University of California, Davis Scholarships (2026–2027)

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Last Updated on October 6, 2026
What This Page Covers:
  • Tuition, housing, and average family net price
  • Automatic merit ranges and qualifier benchmarks
  • Flagship and hidden-gem awards
  • Honors and stacking strategy

📊 Admissions Snapshot

  • Acceptance Rate: ~46%
  • Middle 50% ACT: N/A
  • Middle 50% SAT: N/A
  • Average GPA: 4.00-4.25 (middle 50%)
Why the ACT and SAT boxes say N/A

The University of California is test-free. SAT and ACT scores are not used for admission or for scholarships, so there are no test ranges to report. What UC does publish: UC Davis received 104,864 first-year applications for fall 2026, admitted about 45.8%, and the middle half of admitted students had high school GPAs between 4.00 and 4.25. Scholarship decisions come from the same UC application, read holistically.

Comparing multiple schools? Try the Scholarship Tool to search by GPA, test scores, and state →

📌 University of California, Davis at a Glance

🏆 Tuition covered for most CA families earning under $100K (Blue and Gold)
Average Net Price
$17,270/year (in-state estimate)
Average paid for residents.
Automatic Merit
None (no stat-based merit)
No separate application.
Scholarships Tracked
10 opportunities
2 automatic · 4 competitive · 4 hidden gem
Typical Qualifiers
3.25 GPA floor; holistic review
Entry-level benchmarks for automatic merit.
Testing Policy
Test-free (SAT/ACT not considered)
No superscore.
Key Deadlines
Priority: Nov 30 • FAFSA: Mar 2
Full-Tuition / Full-Ride
Blue and Gold (CA, need-based) and Native American Opportunity Plan
Honors College
Honors Program Available
Financial Aid Forms
FAFSA Only
🚨 Easy-to-Miss “Gotchas” at UC Davis (Read This First)

  • There is no automatic merit grid. Unlike a lot of schools on this site, UC Davis doesn’t hand out money for hitting a GPA or test score. Merit awards are picked by people reading the application.
  • The UC application IS the scholarship application. It’s due November 30, and there’s no second form. Fill out the scholarship eligibility questions inside it (hometown, high school, family background). Skipping them can quietly take your student out of dozens of small funds.
  • March 2 is the money deadline for California families. The FAFSA or California Dream Act Application, plus the Cal Grant GPA Verification Form, must be in by March 2. Miss it and Blue and Gold, Cal Grant and the Middle Class Scholarship can all slip away.
  • Out-of-state families pay $39,270 more per year in tuition alone. California isn’t part of the Western Undergraduate Exchange, and the one out-of-state award, the Provost Award, doesn’t publish an amount.
  • Scholarships can change your aid package, and you reapply every year. UC Davis says outright that a new scholarship may adjust other aid, and students must complete the continuing-student application each fall to stay in the scholarship pool.

FAQ

Is this college test-optional? Yes, for admission. University of California, Davis is test-optional for admission.

What is the middle 50% ACT/SAT? ACT: N/A; SAT: N/A.

Average net price? About $17,270/year after aid.

Does this school use waivers/reciprocity? No broad regional reciprocity path.

Sources:
Cal Aggie Alumni Association: CAAA Leadership Scholarship: https://alumni.ucdavis.edu/scholarships/caaa-leadership-scholarship
UC Davis Financial Aid and Scholarships: Regents Scholarship: https://financialaid.ucdavis.edu/scholarships/campus/awards/regents
CollegeReadyParent CA state aid guide: https://collegereadyparent.org/california/
UC Davis Financial Aid and Scholarships: UC Blue and Gold: https://financialaid.ucdavis.edu/undergraduate/types/tuition-assistance/blue-gold
UC Davis Financial Aid and Scholarships: Restricted Eligibility: https://financialaid.ucdavis.edu/scholarships/campus/awards/restricted
UC Davis Financial Aid and Scholarships: Campus Awards (Fund Types): https://financialaid.ucdavis.edu/scholarships/campus/awards
UC Davis Financial Aid and Scholarships: Middle Class Scholarship: https://financialaid.ucdavis.edu/undergraduate/types/tuition-assistance/middle-class-scholarship
University of California: Native American Opportunity Plan: https://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/tuition-financial-aid/types-of-aid/native-american-opportunity-plan.html
UC Davis Financial Aid and Scholarships: Current and Continuing Undergraduates: https://financialaid.ucdavis.edu/scholarships/campus/apply-current
UC Davis Alumni: Aggie Parent and Family Council Scholarship: https://alumni.ucdavis.edu/aggie-parent-and-family-scholarship
CollegeScorecard / Admissions: https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/

💰 Cost of Attendance at University of California, Davis: 2026–2027 Rates

Figures verified against official sources in October 2026.

