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Private 4-Year Highly Selective Davidson, NC NCAA Division I-FCS

Davidson College

Davidson, NC

13.4%
Acceptance Rate
$84,260/yr
Est. Cost of Attendancesum of published cost components
$17,379/yr
Avg Price After Aid
91.5%
6-yr Grad Rate
1,867
Undergrads

About Davidson College

Davidson College is a private nonprofit university with an acceptance rate of 13.4% and undergraduate enrollment of 1,867 students. It has a student-to-faculty ratio of 8:1 and a 6-year graduation rate of 91.5%. The cost of attendance is $84,260, with 17.6% of students receiving Pell grants and 15.8% being first-generation students.

Type
Private 4-Year
Undergrads
1,867
Avg Faculty Salary
$117,298
Athletics
NCAA Division I-FCS
Endowment
$1.4B
Pell Students
17.6%
First-Gen
15.8%
What Davidson College Is Known For
Majors far more concentrated here than at colleges nationally
Econometrics and Quantitative Economics 78 graduates · 15.5% of degrees here vs 0.76% nationally 20×
Research and Experimental Psychology 49 graduates · 9.7% of degrees here vs 0.6% nationally 16×
Environmental Studies 23 graduates · 4.6% of degrees here vs 0.35% nationally 13×
Political Science and Government 44 graduates · 8.7% of degrees here vs 1.74% nationally
Biology/Biological Sciences 81 graduates · 16.1% of degrees here vs 3.81% nationally
SOURCEIPEDS Completions 2023, against the national share at the same degree level
Admissions
13.4%
Acceptance rate · Highly Selective
7,347
Applicants
Can I Get In? →
Cost & Aid
$17,379 avg net
Average net price after aid
$9,497
Under $30K income
$1.4B
Endowment
Can I Afford It? →
Outcomes
$62,866 median
Median earnings 6 years after entering
91.5%
6-yr Grad Rate
$18,688
Median Debt
Is It Worth It? →

Davidson College Acceptance Rate & Admissions

Acceptance Rate
13.4%
7,347 applicants
Student:Faculty Ratio
8:1
Undergrad instruction

Davidson College admits 13.4% of applicants, demonstrating highly selective admissions. The college enrolls 1,867 undergraduates with an 8:1 student-to-faculty ratio and achieves a 91.5% six-year graduation rate.

How Selective Is That, Really?
Each dot is one of 100 applicants · Source: school's Common Data Set, else College Scorecard
1 in 7 applicants is admitted · 7,347 applied
10-Year Acceptance Rate Trend
10-year trend · Source: College Scorecard
10 years

SAT & ACT Score Ranges

Where Admitted Students Score
Middle 50% of enrolled students, on the full SAT scale · Source: College Scorecard (IPEDS)
Fall 2023
1400–1530
40080012001600
Who Applies, and Who Gets In
First-year applicants, admits and enrollees by gender
Applied Admitted Rate Enrolled
Men 3,509 499 14.2% 243
Women 3,838 565 14.7% 276
SOURCEIPEDS Admissions — Fall 2023 admissions cycle
How These Admissions Numbers Compare
Against the colleges this school should be measured against
Median

Davidson College admits 13.4% of applicants — a typical similar college admits 74%.

Acceptance rate
This school
13.4%
Similar colleges (1,009)
73.8%
NC (59)
74.7%
Charlotte-Concord, NC-SC (17)
77.2%
National (1,934)
78.1%

Each bar is the median of that group, with the number of schools in brackets. “Similar colleges” means the same control and the same predominant degree awarded. Groups of fewer than 15 schools are not shown.

Davidson College Tuition, Fees & Cost of Attendance

Avg Net Price
$17,379
Average for all students receiving federal aid, 2023-24
Median Federal Debt
$18,688
Federal Loan Rate
8.7%
Students borrowing federal loans

Davidson College has a cost of attendance of $84,260. With a substantial endowment of $1.4 billion, the school serves 17.6% Pell grant recipients and 15.8% first-generation students.

