University of Kansas (KU) vs UC Davis

Envision yourself as a student, standing at the crossroads of two prestigious universities: the University of Kansas (KU) and the University of California-Davis (UC Davis). Both institutions offer a world-class education, but they have distinct characteristics that may influence your decision. KU, nestled in the heartland of America, boasts a higher acceptance rate, making it more accessible to a broader range of students. UC Davis, on the other hand, is known for its rigorous academic standards, resulting in a lower acceptance rate. Explore the comparison table below to delve into further details about these universities, including popular majors, student body demographics, and graduation rates. Discover which university aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences, setting the stage for an enriching and transformative college experience.
University of California-Davis logo

University of California-Davis

University of Kansas logo

University of Kansas

Overview

Location Davis, California Lawrence, Kansas
Campus setting Suburb: Small City: Small
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% 85.0%
Common app member No Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 48.8% 92.5%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $70

Graduate: $120
Undergraduate: $40

Graduate: $65
SAT range N/A 1090 - 1330
ACT range N/A 21 - 29
Students submitting SAT score 12.0%
Students submitting ACT score 80.0%
Total number of applicants 87,120 15,275
Total number of admissions given out 42,475 14,129
Admitted students who chose to enroll 7,482 4,119
Yield rate 17.6% 29.2%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required 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: $25,259

Out of state: $42,127
Average net price $16,640 $18,608
Tuition
In state: $11,442

Out of state: $41,196
In state: $10,092

Out of state: $26,960
Room & board $17,018
Room/dormitory: $6,100

Meal plan: $3,800
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

59.0%
Average amount $17,628
80.0%
Average amount $10,408
Students receiving federal student loan 23.0%
Average amount $4,043
40.0%
Average amount $5,220
Students taking out private loans 11.0%
Average amount $3,360
6.0%
Average amount $13,036

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 31,657
Men 39.8% Women 60.2%
19,158
Men 46.8% Women 53.2%
Graduate students 8,393
Men 43.8% Women 56.2%
7,622
Men 42.7% Women 57.3%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Moderate
Low
Out-of-state students 7.5% 41.5%
International students 17.0% 6.8%
Campus local/setting Suburb: Small City: Small
Dormitory capacity 11,142 5,235
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 Kansas Missouri Illinois Texas Colorado

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
  • Business
  • Agriculture
  • Engineering
  • Family and Consumer Sciences
  • Health Professions
  • Business
  • Education
  • Engineering
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
Students to faculty ratio 21:1 17:1
Institutional accreditation Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission Higher Learning Commission

Outcome

Graduation rate 86.9% 66.0%
Dropout rate 11.8% 7.8%
Transferred out N/A 24.6%
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 (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $160,586
  • Year 2: $170,720
  • Year 3: $156,139
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $112,189
  • Year 2: $119,061
  • Year 3: $123,797
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $80,966
  • Year 2: $73,299
  • Year 3: $88,195
Petroleum Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $71,179
  • Year 2: $63,005
  • Year 3: $81,042
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $69,338
  • Year 3: $78,614
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $67,617
  • Year 2: $72,625
  • Year 3: $77,366
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $64,974
  • Year 2: $66,001
  • Year 3: $73,900
Chemical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $65,436
  • Year 2: $59,722
  • Year 3: $72,306
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $64,919
  • Year 2: $64,990
  • Year 3: $68,960
Law (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $56,347
  • Year 2: $53,108
  • Year 3: $68,650

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