Most Aggies know they can ride Unitrans for free or use the ARC with their student ID, but UC Davis has even more no-cost perks waiting to be discovered. From free food and athletic tickets to museum visits and outdoor adventures, the campus is full of opportunities to enjoy experiences, resources and events without spending a dime. Some of these perks may require proof of enrollment, so keep your student ID handy!

Free Tickets

1.  Free Tickets to All Home Ticketed Sports Events

Grab your blue and gold gear and head to the student section! UC Davis students get one free ticket to every home game, no matter the sport. This fall, cheer on the football team, volleyball team and men’s and women’s soccer teams. Make sure to check the full athletics schedule to plan ahead and keep showing up for the Ags all year long!

2.  One Free Ticket to a Mondavi Show

The Mondavi Center hosts everything from concerts and film screenings to performances that span cultures and genres. UC Davis students can claim one free ticket to any show during their time at Davis, giving them a chance to experience world-class performing arts right on campus. For a select show each quarter, the Mondavi Center hosts a student social that includes free Woodstock’s pizza, music and giveaways. Additionally, students always get 50% off all Mondavi Center Presents tickets and $10 rush tickets one hour before each performance.

Free Stuff

3. Fruit & Veggie Up!

Get ready to stock up on free seasonal fresh organic produce through Fruit & Veggie Up!, a partnership between the Aggie Compass Basic Needs Center and the UC Davis Student Farm. The pick up schedule changes each quarter so check on their website or follow them on Instagram to stay updated and grab your favorites while they last!

4. Aggie Reuse Store

Discover treasures at Aggie Reuse, a student run thrift store where everything is free. Since opening, it has saved more than 8,100 pounds of waste from landfills. From clothing and shoes to lab gear and craft supplies, you can make an Instagram worthy haul. The store also hosts fun events with upcycling projects and mending workshops that show you how to refresh and repair your wardrobe.

5. Love Lab

The Love Lab makes it easy to be prepared with a cart full of free supplies. Pick up external and internal condoms, dental dams, water based and silicone based lube, plus pads and tampons. Not sure how to use some of their products? The Love Lab offers free video demonstrations online to guide you. Don't forget to snag free stickers, buttons and quick guides while at the cart!

6. Shields Library Equipment and Locker Loans

Borrow more than books when you visit Shields. At the circulation desk, you’ll find extra cables, calculators, DVD drives, whiteboards, chess sets and even Kids Activity Kits to keep little ones busy while you study. Shields also has charging lockers available on a first come first served basis, perfect for when your phone needs a break or a quick boost. 

7. The Pantry

The ASUCD Pantry is a student-run resource that helps students stay stocked with food and essentials while managing the costs of college life. Along with free groceries, you can grab diapers, toothbrushes and other hygiene items so you never have to go without. Check their website to see what’s in stock and even order non perishables in advance for easy pick up.

8. Free Access to Newspapers and Periodicals

Thanks to the library, you can get instant access to top newspapers and periodicals, including The New York Times, Washington Post, Economist and Chronicle of Higher Education. You can also read local news from the Sacramento Bee and Davis Enterprise, all free with your @ucdavis.edu email.

9. Free Narcan

Narcan, a safe and easy-to-use nasal spray, can reverse an opioid overdose in minutes. With the rise of fentanyl-laced substances, anyone who uses prescriptions or other drugs could be at risk, making Narcan an important tool to have on hand. UC Davis students can pick up free Narcan Nasal Spray at several locations on campus to help protect themselves and their community.

Free Services

10. Academic Assistance and Tutoring Centers

Each year, thousands of Aggies get a boost from AATC tutoring. You can get help in a wide range of subjects including biology, chemistry, economics, engineering, math and physics. AATC also offers writing support for assignments, scholarship applications and more. Thinking about grad or law school? Explore their advising, workshops and pathway programs to plan your next steps with confidence.

11. Career Center

The Career Center offers support for every stage of your internship or job search and numerous free services to help you stand out as a job candidate. Resume Review+ lets undergraduates and recent alumni (up to one year after graduation) submit resumes, CVs and cover letters for expert feedback. Each quarter, the Career Center hosts workshops on writing resumes and cover letters, showcasing your skills and experience, and their Prepare for the Fair workshop gets you ready to shine at career fairs. 