Cost of Attendance Breakdown
Estimated annual costs · on-campus, 2023-24 · Source: College Scorecard
$84,260
Tuition & Fees
$64,410
76%
Room & Board
$17,100
20%
Books & Supplies
$825
1%
Other Expenses
$1,925
2%

What You'd Actually Pay by Family Income

What You'd Actually Pay by Family Income
Average net price after all grants and scholarships · Source: College Scorecard (IPEDS net price)
Under $30,000
$9,497
$30,001 – $48,000
$5,354
$48,001 – $75,000
$6,759
$75,001 – $110,000
$18,616
Over $110,000
$42,346

* One or more income brackets show an unusually low net price, reflecting need-based aid that can reduce cost to near zero for families in that range.

Full Cost of Attendance
Source: College Scorecard
2023-24

Student Loan Debt

How Many Students Borrow
Undergraduates taking on any loan
Take out a loan
74%
Federal loans
9%

Graduates who borrowed carry a median monthly repayment of about $198.

SOURCECollege Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education
How This Price Compares
Against the colleges this school should be measured against
Median

After aid, Davidson College costs $17,379 a year — about 23% less than a typical similar college.

Cost of attendance
This school
$79,475
Similar colleges (1,094)
$49,718
NC (122)
$20,308
Charlotte-Concord, NC-SC (26)
$29,155
National (3,197)
$25,367
Students taking a loan
This school
73.9%
Similar colleges (998)
91.8%
NC (96)
87.6%
Charlotte-Concord, NC-SC (26)
90.3%
National (4,096)
86.4%
Median debt at graduation
This school
$18,688
Similar colleges (1,032)
$24,977
NC (106)
$19,094
Charlotte-Concord, NC-SC (31)
$18,000
National (4,347)
$13,097
Average net price
This school
$17,379
Similar colleges (1,105)
$22,585
NC (149)
$14,086
Charlotte-Concord, NC-SC (34)
$16,545
National (5,106)
$17,160

Each bar is the median of that group, with the number of schools in brackets. “Similar colleges” means the same control and the same predominant degree awarded. Groups of fewer than 15 schools are not shown.

Davidson College Graduation Rate & Student Outcomes

6-yr Grad Rate
91.5%
Median Earnings 6yr
$62,866
6 years after entering

Davidson College has a 91.5% six-year graduation rate. Graduates earn a median of $62,866 six years after enrollment and $81,400 ten years after enrollment.

Graduate Earnings After College

Median Graduate Earnings Over Time
6 and 10 years after entering · includes all students, not just graduates · Source: College Scorecard
Median Earnings by Gender · 6 Years After Entering
Students working 6 years after entering · Source: College Scorecard
$70,148
Men
$54,942
Women
Graduation Rate: Pell vs. Non-Pell
6-year graduation rate by grant status · Source: College Scorecard
91.1%
Pell recipients
97%
Non-Pell students

Top Majors & Programs

Top Majors by Graduates
Most recent year available · bachelor's degrees only · Source: IPEDS Completions 2023
MajorGraduates
Biology/Biological Sciences, General81
Econometrics and Quantitative Economics78
Research and Experimental Psychology, Other49
Political Science and Government, General44
Computer Science32
Chemistry, General24
Environmental Studies23
Mathematics, General23
Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other18
English Language and Literature, General15
Graduation Rate by Race & Ethnicity
Completing within six years
Asian
95.8%
White
91.7%
Black
90.9%
Hispanic
85.1%
SOURCECollege Scorecard — groups with too few students to report are omitted
Earnings Further Out
The longer horizon

Median earnings eight years after entering Davidson College are $71,470, and 82% of former students earn more than $25,000 six years after entry.

SOURCECollege Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education
How These Outcomes Compare
Against the colleges this school should be measured against
Median

Six years after entry, former Davidson College students earn $62,866 — 38% more than at a typical similar college.

