UC Davis vs Mizzou

Envision yourself immersed in the vibrant college towns of Davis, California, and Columbia, Missouri, home to the esteemed University of California-Davis (UC Davis) and the University of Missouri-Columbia (Mizzou), respectively. While both universities share a commitment to academic excellence, they offer distinct experiences shaped by their unique locations, student demographics, and academic strengths. UC Davis boasts a lower acceptance rate, a larger student body, and a higher graduation rate, while Mizzou offers a more diverse student body and a lower cost of attendance. Dive into our comprehensive comparison table to explore the nuances of each university, including popular majors, faculty-to-student ratios, and notable alumni, to help you make an informed decision that aligns with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.

	University of California-Davis	University of Missouri-Columbia
Overview
Location	Davis, California	Columbia, Missouri
Campus setting	Suburb: Small	City: Midsize
College type	4 year	4 year
Control/business model	Public	Public
Calendar system	Quarter	Semester
Degrees offered	Undergraduate and Graduate	Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate	91.0%	88.0%
Common app member	No	Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission
Acceptance rate	48.8%	76.5%
Application fees	Undergraduate: $70 Graduate: $120	Undergraduate: $55 Graduate: $75
SAT range	N/A	1130 - 1350
ACT range	N/A	23 - 30
Students submitting SAT score		7.0%
Students submitting ACT score		72.0%
Total number of applicants	87,120	19,966
Total number of admissions given out	42,475	15,283
Admitted students who chose to enroll	7,482	4,843
Yield rate	17.6%	31.7%
Test scores (SAT/ACT)	N/A	N/A
High school GPA	Required	Not required
Recommendation letters	Not required	Not required
High school transcript	Not required	Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL)	Required	Required

Tuition and Fees
Sticker price	In state: $32,584 Out of state: $62,338	In state: $27,977 Out of state: $46,952
Average net price	$16,640	$18,249
Tuition	In state: $11,442 Out of state: $41,196	In state: $10,017 Out of state: $28,992
Room & board	$17,018	Room/dormitory: $6,710 Meal plan: $3,500
Available payment plans	Tuition payment plan	Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid
Students receiving financial aid (Grants & scholarships)	59.0% Average amount $17,628	85.0% Average amount $11,312
Students receiving federal student loan	23.0% Average amount $4,043	36.0% Average amount $5,270
Students taking out private loans	11.0% Average amount $3,360	8.0% Average amount $16,554

Students and Campus
Undergraduate students	31,657 Men 39.8% Women 60.2%	23,696 Men 45.9% Women 54.1%
Graduate students	8,393 Men 43.8% Women 56.2%	7,705 Men 38.3% Women 61.7%
Racial/ethnic diversity	Moderate	Low
Out-of-state students	7.5%	31.0%
International students	17.0%	4.1%
Campus local/setting	Suburb: Small	City: Midsize
Dormitory capacity	11,142	6,898
First year students are required to live on campus?	No	No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from	California Washington Illinois Texas Hawaii	Missouri Illinois Texas Kansas Colorado

Academics
Popular study areas	Biological and Biomedical Sciences Business Agriculture Engineering Family and Consumer Sciences	Business Health Professions Ethnic Studies Communication and Journalism Education
Students to faculty ratio	21:1	18:1
Institutional accreditation	Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission	Higher Learning Commission

Outcome
Graduation rate	86.9%	72.5%
Dropout rate	11.8%	26.8%
Transferred out	N/A	N/A
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)	Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $121,903 Year 2: $135,393 Year 3: $137,917 Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $127,500 Year 2: $125,015 Year 3: $135,009 Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $106,299 Year 2: $116,258 Year 3: $127,335 Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $76,488 Year 2: $81,609 Year 3: $103,694 Veterinary Biomedical and Clinical Sciences (First Professional Degrees) Year 1: $80,669 Year 2: N/A Year 3: $100,961 Educational Administration and Supervision (Doctoral Degrees) Year 1: $112,976 Year 2: $98,186 Year 3: $99,585 Computer Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $81,487 Year 2: $82,440 Year 3: $98,364 Mechanical Engineering (Master's Degrees) Year 1: N/A Year 2: $87,604 Year 3: $94,032 Engineering, General (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $74,487 Year 2: $70,370 Year 3: $89,594 Law (First Professional Degrees) Year 1: $73,514 Year 2: $74,262 Year 3: $87,586	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Doctoral Degrees) Year 1: $93,333 Year 2: $100,008 Year 3: $104,573 Business/Commerce, General (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $84,087 Year 2: $80,628 Year 3: $96,108 Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees) Year 1: N/A Year 2: $89,564 Year 3: $93,226 Veterinary Medicine (First Professional Degrees) Year 1: $80,803 Year 2: N/A Year 3: $85,805 Educational Administration and Supervision (Doctoral Degrees) Year 1: $70,511 Year 2: $81,210 Year 3: $81,536 Health and Medical Administrative Services (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $89,866 Year 2: $74,953 Year 3: $79,864 Chemical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $69,895 Year 2: $62,012 Year 3: $79,424 Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $72,907 Year 2: $67,101 Year 3: $78,960 Computer Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $71,579 Year 2: $69,897 Year 3: $78,050 Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $66,571 Year 2: $66,004 Year 3: $74,926