📅 Planning for 2027–2028? These are the 2026–2027 rates, the newest University of California, Davis has published. Colleges usually release next year's costs in the spring, and we update this page when they do.

Budgeting tip: costs typically rise 2% to 5% a year. For 2027–2028, plan on roughly $800 to $2,000 more than the in-state total below. $1,600 to $4,000 more than the out-of-state total below.

In-State: billed cost per year
$40,235
Tuition, fees, housing, and meals for two semesters
Tuition & mandatory fees $18,078
Housing & meals (typical) $22,157
Total billed cost $40,235
Out-of-State: billed cost per year
$79,505
Tuition, fees, housing, and meals for two semesters
Tuition & mandatory fees $57,348
Housing & meals (typical) $22,157
Total billed cost $79,505

That is $39,270 more per year than California residents pay, before any waivers or scholarships.

Average federal net price: $17,270 per year. This is what first-time, full-time students who received grant aid paid after grants and scholarships, for in-state students only, based on the most recent federal data. It counts books and living costs, so it can run higher than the billed total above. Families who got no grants are not in this average, so many middle-income families pay more. New to Net Price & SAI? Read our guide.

Out-of-state families: this average does not include you. Run the college's own net price calculator for a number based on your situation.

Out-of-State Reality Check

For a nonresident living in a residence hall, UC Davis’s full 2026-27 budget is $88,279 before any aid. That includes health insurance, books, travel and personal costs that aren’t in the table above. There’s no regional discount to lean on, and the Provost Award is the only campus award built for out-of-state first-years. If you’re comparing UC Davis with your home state’s flagship, compare the actual award letters side by side, not the sticker prices.

FAQ: Cost of Attendance at UC Davis

Will UC Davis tuition go up every year?
The big pieces won’t. Under UC’s Tuition Stability Plan, systemwide tuition, the Student Services Fee and nonresident supplemental tuition are locked for up to six years from the term your student first enrolls. What can still rise each year: campus-based fees, housing, food and health insurance. That’s a real planning advantage over many public universities, where tuition creeps up every fall.

Why does UC Davis list $49,009 for in-state students when the table above is lower?
Our table shows what UC Davis actually bills: tuition, campus fees, housing and food. UC Davis’s official budget also adds student health insurance ($3,924), a document fee ($185), books ($1,240), personal expenses ($2,733) and transportation ($692). Health insurance is mandatory but can be waived if your student has comparable coverage. Just know that financial aid won’t cover the insurance line if you waive it.

Why is the out-of-state cost so much higher?
Nonresidents pay a $39,270 nonresident supplemental tuition charge on top of everything California residents pay. That’s what pushes the full on-campus budget from $49,009 to $88,279.

Is there a tuition discount for students from nearby western states?
No. California doesn’t participate in the Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE), so a student from Oregon or Nevada pays the same nonresident rate as one from New York.

Is the average net price really around $17,270?
That’s the federal average for students who receive grant aid, after grants and scholarships. Many California families pay far less. The Blue and Gold Opportunity Plan covers systemwide tuition for most families earning under $100,000. Out-of-state families without aid should plan closer to the full sticker price.

Is it cheaper to live off campus in Davis?
A little. UC Davis budgets $44,760 for a California student living off campus (not with parents), versus $49,009 in a residence hall, and $38,231 for students living at home. The city of Davis is more affordable than most California college towns, but first-year students usually live on campus.

Sources:
https://financialaid.ucdavis.edu/undergraduate/cost/2627-entering
https://www.ucdavis.edu/admissions/cost

📅 UC Davis Scholarship Timeline (Simple Version)

  • October 1: The FAFSA and California Dream Act Application open.
  • November 30: UC application due. This is the scholarship application for Regents, Provost and 400+ campus funds.
  • March 2: FAFSA or CADAA plus the Cal Grant GPA Verification Form. This unlocks Blue and Gold, Cal Grant and the Middle Class Scholarship.
  • April 1 to June 15: After your student commits, the CAAA Leadership Scholarship window opens.
  • Summer: Most campus scholarships are announced.