Median earnings, 10 years
This school
$81,400
Similar colleges (1,077)
$54,064
NC (140)
$35,871
Charlotte-Concord, NC-SC (35)
$37,865
National (4,696)
$40,782
Median earnings, 6 years
This school
$62,866
Similar colleges (1,077)
$45,468
NC (145)
$31,394
Charlotte-Concord, NC-SC (35)
$32,930
National (4,847)
$35,433
Graduation rate
This school
91.5%
Similar colleges (1,074)
58.1%
NC (57)
49.2%
National (2,168)
52.3%
Freshman retention
This school
95%
Similar colleges (1,117)
76.6%
NC (60)
73%
National (1,841)
75.7%

Each bar is the median of that group, with the number of schools in brackets. “Similar colleges” means the same control and the same predominant degree awarded. Groups of fewer than 15 schools are not shown.

Davidson College Campus, Athletics & Faculty

Davidson College is a private nonprofit university with an undergraduate enrollment of 1,867 students and an 8:1 student-to-faculty ratio. The college competes in NCAA Division I-FCS athletics.

Student Demographics
Undergraduate enrollment · Source: College Scorecard / IPEDS
Race & Ethnicity
White
60.4%
Asian
5.3%
Hispanic
11.1%
Black
6.9%
Other Indicators
First-generation
15.8%
Pell grant recipients
17.6%
Women
53%
Davidson College Athletics
Total Revenue
$7.2M
Total Expense
$8.3M
Athletes
570
320 men · 250 women
Head Coach Salaries
Men's vs Women's programs · Source: Equity in Athletics Disclosure Act
Men's sports
$133,248
Women's sports
$104,554

Average head coach salary by program gender.

Athletic Aid
Scholarship spending by gender · Source: Equity in Athletics Disclosure Act
Men's aid
$2,844,132
Women's aid
$2,446,455
Academic Resources
233
Full-time faculty
$117,298
Avg faculty salary
2,292
FT staff
$1.4B
Endowment
Faculty Salary by Gender
All instructional ranks combined · Source: IPEDS Human Resources
Men (avg)
$122,994
Women (avg)
$112,545
Overall avg
$117,298
Who Is on Campus
Beyond the undergraduate headcount
Varsity Athletes
Play a varsity sport
25.1%

477 of 1,901 undergraduates, counting each athlete once regardless of how many sports they play.

SOURCEIPEDS enrollment; Equity in Athletics Disclosure Act filings
Online & Distance Learning
How much of the teaching happens remotely
Undergrads fully online
0%
Undergrads taking any
0%

0 of 1,904 undergraduates study entirely at a distance.

SOURCEIPEDS Fall Enrollment, distance education status

Davidson College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

How This Campus Compares
Against the colleges this school should be measured against
Median

Davidson College spends $14,803 per student on research — about a typical similar college.

Pell grant share
This school
17.6%
Similar colleges (1,171)
32.8%
NC (152)
39.3%
Charlotte-Concord, NC-SC (36)
42.3%
National (5,367)
40.1%
Research spending per student
This school
$14,803
Similar colleges (1,164)
$6,264
NC (120)
$6,693
Charlotte-Concord, NC-SC (24)
$5,497
National (2,823)
$5,605
Students per faculty member
This school
8:1
Similar colleges (1,191)
12:1
NC (152)
13:1
Charlotte-Concord, NC-SC (36)
14:1
National (5,427)
15:1

Each bar is the median of that group, with the number of schools in brackets. “Similar colleges” means the same control and the same predominant degree awarded. Groups of fewer than 15 schools are not shown.

