Virginia Tech vs UC Davis

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) and University of California-Davis (UC Davis) are two highly regarded public research universities with distinct characteristics. Virginia Tech, located in Blacksburg, Virginia, boasts a larger student body and a higher acceptance rate compared to UC Davis, situated in Davis, California. While both universities offer a wide range of academic programs, Virginia Tech excels in engineering, agriculture, and business, while UC Davis is renowned for its programs in agriculture, biological sciences, and veterinary medicine. Explore our comprehensive comparison table to delve into further details about these universities, including their acceptance rates, popular majors, student body demographics, graduation rates, and more, to help you make an informed decision about your higher education journey.

	University of California-Davis	Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Overview
Location	Davis, California	Blacksburg, Virginia
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%	92.0%
Common app member	No	Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission
Acceptance rate	48.8%	56.5%
Application fees	Undergraduate: $70 Graduate: $120	Undergraduate: $60 Graduate: $75
SAT range	N/A	1210 - 1410
ACT range	N/A	26 - 32
Students submitting SAT score		83.0%
Students submitting ACT score		35.0%
Total number of applicants	87,120	42,054
Total number of admissions given out	42,475	23,746
Admitted students who chose to enroll	7,482	6,758
Yield rate	17.6%	28.5%
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: $30,104 Out of state: $49,787
Average net price	$16,640	$20,109
Tuition	In state: $11,442 Out of state: $41,196	In state: $11,750 Out of state: $30,829
Room & board	$17,018	Room/dormitory: $5,890 Meal plan: $4,736
Available payment plans	Tuition payment plan	Tuition payment plan Other alternative tuition plan

Financial Aid
Students receiving financial aid (Grants & scholarships)	59.0% Average amount $17,628	58.0% Average amount $8,018
Students receiving federal student loan	23.0% Average amount $4,043	40.0% Average amount $5,316
Students taking out private loans	11.0% Average amount $3,360	9.0% Average amount $20,728

Students and Campus
Undergraduate students	31,657 Men 39.8% Women 60.2%	29,760 Men 57.3% Women 42.7%
Graduate students	8,393 Men 43.8% Women 56.2%	7,519 Men 56.5% Women 43.5%
Racial/ethnic diversity	Moderate	Low
Out-of-state students	7.5%	39.5%
International students	17.0%	9.9%
Campus local/setting	Suburb: Small	City: Small
Dormitory capacity	11,142	9,471
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	Virginia Maryland New Jersey North Carolina Pennsylvania

Academics
Popular study areas	Biological and Biomedical Sciences Business Agriculture Engineering Family and Consumer Sciences	Engineering Business Family and Consumer Sciences Computer and Information Science Natural Resources and Conservation
Students to faculty ratio	21:1	14:1
Institutional accreditation	Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission	Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges

Outcome
Graduation rate	86.9%	86.6%
Dropout rate	11.8%	12.3%
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	Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $105,287 Year 2: $113,246 Year 3: $125,427 Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services, Other (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $97,383 Year 2: $96,691 Year 3: $106,931 Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $82,448 Year 2: $88,678 Year 3: $96,747 Veterinary Medicine (Doctoral Degrees) Year 1: $76,172 Year 2: N/A Year 3: $93,580 Computer Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $75,104 Year 2: $78,488 Year 3: $90,164 Public Administration (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $59,370 Year 2: $75,518 Year 3: $87,658 Educational Administration and Supervision (Doctoral Degrees) Year 1: $81,573 Year 2: $91,211 Year 3: $84,990 Mechanical Engineering (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $80,460 Year 2: $73,635 Year 3: $83,712 Chemical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $72,805 Year 2: $73,272 Year 3: $82,738 Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $67,610 Year 2: $70,680 Year 3: $81,822

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the main differences between Virginia Tech and UC Davis?