Parent rule of thumb: November 30 and March 2 are the two dates that decide almost all of your student’s first-year money.

Automatic Aid at UC Davis (No Separate Application)

Here’s the honest version: UC Davis has no automatic merit scholarships. No GPA tier, no test-score tier, nothing you can guarantee by hitting a number. What UC Davis does have are automatic affordability programs for California families. You don’t apply for them separately; you qualify by filing the FAFSA or California Dream Act Application by March 2.
Find your student's tier
Enter the numbers you have. We'll highlight the automatic award your student would actually get and tuck the rest out of the way. Leave it blank to browse everything.
Residency
Based on published cutoffs for entering freshmen. Always verify with the college before finalizing plans.
Start with your state. The awards in this first group come from the state, not the college. They are decided by residency and the FAFSA, and they stack on top of whatever automatic merit award the college gives below. If you live out of state, use the toggle above and these will step aside.
State AidFull TuitionAutomaticstate residencyneed based
Cal Grant A
📅 Deadline: FAFSA or CADAA plus GPA verification by March 2
✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Full Tuition
✔ Stackable
🏫 3.0+ GPACalifornia resident or AB 540 student; 3.0 high school GPA (or 2.4 college GPA); 2026-27 income ceiling $144,700 for a family of four, assets under $111,900; FAFSA or CADAA and a verified GPA by March 2; within one year of high school graduation for the entitlement award
✚
Stacking & Combining
Pays UC systemwide tuition and fees, $15,588 in 2026-27. Housing is not included. Stacks with the UC grant, Pell, and campus scholarships. Guaranteed (an entitlement) for every graduating senior who meets the GPA, income, and deadline.
💡
Strategic Detail
State program, not a University of California, Davis award. Rules and amounts are set by the state and can change with each budget. Full details on the CollegeReadyParent CA page.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Every California senior with a 3.0 whose family is under the ceiling and whose school sent the GPA to CSAC by March 2. The miss is almost always the GPA verification, which the high school must submit separately; a student with a perfect FAFSA and no verified GPA gets nothing.
State AidAutomaticstate residencyneed based
Cal Grant B
📅 Deadline: FAFSA or CADAA plus GPA verification by March 2
✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Varies
✔ Stackable
🏫 2.0+ GPACalifornia resident or AB 540 student; 2.0 GPA; 2026-27 income ceiling $76,100 for a family of four, assets under $111,900; FAFSA or CADAA and a verified GPA by March 2
✚
Stacking & Combining
For lower-income families. Year one is a $1,648 access award for books and living costs; from year two it adds the full Cal Grant A tuition amount for your school on top of the access award. Students with dependent children or a foster care history can get up to $6,000 in access money. Stacks with Pell and college aid.
💡
Strategic Detail
State program, not a University of California, Davis award. Rules and amounts are set by the state and can change with each budget. Full details on the CollegeReadyParent CA page.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Low-income seniors with at least a 2.0 who filed by March 2. The first-year letter looks small because tuition does not kick in until sophomore year; families sometimes decline a school over that without realizing year two is worth ten times more.
State AidAutomatic⚠ All Undergrad Onlygeographicincome cap
Middle Class Scholarship (MCS)
📅 Deadline: March 2
✓ Renews
Varies
✔ Stackable
⚠  California students with family income and assets under state ceilings ($262,000 each for dependent students in 2027-28).
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
MCS fills in after other grants. It is paid at the end of each quarter based on enrolled units, so dropping below full time reduces it.
💡
Strategic Detail
The Middle Class Scholarship is California state money for low- and middle-income families, and the ceiling is higher than most parents expect: $262,000 in income and $262,000 in assets for dependent students in 2027-28. There is no separate application. File the FAFSA or California Dream Act Application by March 2 and UC Davis processes the award, usually starting in October. Amounts vary widely and depend on state funding.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
California families above Blue and Gold range who assume they earn too much for aid and almost skip the FAFSA.
One award, not a pile. Colleges apply your student's single best automatic award. Automatic scholarships almost never stack with each other, though some stack with housing, departmental, or outside money. The stacking notes on each card tell you which.
Full TuitionAutomatic⚠ All Undergrad Onlygeographicneed based
Blue & Gold Opportunity Plan
📅 Deadline: March 2
✓ Renews
Full Tuition
tuition
✔ Stackable
⚠  California residents (including AB 540 students) from families earning up to $100,000 with under $500,000 in assets.
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Blue and Gold is a coverage promise, not a separate check. Cal Grant, Pell, UC Grant and scholarships are combined so that grant aid reaches at least systemwide tuition for eligible families. Housing, food and campus fees are not part of the promise, though students with greater need may receive more grant aid.
💡
Strategic Detail
This is not a scholarship you compete for. It is UC's promise to California families: most undergraduates from families earning up to $100,000, with total assets under $500,000, receive enough grant and scholarship money to cover their systemwide UC tuition. There is no separate application. You are considered automatically when you file the FAFSA or California Dream Act Application and the Cal Grant GPA Verification Form by March 2. Miss that date and you can lose the benefit for the year.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
California families at or under roughly $100,000 in income and $500,000 in assets who file their aid forms on time and keep satisfactory academic progress. The families who lose it almost always lose it on the March 2 deadline.
Full TuitionAutomatic⚠ All Undergrad Onlytribal enrollmentgeographic
UC Native American Opportunity Plan
📅 Deadline: March 2
✓ Renews
Full Tuition
tuition
✔ Stackable
⚠  California residents enrolled in a federally recognized Native American, American Indian or Alaska Native tribe.
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Coverage comes from whatever combination of UC, federal, state or private aid gets tuition and the Student Services Fee to zero.
💡
Strategic Detail
UC covers in-state systemwide tuition and the Student Services Fee for California residents who are enrolled members of any federally recognized tribe, including tribes outside California. There is no separate application. File the FAFSA or CADAA by March 2, and UC contacts likely-eligible students to collect tribal enrollment documentation. Campus fees and housing are not covered, but students with more need can receive additional grants.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: California-resident tribal members who file aid forms on time and respond quickly when UC asks for enrollment documents.
Data last verified Oct 5, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.