Every Major at Davidson College
35 fields of study, bachelor's degree level, grouped by subject area
504 graduates
Social Sciences 136 grads · 4 majors
Econometrics and Quantitative Economics 78
Political Science and Government, General 44
Sociology, General 8
Anthropology, General 6
Biological and Biomedical Sciences 87 grads · 4 majors
Biology/Biological Sciences, General 81
Neuroscience 3
Genome Sciences/Genomics 2
Bioinformatics 1
Psychology 49 grads · 1 major
Research and Experimental Psychology, Other 49
Physical Sciences 39 grads · 2 majors
Chemistry, General 24
Physics, General 15
Computer and Information Sciences 32 grads · 1 major
Computer Science 32
Natural Resources and Conservation 23 grads · 1 major
Environmental Studies 23
Mathematics and Statistics 23 grads · 1 major
Mathematics, General 23
Communication and Journalism 19 grads · 2 majors
Communication, General 14
Digital Communication and Media/Multimedia 5
Multidisciplinary Studies 18 grads · 1 major
Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other 18
English Language and Literature 17 grads · 2 majors
English Language and Literature, General 15
Literature, Other 2
Visual and Performing Arts 15 grads · 3 majors
Art/Art Studies, General 12
Music, General 2
Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, General 1
Foreign Languages and Linguistics 14 grads · 5 majors
Classics and Classical Languages,... 6
Spanish Language and Literature 4
French Language and Literature 2
Arabic Language and Literature 1
Chinese Language and Literature 1
History 12 grads · 1 major
History, General 12
Philosophy and Religious Studies 12 grads · 2 majors
Philosophy 8
Religion/Religious Studies 4
Area, Ethnic and Gender Studies 5 grads · 4 majors
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and... 2
African Studies 1
East Asian Studies 1
Latin American Studies 1
Education 3 grads · 1 major
Education, General 3
SOURCEIPEDS Completions 2023 — first majors only, so a student with a double major is counted once

Davidson College Location & Campus Safety

Davidson College is in Davidson, NC, in what IPEDS classifies as a large suburb setting. The campus sits about 1.9 miles from the center of Davidson. There are 10 other colleges within 25 miles, and Charlotte, NC is 20.1 miles away.

Davidson College
Large suburb
Campus Setting
1.9 mi
To City Center
10
Colleges Within 25 mi
14,852
Davidson Population
Living in Davidson
Cost of living and getting around, for the whole city — not the campus
ACS 2023
$1,636
Median Rent / mo
$152,969
Median Household Income
29.1%
Rent as % of Income
How People Commute
Drive alone
59.6%
Walk
7.6%
Public transit
1.3%

Mecklenburg County scores 10.5 out of 20 on the EPA National Walkability Index — below average walkable. The index is a county-wide average of block groups, so it describes the surrounding area rather than the campus itself.

Undergraduates make up about 13.7% of Davidson's residents.

SOURCEU.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2023 5-year estimates; EPA National Walkability Index

Campus Safety at Davidson College

Every college that receives federal financial aid must publish its crime statistics each year under the Clery Act. These are the figures Davidson College reported for 2024.

10
On-Campus Offenses
8
In Residence Halls
5.4
Per 1,000 Students
3
Domestic, Dating & Stalking

Read these numbers carefully. A Clery figure counts reports, not incidents. A university with active reporting channels, a large campus police force and a teaching hospital will record more offenses than one where the same events go unreported — so a higher count is not evidence of a more dangerous campus, and a low count is not evidence of a safe one. In 2024, 833 campuses with more than 1,000 students reported no offenses at all. Use these figures to ask a college questions, not to rank one against another.

Reported On-Campus Offenses by Year
Criminal offenses reported on campus, including residence halls · Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Clery Act disclosures
2022
13
2023
6
2024
10
What Was Reported in 2024
On-campus criminal offenses by category
Sexual offenses
9
Burglary
1

Separately, Davidson College reported 1 arrests and 94 disciplinary referrals for weapons, drug and liquor law violations on campus. Referrals for alcohol violations are usually the largest category at residential colleges and reflect how a school handles student conduct internally.

SOURCEU.S. Department of Education, Campus Safety and Security — Clery Act disclosures, 2024

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Davidson College admissions, costs, and outcomes.