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the main differences between UC Davis and Mizzou?

UC Davis, located in California, is a public land-grant university known for its strong agricultural, biological sciences, and veterinary medicine programs. It has a strong research focus and a diverse student body. Mizzou, the University of Missouri-Columbia, is also a public land-grant university, but located in Missouri. It's known for its journalism school, strong business programs, and a more traditional college town atmosphere. UC Davis tends to be more expensive due to its location in California, while Mizzou offers a more affordable option.
Which university is better for students interested in agriculture?

Both universities have excellent agricultural programs, but UC Davis is generally considered to be a top choice globally. Its College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences is highly ranked and offers a wide range of specializations. Mizzou also has a strong College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources, particularly known for its animal sciences and plant sciences programs. If you're specifically interested in a West Coast agricultural focus or a broader range of agricultural specializations, UC Davis might be a better fit. If you prefer a Midwest focus and specific strengths in animal or plant sciences, Mizzou is a great option.
How do the journalism programs at UC Davis and Mizzou compare?

Mizzou is renowned for its School of Journalism, one of the oldest and most respected in the country. It offers hands-on experience through its 'Missouri Method,' emphasizing learning by doing. UC Davis does not have a dedicated School of Journalism. Instead, it offers programs in communication and science and technology studies, which may be relevant to journalism but are not as directly focused. If journalism is your primary interest, Mizzou is the clear choice.
What is the campus environment like at UC Davis versus Mizzou?

UC Davis has a more suburban campus environment, located in the city of Davis, California. It's known for being bike-friendly and having a strong emphasis on sustainability. Mizzou, located in Columbia, Missouri, offers a more traditional college town experience. The campus is more centrally integrated into the city, with a vibrant downtown area nearby. Mizzou also has a stronger emphasis on Greek life and SEC sports culture.
Which university is more diverse?

UC Davis generally has a more diverse student body than Mizzou. As a California public university, UC Davis draws students from a wide range of backgrounds and ethnicities. Mizzou's student body is primarily from Missouri and surrounding Midwestern states, resulting in less overall diversity.
What are the tuition costs like at UC Davis and Mizzou?

UC Davis is generally more expensive than Mizzou, especially for out-of-state students. Tuition and fees at UC Davis are significantly higher due to California's higher cost of living and the university's funding model. Mizzou offers more affordable tuition, particularly for Missouri residents. Be sure to check the latest tuition rates on each university's website for the most up-to-date information.
How do the research opportunities compare between the two universities?

Both UC Davis and Mizzou are research universities, offering numerous opportunities for students to get involved in research. UC Davis has a strong emphasis on research in areas like agriculture, environmental science, and medicine. Mizzou has notable research programs in journalism, agriculture, and life sciences. The best choice depends on your specific research interests. Explore the faculty and research labs at each university to see which aligns best with your goals.
Which university is better for pre-med students?

Both UC Davis and Mizzou offer strong pre-med programs. UC Davis benefits from its proximity to the UC Davis Medical Center, providing excellent clinical experience opportunities. Mizzou also has a strong medical school and affiliated hospitals, offering similar opportunities. The 'better' choice depends on your individual preferences and the specific resources you're looking for in a pre-med program. Consider factors like research opportunities, advising, and access to clinical experiences.
What are the popular majors at each university?

At UC Davis, popular majors include biological sciences, managerial economics, psychology, and engineering. At Mizzou, popular majors include journalism, business, health professions, and engineering. Your choice should align with your academic interests and career goals.
How do the acceptance rates compare between UC Davis and Mizzou?

UC Davis generally has a more selective acceptance rate than Mizzou. This means that it may be more competitive to get into UC Davis. Check the latest acceptance rates on each university's website to understand the current admissions landscape.

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