Note: These programs are for California residents. Out-of-state families should skip ahead to the Provost Award in the next section.

Automatic Aid: FAQs (UC Davis)

Does UC Davis give automatic merit scholarships for GPA or test scores?
No. UC is test-free, and UC Davis picks merit scholarship winners through a holistic read of the UC application. The awards that work “automatically” here are need-based programs for California families.

Who qualifies for Blue and Gold?
Most California undergraduates from families earning up to $100,000, with total assets under $500,000, receive enough grant and scholarship money to cover systemwide UC tuition. File the FAFSA or CADAA and the Cal Grant GPA Verification Form by March 2. That’s the whole application.

We make too much for Blue and Gold. Is there anything for us?
Quite possibly. The Middle Class Scholarship reaches dependent students from families with up to $262,000 in income and $262,000 in assets for 2027-28. Again, there’s no separate form; it comes from the FAFSA or CADAA filed by March 2. Families in this range skip the FAFSA all the time and leave money behind.

What is the Native American Opportunity Plan?
UC covers in-state systemwide tuition and the Student Services Fee for California residents enrolled in any federally recognized tribe, including tribes outside California. File the FAFSA or CADAA and UC reaches out for enrollment documents.

Do these programs cover housing?
Blue and Gold and the Native American Opportunity Plan are tuition promises. Housing, food and campus fees aren’t part of the guarantee, though students with greater need can receive additional grants toward them.

Is there anything automatic for out-of-state students?
Not on a guaranteed basis. The closest thing is the Provost Award, which UC Davis gives to selected high-achieving out-of-state first-years at admission. It’s covered in the next section.

Sources:
https://financialaid.ucdavis.edu/undergraduate/types/tuition-assistance/blue-gold
https://financialaid.ucdavis.edu/undergraduate/types/tuition-assistance/middle-class-scholarship
https://www.csac.ca.gov/mcs/income-asset-ceiling
https://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/tuition-financial-aid/types-of-aid/native-american-opportunity-plan.html
https://financialaid.ucdavis.edu/undergraduate/dates

🏆 Flagship Scholarships (Competitive Scholarships)

At UC Davis, “competitive” doesn’t mean an extra essay contest. Your student is considered for the Regents Scholarship, the Provost Award and hundreds of campus funds just by submitting the UC application by November 30. The personal insight questions and the scholarship eligibility answers inside that application are doing the work. A 3.25 GPA is the minimum for every UC Davis-based scholarship.

