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University of California, Davis

The student guide to Davis, California: where to eat, live and get help, what a year really costs, and the free stuff most students miss.

UC Davis at a glance

32,253
undergrads
42%
of applicants admitted
93%
come back for year 2
88%
graduate
22 : 1
students per teacher
$86,999
typical pay 10 years in

Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard.

What a year really costs

After grants and scholarships, by family income. Average: $14,318.

Under $30k $8,770
$30k–$48k $9,042
$48k–$75k $11,562
$75k–$110k $15,645
Over $110k $32,902
Tuition, in state
$17,346
Tuition, out of state
$54,948
Typical debt at graduation
$12,038
36% of students get a Pell Grant

Free stuff most students miss

Getting around

Unitrans

Student-run bus system serving UC Davis campus and the city of Davis with 18 weekday routes, free for students with valid ID.

Health & safety

Counseling Services

Free confidential short-term counseling, crisis support, and group therapy for all registered UC Davis students.

Places

Jan Shrem and Maria Manetti Shrem Museum of Art

Award-winning contemporary art museum with rotating exhibitions, educational programs, and free admission.

Health & safety

Health 34 (24/7 Mental Health Support Line)

Free 24/7 phone line for mental health support, resource navigation, and crisis consultation for UC Davis students.

Eat

Dining halls, quick bites and coffee on campus.

10 places
Segundo Dining Commons
Segundo Dining Commons
Dining hall

All-you-can-eat residential dining commons in the Segundo area serving diverse rotating menus with multiple food stations.

Segundo Residential Area, UC Davis
Tercero Dining Commons
Tercero Dining Commons
Dining hall

All-you-can-eat dining facility in the Tercero residential area featuring comfort food, international cuisine, and allergen-friendly stations.

Tercero Residential Area, UC Davis
Cuarto Dining Commons
Cuarto Dining Commons
Dining hall

Smaller residential dining commons in the Cuarto area known for a more intimate atmosphere and rotating themed meals.

Cuarto Residential Area, UC Davis
CoHo (Coffee House)
CoHo (Coffee House)
Cafe

Iconic student-run cooperative coffeehouse in the Memorial Union offering coffee, pastries, sandwiches, and a popular study atmosphere.

Memorial Union, 1 Shields Ave
Peet's Coffee (Memorial Union)
Peet's Coffee (Memorial Union)
Cafe

Popular coffee chain location inside the Memorial Union offering espresso drinks, teas, and baked goods.

Memorial Union, 1 Shields Ave
Latitude Restaurant
Latitude Restaurant
Cafe

Modern café-style restaurant in the Activities and Recreation Center offering healthy bowls, wraps, and smoothies.

Activities and Recreation Center (ARC), UC Davis

Where to live

Residence halls, apartments and help finding a place.

5 places

Get around

Shuttles, parking and accessible rides.

5 ways

Majors that pay most at UC Davis

Typical pay 4 years after graduating. Top 6 of 57 bachelor's majors with published pay.

Computer Engineering $145,422
Computer Science $138,673
Engineering $114,228
Chemical Engineering $102,649
Mechanical Engineering $102,161
Biomedical/Medical Engineering $98,504

Source: College Scorecard, field-of-study data.

Your UC Davis checklist

5 things worth doing early

When you need help

5 things UC Davis freshmen wish they knew sooner

Watch the video
  1. 1 HS Spanish? Course 1 must be pass/no pass

    "A student who has completed a second or more advanced year of high-school-level course work in a foreign language in tenth, eleventh, or twelfth grade shall be awarded credit for Course 1 (or its equivalent) in that language only if the student takes the course on a Passed or Not Passed basis".

  2. 2 Your add code dies in 72 hours

    After the tenth day of instruction, adding a class takes a PTA number from the instructor. "A PTA number is valid for only 72 hours after it is issued and will be revoked after the third day."

  3. 3 Not GE when you took it? It never counts

    "Please note that you cannot claim GE credit for a course you completed before it was an approved GE course."

  4. 4 Your prof cannot move the final without you

    "Holding a final or midterm examination (or setting a deadline for submission of a take-home examination) at a time not specified in (C) or (D) requires the mutual consent of the instructor and all students involved in the change."

  5. 5 Record the lecture — Gus makes the notes, flashcards and quiz

    Gus is an AI college companion built around your actual classes. Record a lecture and it writes the notes, pulls out the key topics, builds a flashcard deck, and makes a practice quiz from what was actually said. The flashcards come back on a spaced-review schedule, so the thing you missed shows up again right before you would have forgotten it. It is free to try.

One more thing

Clear ELWR by quarter three

"Students must fulfill ELWR by the end of their third quarter of enrollment; students who do not fulfill ELWR by the end of their third quarter of enrollment face disenrollment from the university."

UC Davis General Catalog — Entry Level Writing Requirement

Only 13 AP units boost your pass time

Pass times are set by earned units, and "The earned credits considered are completed and graded courses, articulated transfer work, and up to 13 AP/IB units."

UC Davis General Catalog — registration pass times

Gus is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the University of California, Davis. Tips checked against UC Davis's own pages in October 2026. Campus info last updated October 2026. Stats from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Something out of date? hello@meetgus.app · All campus guides