025
Best Global Universities Rankings by U.S. News & World Report presents all the top universities from the U.S. and 60 other countries around the world. They measure the rate of students going to their second year of studies, as well as the rate of students who graduate. It also asks university representatives on the performance of universities, and evaluates university resources, teacher salaries, graduation rates, student academic achievements and satisfaction. After calculating and comparing these criteria, U.S. News ranks the top international universities accordingly.
3 year trend Best Global Universities Rankings
| 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| 73 | 89 | 96 |
We don’t have enough recent ranking data to show a 3-year trend for this university.
Academic Ranking of World Universities
101
By Shanghai Jiao Tong University
The university hasn’t moved up or down in the rankings over the past year.
ARWU World University rankings is the first world university ranking. It ranks the world's top 1000 colleges and universities based on objective indicator. They look at the number of award-winning (Fields Medals and Nobel Prize) scientists who are located there, how much of their research is cited and referenced around the world, and how much they've contributed to different academic fields. After calculating and comparing these criteria, ARWU ranks the universities accordingly.
3 year trend Academic Ranking of World Universities
| 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 101 | 101 | 101 |
We don’t have enough recent ranking data to show a 3-year trend for this university.
QS World University Rankings
114
By TopUniversities
Climbed 16 places compared to 2025
QS World University Rankings is one of the top international rankings measuring the popularity and performance of universities all over the world. They measure university reputation based on the impressions of higher education experts, companies who hire graduates, and teaching quality. QS also considers the ratio of international teachers and students present at universities, as well as the times research papers were mentioned by researchers. After calculating and comparing these criteria, QS ranks the universities accordingly.
3 year trend QS World University Rankings
| 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| 132 | 130 | 114 |
We don’t have enough recent ranking data to show a 3-year trend for this university.
University of California, Davis Campus Locations
#1 Main Campus
United States Country
Davis City
University of California, Davis Student Reviews & Awards
4.4
Based on 12 reviews
- 5 Star 6 Reviews
- 4 Star 5 Reviews
- 3 Star 1 Review
- 2 Star 0 Reviews
- 1 Star 0 Reviews
UC Davis Bachelor Review
I really liked the atmosphere at UC Davis. It was challenging, but everyone was very supportive and wanted to help each other succeed. The classes were good and engaging and there were a lot of opportunities. I found it easy to make friends and find clubs where I felt I connected with people. Lastly, and most importantly, there was a wide variety of research opportunities and they provided a great hands-on experience.
Good education, average company.
Good teachers, good location. Average administration.
Commitment to students
The institution's educational approach is truly exceptional, thanks to the faculty members' unwavering commitment to enhancing students' academic achievements. With remarkable enthusiasm, they provide invaluable support to help students overcome learning challenges and address their questions with utmost dedication. Those seeking to optimize their academic potential will find University of California, Davis to be an excellent choice.
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