✅ How UC Davis Awards Fit Together

Aid Type How You Get Considered Parent Translation
Regents and Provost UC application, Nov 30 Announced with the admission decision. If you don’t hear about them then, you didn’t get them.
Campus donor funds (400+) UC application, Nov 30 Most are announced over the summer, often well after your student commits.
Need-based grants FAFSA or CADAA, March 2 The foundation of most California aid packages.
Stacking Case by case UC Davis says a new scholarship can sometimes change an existing aid package. Ask the aid office to show you the math.
Year two and beyond Continuing application, Oct 1 to January Even current scholarship holders must reapply every year.

If your student is a California resident with strong grades, the real wins at UC Davis are usually Blue and Gold, Cal Grant and a handful of fit-based campus funds stacked together. If your student is from out of state, the Provost Award is the one to hope for, and it’s worth comparing against your home-state options before committing.

Automatic⚠ All Undergrad Only
Regents Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Nov 30 (UC application)
✓ Renews (3.25 GPA, 4 yrs)
$7,500/yr
✔ Stackable
🏫 3.3+ GPA🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
The Regents Scholarship can be combined with need-based aid, and students with need may receive an added stipend. UC Davis notes that any scholarship can change an existing financial aid package, so families should review the award letter line by line.
💡
Strategic Detail
UC Davis calls the Regents Scholarship one of its most prestigious undergraduate awards. It pays $7,500 per year: four years for selected first-year students and two years for selected third-year transfer students. Students with demonstrated financial need may also receive an added stipend. There is no separate application. Everyone is considered through the UC application, and winners are told at the time of admission. To renew, students keep a 3.25 GPA and good academic standing.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: A small group of admitted first-years and junior transfers whose UC applications stand out on academic and personal achievement. UC Davis does not publish a GPA or profile cutoff, and selection is holistic.
Automatic
Provost Award
📅 Deadline: Nov 30 (UC application)
✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Varies
✔ Stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
The Provost Award reduces the out-of-state bill but does not erase it. Nonresident supplemental tuition alone is $39,270 per year, so families should compare the actual award letter against the full nonresident cost of attendance.
💡
Strategic Detail
The Provost Award goes to high-achieving admitted first-year students from outside California to help with out-of-state tuition costs. It lasts four years as long as the student meets academic, enrollment and residency requirements. UC Davis does not publish the dollar amount. There is no separate application; recipients are selected from the UC application and announced at the time of admission.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Strong out-of-state admits whose UC applications read as academically excellent. UC Davis does not publish selection criteria beyond high achievement, and there is nothing to apply for separately.
Automatic⚠ All Undergrad Only
UC Davis Undergraduate Scholarships
📅 Deadline: Nov 30 (UC application)
✓ Renews (3.25 GPA)
Varies
✔ Stackable
🏫 3.3+ GPA🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
These awards can sit alongside Cal Grant, Pell, UC Grant and Blue and Gold, but UC Davis says a scholarship can sometimes change an existing aid package. Ask the aid office to walk through the effect if a new award shows up.
💡
Strategic Detail
UC Davis administers more than 400 scholarship funds for undergraduates, paid for by alumni, donors, businesses, professional groups and the university. For entering students, the UC application is the scholarship application, and no other paperwork is needed unless UC Davis asks for it. A 3.25 GPA is the minimum for all UC Davis-based scholarships. Fill in the restricted scholarship eligibility codes inside the UC application carefully, because many funds are tied to a hometown, high school, major or family background. Most awards are made over the summer, and each year you must reapply through the continuing-student application.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students whose profile lines up with a specific donor fund: a major, a county, a high school, a career goal or a family circumstance. UC Davis says it looks at activities, intended major, career interests, geographic origin, school attended, parentage and perseverance, not just grades.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Continuing Undergraduate Scholarships
📅 Deadline: January (2027-28 date TBD; application opens Oct 1)
✓ Renews (3.25 GPA)
Varies
✔ Stackable
🏫 3.3+ GPA🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Continuing scholarships are re-awarded every year, so the mix can change. Students who reapply every cycle keep themselves in the pool for funds that open up after the first year.
📄
How to Apply
Log into MyAwards after October 1, complete the Undergraduate Scholarship Application, and enter a primary recommender (a backup recommender is optional). Submit before the January deadline.
Selection criteria: UC Davis cumulative GPA, application strength, recommender insight, and fit with donor or fund criteria.
💌 Letters of Rec
💡
Strategic Detail
Every current UC Davis undergraduate can apply each year, including international, AB 540 and undocumented students. The FAFSA or CADAA is not required to be considered. To qualify, a student needs a cumulative UC Davis GPA of 3.25 by the end of fall quarter, one letter of recommendation, and plans to enroll at least two quarters the next year. The application opens October 1 and closes in early January. Students who already hold a scholarship must reapply to keep receiving it.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students at or above a 3.25 who have a recommender able to speak specifically about their work, whether a professor, employer, coach or community leader. Family members and friends cannot write the letter.
Data last verified Oct 5, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.

