UC Davis

First-year admission requirements

For first-year admission to UC Davis, competitive prospective students must be on track to earn a high school diploma (or equivalent) and fulfill all UC first-year admission requirements. Our campus then reviews and assesses all applications as part of our UC Davis first-year application review process. 

A-G subject requirements

A. History or social science: two years
B. English or language of instruction: four years
C. Mathematics: three years (four years recommended)
D. Laboratory science: two years (three years recommended)
E. Language other than English or other second language: two years (three years recommended)
F. Visual and performing arts: one year
G. College preparatory elective: one year

GPA requirement

California residents need a GPA of 3.00 or higher. Non-residents of California need a GPA of 3.40 or higher.

California residents

The UC offers two paths to admission, for high-achieving California residents: a statewide guarantee and a local guarantee. Learn more about eligibility requirements.

Exam requirements

The University of California Board of Regents eliminated the standardized test requirement for all incoming first-year students in 2020.

SAT/ACT test scores

UC Davis no longer considers SAT or ACT test scores for admissions decisions or scholarship awards. 

Students can self-report ACT and/or SAT scores in the admission application, but they must first submit the application without scores. Once the application has been submitted, the student can log back into the application to report ACT or SAT scores. If a student self-reports a test score, they should provide the official score report when they receive an offer of admission from UC.

Test scores submitted as part of the application may be used as an alternate method of fulfilling minimum requirements for eligibility or for course placement after matriculation at UC.

Students who plan to use test scores to meet a minimum subject requirement or for course placement should take their tests no later than December of the last year prior to high school or secondary school graduation.

We do not require SAT Subject Tests; however, students sometimes use them to satisfy A-G requirements. 

Exam Credit

Stand out on your application

UC Davis receives applications from more qualified students than we accept. We encourage you to challenge yourself with advanced coursework such as Advanced Placement, or AP and International Baccalaureate, or IB courses. Most AP and IB courses qualify as honors courses in GPA calculations for first-year applicants.

A score of 3, 4, or 5 on specific AP tests qualifies as credit for certain classes offered at UC Davis. Learn more about AP exams and view the AP examination chart for details on AP credit.

UC Davis awards 4 semester or 6 quarter units for International Baccalaureate, known as IB, diplomas with a score of 30 or higher. We also grant eight quarter units for individual Higher Level, known as HL, exams with a score of 5, 6, or 7. The university grants no credit for Standard Level, known as SL, exams. Learn more about IB exams and view the IB Higher Level examination chart for details on how to earn IB credit.