The University of California, Davis has earned the No. 10 ranking among the nation’s public universities, according to the latest Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2026—positioning UC Davis at 25th among more than 1,500 U.S. public and private institutions and 64th among nearly 2,200 universities across 115 countries and territories.
UC Davis students are uncovering hidden stories from Yolo County’s past, highlighting a little-known Black community in Woodland that thrived in the mid-1800s through the early 1900s. Through research led by Associate Professor Cecilia Tsu and a team of undergraduate and graduate students, the project documented the lives of formerly enslaved individuals and their descendants, preserving photographs, maps, court records, and personal histories.
For fall 2025, UC Davis offered undergraduate admission to more than 55,700 students—a record high and a nearly 9% increase over the previous year. That includes over 45,900 first-year applicants, a 10.4% rise, and continued growth in admission offers to California residents, first-generation college students, and those from low-income backgrounds.
UC Davis recently hosted the Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) Forum, drawing students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community partners into a half-day of discussion focused on strengthening student pathways and academic success. In a world where technology accelerates change, participants reflected on the importance of critical thinking and the shared responsibility to “affirm the dignity inherent in all of us,” as expressed in the UC Davis Principles of Community.
The University Credit Union Center pulsed with energy on May 10 as about 1,400 students from over 450 schools filled the arena for the 2025 César Chávez Youth Leadership Conference at UC Davis. Students filled rows of folding chairs, many seated alongside parents or teachers, listening attentively to welcome remarks by Chancellor Gary S. May and a keynote address by Raquel E. Aldana, Martin Luther King Jr. Professor of Law at UC Davis.
On a single Saturday each spring, the UC Davis campus transforms into a vibrant hub of hope and opportunity as hundreds of students, families and educators gather for the César Chávez Youth Leadership Conference. This May, the event marks its 10th year of being hosted at UC Davis and its 23rd year serving students throughout the state.
Doreen Joseph, Ph.D. candidate in computer science at UC Davis, is steadfast advocate for building community at UC Davis. We had the chance to sit down with Joseph to learn more about the community she helps create here at UC Davis.