❓ Competitive Scholarship FAQs (UC Davis)

How much is the Regents Scholarship?
$7,500 per year: four years for selected first-years and two years for selected junior transfers. Students with demonstrated need may get an added stipend. Renewal requires a 3.25 GPA and good academic standing.

Is there a separate application for Regents or the Provost Award?
No. UC Davis considers everyone through the UC application submitted by November 30, and both awards are announced at the time of admission. (Some UC Davis pages still list December 2, which was a one-time extension for fall 2025. The UC system lists November 30 for fall 2027.)

How much is the Provost Award?
UC Davis doesn’t publish an amount. It goes to high-achieving out-of-state first-years to help with nonresident tuition, lasts four years if the student keeps academic, enrollment and residency requirements, and is chosen at admission.

Do SAT or ACT scores help my student win a scholarship?
No. UC Davis dropped test scores from scholarship review and now uses only a holistic read of the admission application.

What actually helps my student’s chances?
UC Davis says it weighs activities, intended major, career interests, geographic origin, high school, parentage and perseverance, not just grades. In practice that means strong personal insight answers and completely filled-out scholarship eligibility questions in the UC application.

Does UC Davis accept the Common App?
No. All UC campuses use the single UC application, which also serves as the scholarship application.

Sources:
https://financialaid.ucdavis.edu/scholarships/campus/awards
https://financialaid.ucdavis.edu/scholarships/campus/awards/regents
https://financialaid.ucdavis.edu/scholarships/campus/apply-prospective
https://financialaid.ucdavis.edu/frequently-asked-questions/scholarships
https://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/how-to-apply/applying-as-a-first-year/

🧠 Parent Strategy: UC Davis’s “Second Shot” Windows

Most families think scholarship season ends on November 30. At UC Davis, two of the best small-money windows open after your student says yes.

  1. Before submitting the UC application, read UC Davis’s restricted-eligibility fund list and answer every scholarship eligibility question that fits.
  2. Right after submitting the Statement of Intent to Register, apply for the CAAA Leadership Scholarship (April 1 to June 15).
  3. Every October, have your student open MyAwards and start the continuing-student scholarship application. Line up a recommender before the January deadline.
  4. Screenshot every submission confirmation.

Parent translation: the families who end up with a few extra thousand dollars a year usually aren’t the ones with the highest GPAs. They’re the ones who kept applying after admission.

💎 Hidden Gem Scholarships

These awards don’t make the brochure, but they’re real money with smaller applicant pools. Several are tied to where your student grew up or what your family has been through, and a couple require an extra step after enrolling.