12. 30 Minute Legal Consultations 

Knowing your rights and getting legal support is essential for students facing different challenges. ASUCD provides undergraduates with free 30-minute consultations with an attorney and a comprehensive resource guide covering a range of legal topics. Whether you need help with landlord-tenant disputes, employment issues or understanding legal processes, the guide and legal consultations offer students in need a starting point. 

Free Places to Visit

13. California Raptor Center 

The California Raptor Center is dedicated to the rehabilitation of injured and orphaned birds of prey. Its museum and permanent collection of living, non-releasable raptors are open to the public with free self-guided tours. Along the tour route, informative placards share each bird’s story. Each year, the center cares for 100 to 200 sick, injured or orphaned raptors, successfully returning about 60% to the wild.

14. UC Davis Bee Haven

The UCD Bee Haven is a half-acre garden dedicated to education, research and inspiring people to create pollinator-friendly spaces. Discover how bees pollinate the fruits, nuts and vegetables we eat and support wild plants that provide food and habitat for other wildlife. The garden is free and open daily from dawn to dusk, including weekends and holidays.

15. Gorman Museum of Native American Art 

The Gorman Museum, founded in 1973 to honor Navajo artist and cultural advocate Carl Nelson Gorman, is free and open to the public. It showcases contemporary Native American, First Nations and Indigenous art that enacts “Visual Sovereignty” and encourages critical thinking through socially and politically engaging exhibitions. The permanent collection includes works on paper, paintings, mixed media, sculpture, ceramics, basketry and textiles, featuring both contemporary and foundational artists. Upcoming fall exhibits include Rick Bartow, Indigenous Futurism and Metaphor, Myth & Politics: Art from Native Printmakers, and the gift shop offers items from Native artists and Native-owned businesses!

16. UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden

 Explore the 100-acre Arboretum and Public Garden, home to demonstration gardens, scientific collections and three walking tours. Don’t miss the T. Elliot Weier Redwood Grove, one of the largest coastal redwood collections outside their native range, or the Ruth Risdon Storer Garden, a Valley-wise garden full of colorful, low-maintenance plants. Educational exhibits and demonstration plantings make it easy to learn sustainable gardening and spark ideas for your own garden.

17. Bohart Museum of Entomology

The R. M. Bohart Museum of Entomology, founded in 1946, is home to the seventh largest insect collection in North America. With over seven million specimens from around the world and the California Insect Survey documenting the state’s deserts, mountains, coast and Central Valley, there’s plenty to discover. Open during select hours, the museum is free to visit, featuring engaging displays and live insects and arachnids.

18. Jan Shrem and Maria Manetti Shrem Museum of Art

The Manetti Shrem Museum brings transformational art experiences to UC Davis and the wider community, inspiring new ideas and creative exchange. Enjoy free admission to explore fall exhibitions including work by Julio César Morales and Breath(e): Toward Climate and Social Justice, guest curated by Glenn Kaino and Mika Yoshitake. The museum also hosts free events like talks, performances and Art Jams, a night of art making with snacks, where Aggies can connect with fellow students and faculty exploring creativity in areas like sustainability, outer space and more.

19. UCD Toxic Plant Garden

The Toxic Plant Garden at UC Davis, originally called the “poisonous plant garden,” was created in 1970 by Dr. Murray Fowler, an innovator in Zoological Medicine and the first dedicated veterinarian for the Sacramento Zoo. The garden is a living display of common plants poisonous to animals and reflects Dr. Fowler’s passion for animal advocacy and wildlife conservation. Open for free self-guided tours, the garden features over sixty labeled poisonous plants, though some are seasonal and may not always be visible.

20. UC Davis Botanical Conservatory

Explore over 4,000 plant species from around the world in a vibrant space for education, research and conservation. The Conservatory is home to tropical rainforest plants, drought-tolerant succulents and insect-eating carnivorous plants, all showcasing fascinating adaptations and survival strategies. Students can enjoy free self-guided tours or get involved through internships and volunteer opportunities, making the Conservatory a hub for discovery and learning.