Davidson College: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes
Davidson, North Carolina · Private nonprofit · Highly selective · CDS 2024-2025
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Davidson College is a private nonprofit university in Davidson, North Carolina that admits about 13% of applicants, making it a highly selective school. The average family pays about $17,379 a year after financial aid, which matters more than the published sticker price. It is best known for Economics, Political Science and Government and Biology, General, its largest undergraduate programs by number of graduates. About 91% of students graduate within six years. Its most recent Clery Act report shows roughly 5.4 criminal offenses per 1,000 students.
Davidson College is a private institution located in Davidson, North Carolina and one of the highly selective schools in the country. For the most recent reporting cycle, Davidson College admits between 1 in 10 and 1 in 4 applicants, with an overall admission rate of 13%. Admitted students typically post an average SAT around 1469. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $17,379 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price.
What GPA does my child need for Davidson College?
73% of enrolled students at Davidson College had a high school GPA of 3.75 or above, and the average was 3.86, according to its 2024-2025 Common Data Set.
What does Davidson College weight in admissions?
Davidson College reports these factor weights in its Common Data Set (2024-2025). What the weights mean
- • Rigor of secondary school record
- • Recommendations
- • Character/personal qualities
- • Application essay
SAT and ACT scores Davidson College typically admits
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 705–780, with an EBRW midpoint near —. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 31–34. Scores below the 25th-percentile mark are accepted occasionally, but the realistic submission target for most families is the school's middle-50 floor or higher.
| 25th percentile | — |
| 50th percentile | 1469 |
| 75th percentile | — |
| % submitting SAT | 28.3% |
| 25th percentile | 31 |
| 50th percentile | 33 |
| 75th percentile | 34 |
| % submitting ACT | 23.3% |
- • Test-optional: Standardized test scores are not required, but may be submitted and considered.
- • Policy detail: Considered if submitted
How much does Davidson College actually cost?
Published tuition is $64,410 for in-state students and $64,410 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $17,100 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $17,379 per year — the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 18% of students receive Pell Grants.
| In-state tuition | $68,450 |
| Room and board | $17,800 |
| Average net price (after aid) | $17,379 |
| Application fee | $50 (waivers available) |
Application deadlines and early decision data for Davidson College
| Regular deadline | January 10 |
| Notification date | April 1 |
| Reply deadline | May 1 |
| Offers Early Decision | Yes |
| ED deadline | November 15 |
| Offers Early Decision II | Yes |
| ED II deadline | January 5 |
| ED acceptance rate (all rounds) | 32% |
Will my child graduate from Davidson College?
These predict outcomes at Davidson College better than its acceptance rate does. How to read retention and graduation rates
Most popular majors at Davidson College
The most popular undergraduate programs at Davidson College, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Economics, Political Science and Government and Biology, General. Across all programs, Davidson College confers roughly 364 bachelor's degrees a year. What these figures mean
| Major | Graduates / year | Median earnings (5 yrs out) |
|---|---|---|
| Economics | 75 | — |
| Political Science and Government | 64 | — |
| Biology, General | 60 | — |
| Psychology, General | 59 | — |
| Computer Science | 34 | — |
| English Language and Literature, General | 27 | — |
| History | 24 | — |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | 21 | — |
Is Davidson College safe? Campus crime & safety
In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), Davidson College disclosed 10 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 5.4 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 0 violent offenses and 9 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Why per-1,000 rates, not counts
Other colleges in North Carolina parents ask about
- Elon University66% acceptance
- High Point University75% acceptance
- Duke University6% acceptance
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill15% acceptance
- Wake Forest University22% acceptance
- North Carolina State University at Raleigh42% acceptance
- Appalachian State University90% acceptance
- East Carolina University89% acceptance
Next steps for Davidson College
Common questions parents ask about Davidson College
What GPA do I need for Davidson College?
73% of enrolled students at Davidson College had a high school GPA of 3.75 or above, and the average was 3.86, according to its 2024-2025 Common Data Set.
What SAT or ACT score does Davidson College typically admit?
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 705–780, with an EBRW midpoint near —. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 31–34.
How much does Davidson College actually cost after financial aid?
The average net price at Davidson College after grants and scholarships is $17,379 per year, against a published in-state tuition of $64,410. Budget against the net figure.
Is Davidson College realistic for my child?
Davidson College admits 13% of applicants, so 705–780 SAT Math is target range and below 705 is a reach. Then check the $17,379 average net price against what your family can carry.
What is the acceptance rate at Davidson College?
Davidson College accepts about 13% of applicants out of roughly 8,114 who apply each year. That makes it a highly selective school.
Is Davidson College test-optional?
Yes. Davidson College is test-optional, so SAT and ACT scores are not required, but strong scores can still be submitted and will be considered.
What is the graduation rate at Davidson College?
About 91% of students at Davidson College graduate within six years, and 86% finish in four years. 95% of freshmen return for sophomore year. Graduation rate predicts real outcomes better than acceptance rate.
Does applying Early Decision improve my chances at Davidson College?
Davidson College's Early Decision acceptance rate is about 32%, compared with its overall rate of 13%. Applying ED can meaningfully improve admission odds, but it is a binding commitment to enroll if accepted.
What does Davidson College look for in applicants?
Davidson College rates course rigor, recommendations and character and personal qualities as "very important" in its Common Data Set. These are the factors the admissions committee weighs most heavily when reviewing an application.
Is Davidson College a public or private school, and where is it located?
Davidson College is a private nonprofit institution located in Davidson, North Carolina.
What are the most popular majors at Davidson College?
The largest undergraduate majors at Davidson College by annual graduates are Economics, Political Science and Government and Biology, General. The school awards about 364 bachelor's degrees a year in total. These figures come from federal IPEDS completion data.
Is Davidson College safe? What is its campus crime rate?
Davidson College reported 10 total criminal offenses in its most recent Clery Act disclosure (2024), roughly 5.4 per 1,000 students. Compare the per-1,000 rate rather than the raw total, since larger schools report more incidents.
Sources: the 2024-2025 Common Data Set submitted by Davidson College, the College Scorecard and IPEDS, and Clery Act disclosures. What each source covers