App Required
CAAA Leadership Scholarship
📅 Deadline: June 15 (opens April 1; SIR required first)
Non-Renewable
$1,000–$4,000
✔ Stackable
🏫 3.5+ GPA
✚
Stacking & Combining
A one-time award that sits on top of other aid.
📄
How to Apply
Submit the SIR, set up a UC Davis login, then complete the general application and the Cal Aggie Alumni Award application in the scholarship portal by June 15.
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
The Cal Aggie Alumni Association gives incoming first-years and transfers achievement awards of $1,000 to $4,000, and top candidates are considered for a $10,000 Blue and Gold Leadership Scholarship paid as $5,000 over two years. First-years need a 3.5 UC GPA. Applicants must be U.S. citizens, permanent residents or AB 540 eligible. The catch: the application opens April 1 and is due June 15, and students can only apply after they submit their Statement of Intent to Register. It requires a one-page leadership essay, up to 600 words.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Newly committed Aggies who show leadership in any form (jobs, family responsibilities, clubs or community work) and write a specific, example-driven essay.
Automatic⚠ All Undergrad Onlygeographichigh schoolfamily background
Hometown and Restricted-Eligibility Funds
📅 Deadline: Nov 30 (UC application); January (continuing application)
✓ Renews
Varies
✔ Stackable
⚠  Each fund is limited to a specific county, high school or family circumstance.
🏫 3.3+ GPA🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Usually one-year awards that layer on top of other aid. Any scholarship can change a need-based package.
💡
Strategic Detail
UC Davis holds dozens of old endowed funds with very narrow eligibility. Examples: graduates of specific schools such as Benicia, Modesto, Wasco Union or Calistoga high schools; students from counties like Humboldt, Placer, Tehama, Fresno or Solano; single parents or children of single parents; and children of farmworkers through the Lupe Social Justice Scholarship. Narrow rules mean small applicant pools. Students are matched through the eligibility questions in the UC application and the yearly continuing-student application, so answering those questions completely is the whole game.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students who actually fill in hometown, high school and family-background details instead of skipping them.
Automatic⚠ All Undergrad Only
College and Department Endowed Funds
📅 Deadline: Nov 30 (UC application); January (continuing application)
✓ Renews
Varies
✔ Stackable
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Endowed funds are usually one-year awards that sit on top of other aid, though any scholarship can change a need-based package.
💡
Strategic Detail
UC Davis publishes lists of named endowed funds by college: Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Biological Sciences, Engineering, and Letters and Science, plus restricted and unrestricted funds. Most are reached through the same UC application or continuing-student application, not a separate form. Reading the fund list for your student's intended college is the fastest way to see which eligibility boxes matter.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students whose major, home county or background matches what a donor wrote into the fund. Fit matters more than raw stats here.
App Required⚠ Upperclassmen Onlymembership
Aggie Parent and Family Council Scholarship
📅 Deadline: June 14 (opens mid-May)
Non-Renewable
$1,000
✔ Stackable
⚠  Requires a family member with paid Aggie Parent and Family Association dues, or the student in the Student Alumni Association.
🏫 3.3+ GPA🎓 Upperclassmen
✚
Stacking & Combining
One-time award on top of other aid.
📄
How to Apply
Confirm the family or student membership, then apply in the UC Davis scholarship portal by the June deadline.
💡
Strategic Detail
A $1,000 award paid in the fall to full-time second-, third- and fourth-year students with at least a 3.25 GPA and a record of leadership. Priority goes to financial need. The eligibility hook is membership: a parent or family member must be a dues-paying member of the Aggie Parent and Family Association, or the student must belong to the Student Alumni Association. The application opens in mid-May and closes mid-June.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Continuing students with leadership experience and some financial need whose families joined the parent association.
Data last verified Oct 5, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.

❓ Hidden Gems FAQ

What are “restricted eligibility” scholarships?
Old endowed funds with narrow rules. Some are only for graduates of one high school, some for students from a specific county such as Humboldt, Placer or Fresno, and some for single parents or children of farmworkers. Fewer people qualify, so the odds are better for those who do. Your student gets matched through the eligibility questions in the UC application.

When can my student apply for the CAAA Leadership Scholarship?
Only after admission and after submitting the Statement of Intent to Register. The window opens April 1 and closes June 15. First-years need a 3.5 UC GPA, and the award ranges from $1,000 to $4,000, with top candidates considered for a $10,000 award paid over two years.

Is there anything for parents to do?
Yes. The Aggie Parent and Family Council Scholarship ($1,000) is for sophomores, juniors and seniors with a 3.25 GPA, but a family member must be a dues-paying member of the Aggie Parent and Family Association (or the student must be in the Student Alumni Association).

Do these awards renew automatically?
Usually not. Most UC Davis scholarships are one-year awards, and students must reapply each year through the continuing-student application, even if they already hold a scholarship.

Can undocumented or AB 540 students apply?
Yes. UC Davis says all undergraduates, including international, undocumented and AB 540 students, can apply for campus scholarships with at least a 3.25 GPA, and the FAFSA or CADAA isn’t required to be considered.

Sources:
https://financialaid.ucdavis.edu/scholarships/campus/awards/restricted
https://alumni.ucdavis.edu/scholarships/caaa-leadership-scholarship
https://alumni.ucdavis.edu/aggie-parent-and-family-scholarship
https://financialaid.ucdavis.edu/scholarships/campus/apply-current
https://financialaid.ucdavis.edu/frequently-asked-questions/scholarships

University Honors Program at UC Davis

UC Davis doesn’t have an honors college. It has the University Honors Program (UHP), and getting in works differently from most schools on this site. There’s no separate honors application. First-years are invited at the point of admission, based on a holistic read of the same UC application.

