Davidson College — College Profile

About

Davidson College is a top-tier liberal arts institution near Charlotte, North Carolina, renowned for its rigorous undergraduate education and powerhouse programs in political science, biology, economics, and English. Campus life is defined by a tight-knit community, Division I athletics, and a revered student-administered Honor Code that fosters a culture of mutual trust through unproctored, self-scheduled exams. Setting the college further apart is the historic "Davidson Trust," a pioneering financial aid policy that meets 100% of calculated financial need for all admitted students with grants and campus employment, entirely eliminating loans.

Wikipedia:Davidson College is a private liberal arts college in Davidson, North Carolina, United States. It was established in 1837 by the Concord Presbytery and named after Revolutionary War general William Lee Davidson, who was killed at the nearby Battle of Cowan's Ford.

Location

Davidson, NC, 28035 · Suburb campus

✈

Nearest airport from college

RDU · Raleigh-Durham

118 mi away

Open in Google Maps

Cost & aid

Cost of attendance

YoursEveryone

Tuition & fees$64,410

Housing & food (on campus)$17,100

Books & supplies$825

Cost of attendance$95,595

Average net price$17,379

Same price for all students

Tuition & fees$64,410

Housing & food (on campus)$17,100

Books & supplies$825

Cost of attendance$95,595

Average net price$17,379

Source: U.S. College Scorecard · published total: davidson.edu

How it’s made up · 2026-27

Davidson College’s own figures for 2026-2027, newer than the 2024-25 federal figures above, so the amounts differ.

Tuition$73,090

Housing$9,220

Food$9,560

Books & supplies$825

Personal expenses$1,400

Transportation$600

Total published by the school$95,595

Source: davidson.edu · checked Sep 28, 2026

Net price by family income · 2023-24

$0–30k

$9,497

$30–48k

$5,354

$48–75k

$6,759

$75–110k

$18,616

$110k+

$42,346

Your family's actual price → Davidson College net price calculator

Source: U.S. College Scorecard

Merit aid · 2025-26

Awarded without financial need. Students with financial need can get merit awards too; they're counted as need-based aid.

Average award$35,495

Share of first-years who get one4%

Source: Davidson College's Common Data Set — the school's own yearly report of its admissions and aid figures.

Outcomes

Completion

Within 6 yrs

91%

Entered 2017–18

Within 4 yrs

86%

Back for yr 2

95%

Transferred

8 yrs after starting · first-time, full-time students

91% graduated · 8% transferred · 2% left or unknown · none still enrolled

Earnings · measured 2020 & 2021

6 yrs after entry$62,866

10 yrs after entry$81,400

Debt

Median at graduation$18,688

Monthly payment$198

Middle 50% owe$7.5k–$24k

90th percentile$27,000

Green marks a figure above the typical Baccalaureate — arts & sciences: 69% graduate within 6 yrs, $58,391 earned 10 yrs after entry.

Admissions

Getting in · applied for fall 2024

Admit rate

13%

Test policy

Test optional

Per College Scorecard

SAT average

1469

R 695–750 · M 705–780

SAT middle 50%: 1400–1530

40080012001600

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Essay prompts

How much essays count at Davidson College: Important (one of four levels: very important · important · considered · not considered)

Source: Davidson College's Common Data Set for 2025-26 — the school's own yearly report of its admissions and aid figures.

If Davidson College asks for supplemental essays, the prompts are in the Common App.

The personal essay is separate: see the Common App essay prompts.

Student Body

Gender

Men 47%Women 53%

Who enrolls

Faculty ratio

8 : 1

Pell grant

18%

First-gen

16%

Family income

$80,076

Age at entry

19.0

Part-time

Race & ethnicity

White

60%

Hispanic

11%

Black

Asian

Two or more

Non-resident

11%

Unknown

Varsity sports

NCAA Division I-FCS · EADA 2024-25

Baseball
Men's
Basketball
Men's · Women's
Field Hockey
Women's
Football
Men's
Golf
Men's
Lacrosse
Women's
Soccer
Men's · Women's
Swimming and Diving (combined)
Men's · Women's
Tennis
Men's · Women's
Track and Field and Cross Country (combined)
Men's · Women's
Volleyball
Women's
Wrestling
Men's

Programs & Earnings

Bachelor's degrees by annual completions · 4yr national median earnings

Median earnings, all programs · measured 2020 & 2021

After 6 yrs

$62,866

After 10 yrs

$81,400

Biology, General78

Economics69

Political Science and Government67

Computer Science54

Research and Experimental Psychology51

English Language and Literature, General26

Mathematics26

Chemistry24

History23

Natural Resources Conservation and Research22

Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics20

Area Studies17

Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other17

Sociology17

Communication and Media Studies14

Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft11

Type your major above to highlight and detail relevant programs.

Institutional

Resources

Endowment

$1.4B

Full-time faculty

96%

Faculty salary

$13,033/mo

Teaching spend

$22,692

per student

Federal loans

Classification

Carnegie type

Baccalaureate — arts & sciences

Research activity

Research college or university

$5M research spending

Undergraduate profile

Four-year, more selective admissions

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