Student Diversity Data

Student Diversity Data

As California’s only public Doctor of Veterinary Medicine program, it is our responsibility to serve the citizens of the state of California and to reflect the demographics of the state population in our student population. The School’s Strategic Plan includes the goal to “Attract, recruit, and foster diversity and inclusion in student, faculty and staff populations reflective of California demographics” (goal 1.3).

An important component of the strategic planning process has been to identify the diversity data of matriculated students. Data compiled here shows both demographics and trends of race/ethnicity and first-generation students.

First-Generation Students

 

First Generation indicates that a student's parents have not completed a bachelor's degree. 

first gen

From 2025 to 2027, there was a steady increase in the percentage of first-generation students, growing from 14% to 21%. In 2028, there was a jump to 58%.

Class Diversity

Class diversity

 

Nationally, over 70% of the total DVM student population is white. All other ethnic and racial backgrounds are considered underrepresented in veterinary medicine (URVM). This makes UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine one of the most racially and ethnically diverse DVM programs in the nation, with 75% URVM representation. We had a 29% increase in Underrepresented in Medicine (UIM) students (Hispanic/ Latino, African American, and American Indian/Alaska Native) this year, making this the school’s most diverse class to date. 

Ethnicity Breakdown

classdiversitybreakdown

Significant growth in Hispanic/Latino monoracial and Asian monoracial populations. 

White/Caucasian monoracial population experienced the steepest decline.

Multiracial populations across all groups remained relatively small, with slight changes.