  • How students get in: Invitation only, offered with the admission decision
  • Where they live: Currant Hall in the Tercero area, about 200 first-years (required for incoming UHP students, with limited exceptions)
  • To stay in: A 3.25 UC GPA each year

Honors Program Scholarships & Funding

This institution does not offer designated Honors College scholarships at this time.

Money Note: UHP doesn’t come with its own scholarship. The perks are academic: small honors classes, priority registration, extended library privileges and an honors notation on the transcript. Scholarship money at UC Davis comes through the campus awards covered above.
Beyond Honors
  • Regents Scholars Society: A student group made up entirely of Regents Scholars, with workshops, service and recruiting events.
  • Prestigious scholarships advising: UC Davis has a dedicated advisor for national awards like Goldwater, Truman and Udall, and later Rhodes, Marshall and Churchill.
  • Gilman Scholarship: UC Davis says it’s a top national producer of Gilman recipients, a study-abroad award for Pell Grant students.

Honors Program: FAQs (UC Davis)

How does my student apply to the Honors Program?
They don’t. UHP admission for first-years is by invitation, made at the time of admission to UC Davis and based on the UC application.

Does the Honors Program come with a scholarship?
No. UHP doesn’t list its own scholarship. Its benefits are priority registration, smaller classes, the Currant Hall living-learning community and an honors transcript notation.

Are honors classes harder?
UC Davis says no. The classes are smaller and more discussion-based, but the workload is about the same as regular classes. Honors courses often count toward general education or major requirements.

Can a pre-med, pre-vet or double-major student handle it?
Yes. Priority registration actually helps those students build tight schedules, and the third-year service requirement can be done at a vet clinic or hospital.

What happens if my student’s GPA dips?
UHP requires a 3.25 annual UC GPA to stay in good standing, but a rough quarter can be made up over the rest of the year, and UHP advisors help students plan a recovery.

Sources:
https://honors.ucdavis.edu/admissions/first-years
https://honors.ucdavis.edu/scholarships
https://financialaid.ucdavis.edu/frequently-asked-questions/scholarships

⭐ College Specialty

UC Davis started as the University Farm, and that DNA still shows. It’s a major public research university about 15 miles from Sacramento, and its biggest strengths sit where science meets the real world: food, animals, plants, water and health. UC Davis cites a No. 8 ranking among national public universities from U.S. News, a No. 2 national spot for graduates’ financial success from the Wall Street Journal, and a No. 1 ranking for campus sustainability.

Nationally Known Program:
College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences: If your student is interested in agriculture, food science, viticulture and enology (winemaking), animal science or environmental science, UC Davis is one of the first places to look. The Robert Mondavi Institute for Wine and Food Science is on campus, and students get hands-on work in places like the campus sheep barn.
  • Pre-Vet and Animal Science: UC Davis is home to a School of Veterinary Medicine, which draws a lot of pre-vet undergraduates into animal science and related majors.
  • Biological Sciences: A large, research-heavy college and a common path for pre-med and pre-health students.
  • Engineering: A full College of Engineering, plus research tied to transportation and energy.
  • Psychology and Economics: Two of the most popular majors in the College of Letters and Science.

✅ Wrapping It Up

UC Davis plays by different rules than most schools on this site. There’s no merit chart to aim for and no test score that unlocks money. For California families, that’s mostly good news: Blue and Gold, Cal Grant and the Middle Class Scholarship do the heavy lifting, and the federal average net price lands around $17,270. For out-of-state families, it’s a harder conversation, because the full budget runs about $88,279 and the Provost Award is the only campus award built for you.

The playbook is simple, even if it’s easy to miss. Submit the UC application by November 30 with every scholarship question answered. File the FAFSA or Dream Act Application by March 2. Then keep going after admission: the CAAA Leadership Scholarship in the spring, and the continuing-student application every October. If your student loves agriculture, animals, food, wine science or biology, there are few better places to do it.

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Leo Dimilo

Leo Dimilo

Leo built CollegeReadyParent after working through college costs with his own daughter. Every guide is free, with no paywall and no lead forms, and is checked against each school’s official pages.

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