The University of California, Davis (UC Davis) is a premier public research university known for its outstanding agricultural, engineering, and biological sciences programs. Over the past few years, the admissions landscape across the UC system has become increasingly competitive, with application volumes consistently nearing 100,000 students. As a test-blind institution, UC Davis evaluates applicants through 13 holistic criteria, placing significant statistical emphasis on academic GPA and the rigor of a student's secondary school record.

Class of 2030 (Predicted)

While the official Common Data Set for the Class of 2030 (Fall 2026 entry) has not yet been fully released, early indicators and recent trends allow us to project the current admissions landscape. We predict the UC Davis Class of 2030 acceptance rate will land between 41.5% and 42.5%.

Our analysis shows that application volumes have largely stabilized just shy of 100,000 applicants following the initial pandemic-era surge [1]. Because the university's target enrollment sizes and housing capacities remain relatively fixed, the admissions office has maintained a consistent admission target of around 40,000 to 41,000 students to yield an incoming class of approximately 6,800. Unless there is an unexpected spike in yield rates, the acceptance rate should remain closely aligned with the previous two admissions cycles.

Note: We will update this section with official statistics and a visual breakdown as soon as the Class of 2030 Common Data Set is formally published.

Class of 2029 Admissions Statistics

For the most recently completed admissions cycle (Class of 2029), UC Davis received a massive 98,869 applications. Of those, 41,353 were admitted, resulting in an overall acceptance rate of 41.8% [1].

Digging into the numbers, we see a fascinating waitlist dynamic. UC Davis offered a waitlist spot to 17,166 applicants, and 9,609 chose to opt in. Ultimately, 4,309 students were admitted off the waitlist. This translates to a 44.8% waitlist admission rate for those who accepted their spot—a remarkably high figure compared to other highly selective universities [1].

The yield rate (the percentage of admitted students who choose to enroll) stood at 16.4%, with 6,804 students ultimately enrolling. This relatively low yield rate is typical for the UC system, as many top-tier California applicants apply to several UC campuses simultaneously and must eventually choose just one.

Historical Acceptance Rate Trends

Looking at the historical data, the UC Davis acceptance rate experienced a noticeable decline starting in 2021 when the UC system permanently adopted its test-blind policy. The elimination of standardized testing barriers invited a massive influx of applications across the state, pushing the acceptance rate down from historical highs of over 50%.

However, in the most recent cycles (Classes of 2028 and 2029), the acceptance rate has stabilized [1]. Despite slight year-over-year increases in application volume (growing from 94,627 for the Class of 2028 to 98,869 for the Class of 2029), the university compensated by admitting a proportionally larger number of students (39,399 to 41,353) to meet their enrollment goals.

Final Thoughts

As UC Davis solidifies its position among the top public universities in the nation, its admissions process has settled into a steady, predictable rhythm. While an acceptance rate of around 42% makes it statistically more accessible than some of its sister campuses like UCLA or UC Berkeley, it remains a highly selective institution that requires an exceptionally rigorous academic profile to secure an offer of admission.