University of California-Davis Reviews

"The Engineering Department at University of California, Davis is a top-tier education department. The University is on a quarter system and the engineering department consists of interactive labs, courses, and community. The culture is very supportive and not cutthroat like other universities. Expect a work hard and enjoyment vibe through the college town."

"I knew UC Davis was my campus from the moment I set foot on the pavement at the Memorial Union. It's a college town, Davis, and it feels that way still, even with the thirty thousand plus students. The faculty always treated me with respect, though I know my scope was limited due to the fact that I was not a STEM major. There are also plenty of resources on campus for any kind of support you need, whether it's mental health, income, or disability-related. I don't regret my time at Davis, even if my final two quarters were online during COVID.Read Less"

"I had a very rewarding experience here. I experienced a variety of courses in my curriculum and I met meaningful friends here. The campus is huge and there is a lot to do so there is a good balance of school/personal life. Some buildings are older but there’s also a lot of newer buildings with advanced technology."

"UC Davis was a fantastic experience for college. I loved campus, the academics, the community, and my peers that I spent time with. It was a very rewarding experience and I learned a lot during my four years there. I honestly would not choose to have gone anywhere else."

"University of California - Davis was a great experience for college. The city is very family oriented and it feels safe walking around on and off campus. There are a wide variety of courses that one can take and many activities throughout the year that brings people from other cities to visit."

"I made the right decision of pursuing computer science here at UC Davis. The instructors here are competent and supportive, and they really want their students to succeed academically. The campus is beautiful and the library is huge and well-maintained, which benefits students like me who spends a lot of time here on campus. Overall, I am proud to be studying at this university."

"UC Davis is a good university. I enjoyed my time there. I wish I had been more proactive in utilizing the support staff to plan my classes and my studies. They have a good work/study program. I was able to obtain financial aid and work throughout my time there. Take advantage of the clubs and organizations that UC Davis offers. UC Davis has a beautiful campus."

"“Go to Davis because it feels right. Sometimes that’s all the reason you need.”There’s a certain warmth I still associate with UC Davis. It’s hard to explain until you walk the campus yourself. The place has a way of feeling both expansive and intimate at the same time. You’re part of a major research university with serious academic weight, but the people? The professors? They’re accessible. Approachable. Human.That mattered to me.I came from San Francisco—Davis was just far enough from home to give me space, but close enough to still feel rooted. And once I got there, it wasn’t long before it felt like a second home. Late nights studying with friends at Shields Library. Endless rows of bicycles clicking past in every direction. Red double-decker buses rumbling along the edges of campus. It was all part of the rhythm.I met my first girlfriend there. Formed lasting friendships with people whose names I can still remember—and a few whose names I can’t, but whose presence I haven’t forgotten. I studied with Maricela and a brilliant friend from a Punjabi background—hour after hour in quiet corners of the library—learning, growing, laughing, surviving midterms.Davis wasn’t perfect. Like many schools at the time, it still had work to do in better representing underrepresented groups. But it was trying. And over time, I believe it grew—just like we all did.Most of my friends went to private Jesuit colleges or state schools, but I wouldn’t have traded Davis for any of them. It was strong in science and research, but it was also underrated for how well it prepared students for the world. It didn’t just teach me facts—it taught me how to think. How to listen. How to hold multiple perspectives without jumping to conclusions.UC Davis may not shape you into the person you’re going to be. That comes from inside you, and maybe from where you came from. But it will give you a foundation—a real one. And that’s no small thing.Would I recommend it? Without hesitation.It’s a place that, even now, decades later, still feels like a part of me.Read Less"

"Professors are very kind and supportive. The environment is an ideal environment for learning and growing as a person. I was able to participate in research and also prestigious internships. I had a great experience at UC-Davis. I highly recommended the school."

"The administration is slow to respond and harsh on discipline. If you don't get back to them asap they punish you but they take forever to get back to you [if ever]. Their student support is horrible and the counselling is worthless. The website is so worthless the staff Googles answers to basic questions that should be on the website. I have never been made to feel like such a burden as I have since I transferred here. I hate this school."

