UC Davis

Student Life & Environment

Campus life at UC Davis revolves around the bicycle in ways that no other major American university matches. The flat terrain, dedicated bike paths, and campus culture have made cycling the default transportation choice, with roundabouts and bike parking structures accommodating the thousands of students pedaling between classes. This creates both community and friction, as bicycle theft is endemic and learning to navigate the bike traffic safely takes time for newcomers. The Tercero, Segundo, and Cuarto residence hall complexes house first-year students, while upperclassmen typically rent apartments in the surrounding city of Davis or commute from Sacramento. Greek life exists but does not dominate the social scene as it does at some other large public universities. The student body includes around 100 fraternities and sororities alongside countless other organizations spanning cultural groups, academic clubs, religious communities, and recreational activities. The Activities and Recreation Center provides fitness facilities, while the Craft Center offers classes in ceramics, glass blowing, and other hands-on arts. Intercollegiate athletics compete at the NCAA Division I level, with football games at UC Davis Health Stadium and basketball at the Pavilion providing school spirit occasions. The Picnic Day celebration each April brings over 100,000 visitors to campus for an open house featuring department displays, performances, and the famous dachshund races. Downtown Davis, just a short bike ride from campus, provides restaurants, bars, shops, and the kind of walkable small-town atmosphere that students from California suburbs often experience for the first time.

Location & Surroundings

The UC Davis student experience takes shape across a campus large enough to offer abundant choices while retaining a friendliness that students often cite as distinctive among large public universities. The flat terrain and bike culture create a physical environment unlike the hills of Berkeley or the urban density of UCLA. Students appreciate the relative calm of Davis while sometimes finding the small-town setting limiting, particularly on weekends when Sacramento or the Bay Area beckon for entertainment. The student body is notably diverse, reflecting California's population and the university's commitment to serving students from across the state. First-generation college students represent a substantial portion of the population, and support services help them navigate the university experience. The cost of attendance, while lower than private alternatives, still challenges many families. California residents benefit from relatively affordable tuition, while out-of-state students face costs that approach private university levels. The housing situation has tightened as the university has grown faster than the surrounding community's housing stock, pushing some students to commute from Sacramento or West Sacramento. On-campus housing serves primarily first-year students, with upperclassmen entering a competitive rental market. Mental health services attempt to meet demand that, like at many universities, exceeds capacity. The campus climate is notably friendly, with students often describing a collaborative rather than competitive atmosphere in both academics and social life.

Costs & Career Outcomes

UC Davis graduates enter careers across every sector, benefiting from the university's research reputation and California's economic diversity. Agriculture and food science graduates find opportunities throughout California's farming industry, food processing companies, and related government agencies. Veterinary school graduates are particularly well-positioned, with the DVM degree opening doors to practices, research positions, and industry roles. Engineering graduates, especially those in computer science and related fields, have ready access to Silicon Valley and Sacramento's growing tech sector. Biological science graduates often continue to graduate or professional schools, with strong representation in medical schools and doctoral programs at top universities. Career services helps students with resume development, interview preparation, and connections to employers through job fairs and networking events. Internship opportunities in Sacramento provide government and policy experience, while Bay Area connections support business and technology placements. The alumni network spans California's business and professional communities, with particularly strong representation in agriculture, veterinary medicine, and state government. Starting salaries vary widely by field, with engineering and technology graduates commanding higher initial compensation than humanities or social science majors. The UC Davis degree carries weight throughout California and increasingly nationally and internationally, though the university's reputation outside of its signature fields sometimes lags behind its actual academic quality.

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