UC Davis vs University of Nevada-Reno (UNR)

Envision yourself immersed in the vibrant college towns of Davis, California, and Reno, Nevada, home to the esteemed University of California-Davis (UC Davis) and the University of Nevada-Reno (UNR), respectively. While both universities share a commitment to academic excellence, they offer distinct experiences shaped by their unique characteristics. UC Davis boasts a lower acceptance rate, indicating its highly selective admissions process, while UNR welcomes a broader range of students. Explore the diverse academic offerings at UC Davis, where biological sciences and engineering thrive, or delve into UNR's strengths in business, health professions, and education. Discover the nuances of their student bodies, from the larger and more diverse population at UC Davis to the smaller and more tight-knit community at UNR. Compare their graduation rates, reflecting the institutions' dedication to student success. Dive into the comprehensive comparison table to uncover further insights and determine which university aligns best with your aspirations and goals.

	University of California-Davis	University of Nevada-Reno
Overview
Location	Davis, California	Reno, Nevada
Campus setting	Suburb: Small	City: Large
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%	78.0%
Common app member	No	Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission
Acceptance rate	48.8%	88.2%
Application fees	Undergraduate: $70 Graduate: $120	Undergraduate: $60 Graduate: $60
SAT range	N/A	1060 - 1270
ACT range	N/A	20 - 26
Students submitting SAT score		12.0%
Students submitting ACT score		60.0%
Total number of applicants	87,120	9,421
Total number of admissions given out	42,475	8,306
Admitted students who chose to enroll	7,482	3,412
Yield rate	17.6%	41.1%
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: $26,796 Out of state: $42,888
Average net price	$16,640	$16,398
Tuition	In state: $11,442 Out of state: $41,196	In state: $7,470 Out of state: $23,562
Room & board	$17,018	Room/dormitory: $5,850 Meal plan: $5,792
Available payment plans	Tuition payment plan	Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid
Students receiving financial aid (Grants & scholarships)	59.0% Average amount $17,628	86.0% Average amount $7,232
Students receiving federal student loan	23.0% Average amount $4,043	29.0% Average amount $5,001
Students taking out private loans	11.0% Average amount $3,360	4.0% Average amount $12,013

Students and Campus
Undergraduate students	31,657 Men 39.8% Women 60.2%	17,025 Men 47.1% Women 52.9%
Graduate students	8,393 Men 43.8% Women 56.2%	4,009 Men 39.3% Women 60.7%
Racial/ethnic diversity	Moderate	Moderate
Out-of-state students	7.5%	26.1%
International students	17.0%	2.8%
Campus local/setting	Suburb: Small	City: Large
Dormitory capacity	11,142	3,524
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	Nevada California Hawaii Oregon Washington

Academics
Popular study areas	Biological and Biomedical Sciences Business Agriculture Engineering Family and Consumer Sciences	Health Professions Engineering Biological and Biomedical Sciences Public Administration and Social Service Social Sciences
Students to faculty ratio	21:1	17:1
Institutional accreditation	Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission	Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities

Outcome
Graduation rate	86.9%	62.7%
Dropout rate	11.8%	34.1%
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 (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $101,016 Year 2: $104,192 Year 3: $106,685 Computer and Information Sciences, General (Master's Degrees) Year 1: N/A Year 2: $79,284 Year 3: $89,037 Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $79,780 Year 2: $82,440 Year 3: $86,482 Mining and Mineral Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: N/A Year 2: $69,338 Year 3: $82,783 Computer Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $63,402 Year 2: $67,473 Year 3: $78,990 Civil Engineering (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $60,203 Year 2: $66,169 Year 3: $77,729 Psychology, General (Master's Degrees) Year 1: N/A Year 2: $57,770 Year 3: $75,701 Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $69,757 Year 2: $69,161 Year 3: $74,927 Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $61,629 Year 2: $67,324 Year 3: $73,298 Medicine (First Professional Degrees) Year 1: $56,591 Year 2: $57,995 Year 3: $71,617

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the main differences between UC Davis and UNR?

UC Davis is a large, public research university in California, known for its strong programs in agriculture, veterinary medicine, and biological sciences. It operates on a quarter system. UNR, located in Nevada, is also a public research university, but smaller in size and with a more regional focus. It's recognized for its programs in mining engineering, journalism, and environmental science, and operates on a semester system. UC Davis generally has a higher admission selectivity and a larger international student population.
How do the academic reputations of UC Davis and UNR compare?

UC Davis generally holds a higher national and international ranking than UNR. UC Davis is particularly strong in agricultural sciences, veterinary medicine, and environmental studies, often ranking among the top programs globally. UNR is well-regarded for its programs in mining engineering, journalism, and environmental science, and is a strong regional university.
What is the cost of attendance at UC Davis versus UNR?

The cost of attendance varies depending on residency. For California residents, UC Davis will generally be more expensive than UNR for Nevada residents. However, for out-of-state students, UC Davis may be less expensive than UNR due to tuition reciprocity agreements or other financial aid opportunities. Be sure to check the most current tuition and fee schedules on each university's website for the most accurate information.
What are the campus environments like at UC Davis and UNR?

UC Davis has a large, sprawling campus in a college town (Davis, CA) known for its bike-friendly atmosphere and proximity to Sacramento and the Bay Area. It has a more suburban feel. UNR is located in Reno, Nevada, a mid-sized city with a more urban environment. UNR's campus is more compact and offers easy access to the city's amenities and outdoor recreational opportunities in the nearby Sierra Nevada mountains.
What types of students typically attend UC Davis versus UNR?

UC Davis attracts a diverse student body from across California, the United States, and internationally. Students are often drawn to its strong academic programs and research opportunities. UNR primarily serves students from Nevada and the surrounding states, with a focus on providing access to higher education for the region. While diverse, its student body is generally more regionally focused than UC Davis.
What are the popular majors at UC Davis and UNR?

At UC Davis, popular majors include biological sciences, animal science, engineering, and agriculture-related fields. At UNR, popular majors include business, engineering, journalism, and health sciences. Both universities offer a wide range of programs, but these are some of their most sought-after areas of study.
What are the research opportunities like at UC Davis and UNR?

Both UC Davis and UNR are research universities, but UC Davis has a larger research enterprise and more funding opportunities. UC Davis is a leading research institution in agriculture, environmental science, and veterinary medicine. UNR has strong research programs in areas such as earthquake engineering, atmospheric science, and renewable energy. Students at both universities have opportunities to participate in research projects with faculty.
What is the student life like at UC Davis and UNR?

UC Davis has a vibrant student life with a wide range of clubs, organizations, and activities. The campus is known for its strong sense of community and its commitment to sustainability. UNR also offers a variety of student activities, including clubs, sports, and Greek life. Reno provides students with access to a variety of entertainment and outdoor recreational opportunities.
How do the career services at UC Davis and UNR compare?

Both UC Davis and UNR offer career services to help students with internships, job searches, and career planning. UC Davis, given its larger size and broader alumni network, may offer a wider range of career resources and connections, particularly in California. UNR has strong connections with local and regional employers in Nevada and the surrounding areas.
What are the admission requirements for UC Davis and UNR?

UC Davis generally has more selective admission requirements than UNR. UC Davis requires a strong academic record, including high grades in challenging courses, and strong standardized test scores (though test-optional policies may apply). UNR also requires a solid academic record, but the admission standards are typically less competitive. Check each university's website for the most up-to-date admission requirements.

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