"Overall, I really enjoyed my college years at UC Davis. Just nearby, Downtown Davis is a college student paradise with a large variety of restaurants and shops down every street. Student life was extremely convenient, although expensive due to housing, and the classes were awesome and solid with great professors who know how to teach well. However, sometimes I felt that there just wasn’t enough classes. The major I graduated with is still quite general and could use more advanced classes with multiple levels. Though, I would like to mention that Davis has a really great system for giving students on-campus part time/ full time jobs (ASUCD Jobs) that gives major-related, professional experience at a minimum wage, which I would highly suggest doing before you graduate. Would definitely recommend this college to anyone who enjoys a suburban environment with a variety of culture. Also bikes.Read Less"

"The classes were good and the professors and impressive and are eager to help. Counselors leave much to be desired. My graduation was delayed due to counselors being unfamiliar with graduation requirements and being unsure of what classes I should take. I ended up taking more classes than needed and was very confused throughout the process, as no one could tell me what was expected of me, or what I needed to do."

"The classes were good and the professors and impressive and are eager to help. Counselors leave much to be desired. My graduation was delayed due to counselors being unfamiliar with graduation requirements and being unsure of what classes I should take. I ended up taking more classes than needed and was very confused throughout the process, as no one could tell me what was expected of me, or what I needed to do."

"UC Davis is a great institution to attend for your undergraduate degree. Staff is very helpful with guidance and advice and there are many tools on campus at your disposal. You can get your degree in four years or less due to less impacted classes and quarter system."

"UC Davis is a great institution to attend for your undergraduate degree. Staff is very helpful with guidance and advice and there are many tools on campus at your disposal. You can get your degree in four years or less due to less impacted classes and quarter system."

"I absolutely loved the Spanish program at UC Davis, the professors all cared about their work and the students. Some professors were more thoughtful, considerate of students not always having the highest level in Spanish, and if you went to office hours they were their to help you get there. You can't expect them to do your work for you but they do care about you learned and growing. Furthermore, there were many courses that I thoroughly enjoyed but that I recognize were homework heavy and that doesn't always work for all students.Read Less"

"I absolutely loved the Spanish program at UC Davis, the professors all cared about their work and the students. Some professors were more thoughtful, considerate of students not always having the highest level in Spanish, and if you went to office hours they were their to help you get there. You can't expect them to do your work for you but they do care about you learned and growing. Furthermore, there were many courses that I thoroughly enjoyed but that I recognize were homework heavy and that doesn't always work for all students.Read Less"

"I appreciated all the teachers and all the resources that the departments have. I enjoyed the environment. Going to college for me was an experience that I could be outside of my environment that I grew up in. UC Davis was an environment that was covered in nature and trees, this was a different feel for me. I was relaxing and the energy of learning and the want to get a higher education was clear throughout the campus. The teachers challenged us as students and the resources were good. One resource that I can recall that blew me away was how amazing the library is. With more than 4 floors and plenty of study space, and books it was the perfect place to study and do work.Read Less"

"I appreciated all the teachers and all the resources that the departments have. I enjoyed the environment. Going to college for me was an experience that I could be outside of my environment that I grew up in. UC Davis was an environment that was covered in nature and trees, this was a different feel for me. I was relaxing and the energy of learning and the want to get a higher education was clear throughout the campus. The teachers challenged us as students and the resources were good. One resource that I can recall that blew me away was how amazing the library is. With more than 4 floors and plenty of study space, and books it was the perfect place to study and do work.Read Less"

"UC Davis is a top-tier university with professors who are knowledgable and passionate about their areas of expertise. Many professors encourage their students to attend office hours and ask though-provoking questions. In office hours, students can learn in a smaller group setting which allows for better understanding of subject material. This is also an excellent way to form connections with professors for future letters of recommendation or finding a lab to work in. Aside from the professors, UC Davis also provides ample extracurricular activities including IM sports teams, Greek life, student government and volunteer opportunities. There are always opportunities to get involved and meet new people, and the student body is friendly and welcoming towards others.Read Less"