Golden State Today

A record number of students have applied to the University of California, Davis for undergraduate studies in fall 2025. The university received 120,131 applications, marking a 4.1% increase over last year's figure of 115,349. This includes a record high number of California residents and significant growth from historically underrepresented groups.

The UC Office of the President released preliminary systemwide and campus application statistics today. UC Davis uses preliminary statistics for year-over-year comparison with data from 2024.

For first-year admission in fall 2025, UC Davis received a record 102,958 applications—a rise of 4.2% compared to last year. New transfer applications also increased by 4%, totaling 17,173.

Robert Penman, executive director of Undergraduate Admissions at UC Davis, stated that the university aims to enroll approximately 9,765 new undergraduates this year.

Applications from California residents reached a record high of 83,615—an increase of 1.6% from last year—and accounted for the majority of first-year and transfer applicants.

Historically underrepresented groups saw slight increases among applicants: African American (up by 1.3%), Hispanic/Latino(a) (up by 3.6%), Pacific Islander (up by 5.8%), and American Indian (up by 0.4%).

Among California first-year applicants, low-income families constituted about one-third while another third would be first-generation college graduates.

Transfer applicants from California Community Colleges showed that over half were from low-income families and nearly half would be first-generation graduates.

Applications from other U.S states rose by 7.2% to reach a total of 13,552; international applications increased by an impressive 12.2%, reaching a total of 22,964.

UC Davis is currently evaluating these applications and will notify applicants about admissions decisions in mid-March for first-years and mid-April for transfers. Accepted students will have until May or June to respond based on their status as first-years or transfers respectively.

Prospective students are advised to submit either the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the California Dream Act Application before March begins to ensure consideration for financial aid options.

Last year's enrollment figures show that out of final application numbers—98,864 for first-years and16,478 for transfers—41,353 were offered admission as freshmen along with an additional offer made towards prospective transfers numbering around nine thousand six hundred six more offers issued leading into fall twenty-four's overall enrolled class size coming out slightly below ten thousand new joiners composed largely yet not exclusively through newly minted freshman entrants complemented further still alongside thousands transferring anew each autumnal cycle all told forming part now already solidified past academic season’s population estimates tied directly back towards existing long-range development plans crafted years ago targeting capacities upwards thirty-nine thousand student count when measured across average term timespan spanning three full quarters constituting entirety single school annum at location itself situated within city limits near heartland northern central valley region greater state-wide known simply referred casually amongst locals perhaps lovingly dubbed norcal its diverse communities represented heavily among incoming cohorts embarking upon collegiate journey forward here today!