A focus on innovation and excellence distinguishes UC Davis, which is highly ranked in the nation and the world, according to influential university ranking publications such as U.S. News & World Report (national and global), QS World University Rankings, the Times Higher Education World University Rankings and The Princeton Review.

In 2024, The Wall Street Journal / College Pulse recognized UC Davis as the third-best public university in the United States. Washington Monthly magazine ranked UC Davis second nationally among Affordable Elite Colleges in 2019.

The UC Davis Department of Design is the only comprehensive academic design department at the University of California system.