Virginia Tech (Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University) is a large, public land-grant university located in Blacksburg, Virginia, known for its strong engineering, agriculture, and architecture programs. UC Davis (University of California, Davis) is also a large, public land-grant university, but it's located in Davis, California, and is renowned for its agricultural, biological sciences, veterinary medicine, and environmental science programs. Virginia Tech has a more pronounced military tradition, while UC Davis is closer to major metropolitan areas like Sacramento and San Francisco.
Which university is better for engineering programs?

Both Virginia Tech and UC Davis have excellent engineering programs, but Virginia Tech is generally considered to have a stronger and more comprehensive engineering focus, particularly in fields like aerospace, mechanical, and civil engineering. UC Davis also offers strong engineering programs, especially in areas like biological and agricultural engineering, reflecting its strengths in those fields.
How do the agricultural programs at Virginia Tech and UC Davis compare?

Both universities have outstanding agricultural programs, but UC Davis is often ranked higher and has a broader range of specializations within agriculture, including viticulture (wine-making), enology, and a strong emphasis on sustainable agriculture. Virginia Tech's agricultural programs are also excellent, with strengths in animal science, crop and soil environmental sciences, and agricultural economics.
What is the campus environment like at each university?

Virginia Tech has a more traditional, close-knit campus environment in a smaller town setting. It's known for its strong school spirit and Hokie pride. UC Davis has a more laid-back, bicycle-friendly campus in a college town atmosphere. It's closer to larger cities and offers a more diverse range of cultural and social activities.
How do the costs of attending Virginia Tech and UC Davis compare?

The cost of attendance varies significantly depending on residency. For in-state students, Virginia Tech is generally less expensive than UC Davis. However, for out-of-state students, the costs can be comparable, although UC Davis may still be slightly higher. It's important to check the most recent tuition and fees on each university's website for the most accurate information.
Which university is more diverse?

UC Davis generally has a more diverse student body than Virginia Tech, particularly in terms of racial and ethnic diversity. Both universities are committed to promoting diversity and inclusion, but UC Davis benefits from being located in California, a state with a highly diverse population.
What are the research opportunities like at Virginia Tech and UC Davis?

Both Virginia Tech and UC Davis are major research universities with extensive research opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students. UC Davis has a strong emphasis on agricultural, environmental, and biological sciences research, while Virginia Tech has strengths in engineering, technology, and defense-related research. Both offer numerous labs, centers, and institutes where students can get involved in cutting-edge research.
How do the career services and job placement rates compare?

Both universities have strong career services departments that offer resources such as career counseling, resume workshops, and job fairs. Graduates from both institutions are highly sought after by employers. Virginia Tech has strong connections with companies in the Mid-Atlantic region, particularly in engineering and technology, while UC Davis has strong connections with companies in California, especially in agriculture, technology, and healthcare.
What is the student-faculty ratio at each university?

The student-faculty ratio is similar at both universities. Virginia Tech's student-faculty ratio is around 14:1, while UC Davis's is around 20:1. While the numbers are close, keep in mind that the actual experience can vary depending on the department and specific courses.
Which university is better for pre-med students?

Both Virginia Tech and UC Davis can be good choices for pre-med students. UC Davis has a strong advantage due to its highly-ranked medical school and veterinary school, providing opportunities for research and clinical experience. Virginia Tech also offers excellent pre-med advising and coursework, and its location provides access to hospitals and healthcare facilities.
What are the popular majors at each university?

At Virginia Tech, popular majors include engineering (various disciplines), business, computer science, and biological sciences. At UC Davis, popular majors include biological sciences, agriculture and environmental sciences, engineering, and social sciences.
How does the location of each university affect student life?

Virginia Tech is located in Blacksburg, Virginia, a smaller college town in the Appalachian Mountains. This provides a more focused campus environment with strong school spirit and outdoor recreational opportunities. UC Davis is located in Davis, California, a larger college town in the Sacramento Valley. Its proximity to Sacramento and San Francisco offers students access to a wider range of cultural, entertainment, and career opportunities.

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